Story by Recto Mercene / Photos by Stephanie Tumampos
IT is not very often envoys from the Middle East engage local journalists in wide-ranging discussions and touch on many issues, including political subjects, but it appears Ambassador Hamad Saeed Alzaabi is an exception.
Last week he graciously invited a few of us at his Forbes Park residence to tell more about the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—that sparkling jewel of modernity in the Persian Gulf—and the Philippines’s burgeoning relations with them.
Alzaabi is one of the most unassuming diplomats this reporter had the chance to interview. He greeted guests donning casual attire, surprisingly, not in a dignitary’s suit or an Emirati’s long-sleeved robe with veil. Apparently, he is avoiding our excessive humidity and wants to be comfortable, as he is used to the hot but dry environment of his native Ras al-Khaimah, one of the emirates comprising the UAE.
The monarchy is an Arabian Peninsula nation settled mainly along the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Gulf). It is a federation of seven emirates. Abu Dhabi, the island capital, is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its crystal chandeliers and a space for 41,000 worshipers. The other main city, Dubai, is the site of the ultramodern Burj Khalifa tower, enormous shopping centers and extravagant entertainment attractions.
“We had 100 tons of dates shipped just recently [in the Philippines] for distribution to various schools, mosques, some embassies, and NGOs [non-governmental organizations]. We also gave to the mosque in Quiapo, to Kapatiran, and to the Coast Guard, while one cargo container went to Mindanao,” he narrated.
“We have more than 25,000 date trees, especially in Abu Dhabi, and our produce are mostly for export to be used in the manufacture of chocolate and for the food industry,” Alzaabi said. He added Saudi Arabia, which gave away 150 tons of dates to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao four years ago, provided last week another 50 metric tons of pressed dates to the Philippine government, as part of a food aid to Muslim Filipinos.
Alzaabi pointed out Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of dates in the Middle East (ME), while the UAE comes in second. These donations are coursed via the Red Crescent, the ME Red Cross, and shipped by boats because it is cheaper than by air.
Trade relations
THE ambassador said trade between the Philippines and the UAE amounts to only $400 million.
“It is not much, compared to our trade with Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand,” he noted, adding the UAE buys fruits from the Philippines, while we purchase petrochemical products from them. He hopes to expand trade relations between our country and his in the coming years.
“President Duterte would have stopped over for two days in the UAE after his visit to Russia to sign various agreements last week, including economic cooperation and tourism. Unfortunately, his trip was cut short. Hopefully, we can renew the invitation for him to come.”
The envoy said there are 800,000 Filipinos in the UAE, with many marrying the locals. Compatriots in the UAE are either migrants or their descendants. Of that number, more than half, or around 450,000, live in Dubai, making up 21.3 percent of the population.
He guarantees the safety and security of visitors to the UAE, saying, “it is so safe, you can walk at midnight. All roads are controlled; you can call the police anytime. They speak in English, Arabic, or Urdu; there is good [means of] communication there.”
When in the UAE, the amiable ambassador advises tourists to visit the souk, their version of a market, “because prices at the malls are 20 percent to 30 percent higher. There, you will find all kinds of spices, clothing apparel, gold and many other ornamental and household things”, and there are many restaurants catering to all tastes.
He observed the penetration of Filipino fast-food outlets in his country, with the presence of two outlets of a famous chain in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: “Many Filipinos flock to them”. Alzaabi said the UAE gets its meat and fruits from Australia, with more than 50 flights a week from their own national carriers.
“Our future looks good,” he said confidently, when queried about the UAE’s plans in the coming years, saying they might be a small gathering of emirates, but they are proudly independent.
Abu Dhabi, the largest producer of oil among them, yields 500,000 barrels a day. Meanwhile, the airport of Dubai, one of the biggest in the world, hosts about 140 airlines.
“We also have a very big port, geared for more exports in 2020,” Alzaabi added, saying their carriers fly to the Indian subcontinent, to Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Workers and visitors
WITH 2 million Filipinos, Saudi Arabia hosts the most number of migrant workers from the Philippines; while those in the UAE, Filipinos man its malls, hospitals and factories, according to Alzaabi.
He is hoping the UAE’s two major carriers, Etihad and Emirates, would help bring tourists both ways, adding there are about 20,000 of his compatriots who visited the Philippines last year.
“We have 10 million visitors from all over the world,” he boasted, noting “they come to the UAE to gawk at the tallest building in the world, as well as to shop at the largest shopping malls and many other jaw-dropping infrastructure” their oil money had created out of the desert.
Dubai’s landmark building is the Burj Khalifa, which, at 829.8 meters, is the tallest building in the world and the most famous of the city’s points of interest.
He said he appreciates the fact the Philippines is getting economically robust, along with its Asian neighbors; unlike in Africa, which today remains relatively “backward”. “It is easier to go to Bali,” he noted.
His familiarity with Africa comes from serving as nonresident envoy to the Republic of Mali and Republic of Benin. Then, he became his country’s representative to the Republic of Yemen in 2002, alongside being the nonresident ambassador to the Union of Comoros and State of Eritrea.
Alzaabi’s assignments have included directorship of the Department of Arab Affairs, and as member of the Recruitment Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After which, he became ambassador to the Republic of Senegal from 2008 until 2014 concurrently as non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Gambia, and the Republic of Cabo Verde.
“Sport of kings”
OUR subject turned to falconry, the “sport of kings.’ But unlike many of his compatriots, he said he would rather be swimming and hiking, his preferred pastime activities.
“Falconry is a very expensive hobby,” he narrated, adding it is a time-consuming passion, which required a lot of money and attention.
Although he said the average UAE citizen has a monthly income of about 10 thousand dirhams, or half a million pesos, he said some falcons twice as much each, and are usually employed during hunting expeditions.
(It was revealed that falconry is practiced purely for sport, but the skill of the falconer is still highly esteemed, and the power and beauty of the falcon greatly treasured. The training process has not changed over time. A leather hood is used to cover the falcon’s eyes and it is deprived of food in order to make it easier to tame. The falconer, in the first few weeks of training, remains with his falcon at all times.
During the day, the falcon perches on the falconer’s leather glove, while the former holds the leather leg-tethers that restrain the bird. The feathered lure is always nearby. By night, the falcon stays on a wooden perch.
The late Sheikh Zayed, founding father of the UAE, often spoke of the satisfaction he derived from being part of a hunting party.)
Going around PHL
ALZAABI said he has been to Mindanao on official mission, but prefers Baguio because of its cold weather.
When asked if he had visited our famous beaches, he replied, “the UAE has many more beaches than the Philippines has to offer.”
“Most Asians think [the UAE is] part of Africa; actually, we are part of Asia. Our forebears came to Middle East via the Arabian Peninsula,” he said, as he requested his guests to refer to the National Geographic, the foremost exponent of science, geography, history and world culture.
As to his partiality to beaches, he said the UAE is where one can find miles and miles of white sand, punctuated by the sights of modern-day wonders such as the Palm Islands.
(According to TIME magazine, the most audacious of all of Dubai’s megaprojects is the collection of reclaimed islands just offshore. First came the palm-tree shaped Palm Jumeirah, which the city bills as the “eighth wonder of the world”. And there are two more islands, Jebel Ali and Deira, in varying stages of development.
Last, but certainly not least, is “The World”, an archipelago of islands forming a global map in miniature. The islands are for sale, so “if you can afford it, you can buy a ‘country’ for yourself”.)
There’s also The Burj Al-Arab, the world’s tallest hotel, standing 321 meters high on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline. It was designed to resemble a billowing sail of the water vessel dhow. The exterior of the building is lit up by a choreographed colored lighting show at night.
“Decadent in every way possible,” is how it is described, being one of the most expensive hotels in the world, with the most luxurious suites costing more than $15,000 for one night.”
The UAE also takes pride of its Jumeirah Beach, named after its district in Dubai, on the Persian Gulf coast. The strip of sandy white bliss is the No. 1 beach destination for visitors.
Dubai also has the Heritage and Diving Village, with display objects related to pearl diving and dhow building—two of old Dubai’s historic economic mainstays. The Dubai Aquarium is one of the city‘s main tourist attractions, housing 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall.
There are at least 20 top-rated tourist attractions and things to do in the UAE, he said, and those he mentioned are just a few of them.
Ambassador Alzaabi is married and was born in Zaab Island. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United Arab Emirates University and holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Algiers.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano, Stephanie Tumampos