Aviation and Cosmetics, two industries that one would think share few similarities if any at all. However, after learning about the deeper meanings of Abu Dhabi’s massive aviation machine along with a small Dubai based cosmetics start-up, understanding the power of inclusion is one of the keys to success for the most progressive society in the Arab world.
Our day began with a drive to Al Bateen Executive Airport in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi to visit the Gulf Center for Aviation Studies where we were given a presentation on the power of Aviation in the UAE. I find that most people, myself included, do not fully grasp the power of aviation and the role that it plays particularly in a somewhat isolated country like the UAE. Yet, what I have come to realize over the last week or so of traveling and seeing the Emirati aviation industry first hand is that aircraft are not just a mode of transportation but an invitation to a different society and culture. Abu Dhabi and Dubai both have airlines (Etihad and Emirates) that perfectly represent their culture of inclusion and making the world a smaller place while also eliminating the harsh stigmas of the Middle East. The Emirates wishes to challenge the world to come and see for themselves just how spectacular their nation is and the first step to doing so is getting on an aircraft designed to invite people of all cultures and transport them to the most spectacular country in the Gulf.
Making the world a smaller place by bringing people together in the most progressive Arab society is a common theme for the UAE particularly it’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi emirates. I find that the power of inclusion is what really drives the Emirati society and economy in all facets thus making it a model for the rest of the Middle East. Therefore, our meeting with Dubai based CTZN Cosmetics further emphasized what it means to be a global, cultured, progressive society. CTZN Cosmetics is a young brand with an emphasis on inclusion of women and men of all different skin types with “CTZN” being derived from us all being citizens of the world. As a political science student who just took a class on Middle Eastern governments, I don’t always look at the Arab world from a cultural perspective and thus find myself surprised when I learn certain bits of information that you otherwise would not learn from a textbook. For example, I was shocked when I discovered that the Middle East is one of the largest markets in the world for cosmetics. Why is this the case? Because women who wear the Abaya only will spend money on make-up, along with shoes and handbags, because that is how they can show some sort of fashionable expression.
Therefore, looking back on our day and furthermore our trip, we see that what the UAE has managed to do is build a society with tolerance of the “other” as its backbone giving it the strength to build upon its culture of inclusion through its booming aviation industry as well as with startups like CTZN.
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