Excess of tolerance: The culture that is Abu Dhabi

The Slatest:

A hotel in the United Arab Emirates is wondering whether its pimped-out tree, dripping with $11 million dollars of gold and gems, was a step too far, reports the Guardian. The hotel, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, has certainly made a show of moderation in the past. Guests, for example, can visit the Palace's gold bar vending machine and book a $1mil week-long tour of the Middle East via jet plane. The hotel apologized for the tree, saying it regretted "attempts to overload" the fake fir tree with gold, rubies, and diamonds and that it was the hotel jeweler's fault. The statement also said the tree was simply there to bring holiday cheer to guests and celebrate the United Arab Emirates' "values of openness and tolerance."

Read more in The Guardian.

The official press release states,

Emirates Palace Hotel has denied press reports claiming its ownership of the jewels decorating the Christmas tree which was erected in the lobby of the hotel in celebration of Christmas and the new year.

The jewels on the said tree, which is part of an annual tradition followed by most hotels in the UAE and the rest of the world, are the sole ownership of Style Gallery who has paid all the costs of making and decorating the tree. The jewels will be recovered by their owner at the end of celebrations, according to a statement by the hotel.

"The hotel is just a venue for exhibiting the tree", the hotel said.

Local teenage scene in Fujairah

As reported by The National

On a recent Saturday evening, a group of Emirati break-dancers who call themselves the Crip Killers crew – named after a violent street gang that originated in Los Angeles – prepare to face off against local rivals.

As the bass of the Shop Boyz rap song Party Like a Rockstar thunders from the subwoofer speakers of a customised Honda Accord, a scrum of other hyped-up teenagers encircles the Crip Killers.

Wearing headbands, white trainers and jean shorts, they stare down the rival crew until one slender teenager steps into the circle shimmying his shoulders and performing headstands and front and back flips, the opening salvo in a dance battle.

“We want to be like Americans – but we can’t,” says Ali Abdullah, 18, an Emirati student at a military academy and member of the Crip Killers. “I only dance to hip hop – I love it.”

A dancer from the opposing crew, Mohammed Hamdan, 17, a former gymnast, steals the show with high-flying back flips.

Although kids from all backgrounds take part, there is general agreement in the crowd that the Emirati dancers are best. “They’re better than me, man, they’re better,” Abdullah, 15, an Iraqi, says ruefully after the other dancers race off in their expensive Hummers and sport utility vehicles.

As Khamis looks on, a group of teenagers walks by wearing bright yellow T-shirts emblazoned with silver dollar bill signs.

“Wearing those kinds of clothes is comfortable for them,” Khamis says. “But trust me, when they’re 18, they’ll go back to wearing kanduras.”

According to the twentysomething generation of Emirati men, however, something odd is happening to their break-dancing younger brothers.

Lots of picture accompany the story.

Ramadan demand

Khaleej Times:

DUBAI/ABU DHABI — Even though the prices of essential commodities went up during the past few days, heavy rush of shoppers was witnessed in retail outlets in the country yesterday as the residents started preparation for the holy month of Ramadan.

As in past years, according to retailers, the trend of increasing the prices of essential commodities during Ramadan continued this year also.
...
The prices of vegetable, fruit and meat have been gone up in the capital but shoppers thronged the market to shop in preparation of the first day of Ramadan. Price increase varies from fruit to fruit and vegetable to vegetable. The prices have gone up just three or four days ago. The prices of vegetables went up by Dh3 whereas the fruits prices are up by Dh5 to Dh10.

"Even though". "But." These suggest that there is some sort of paradox. Why are consumers buying more even though price has increased?

Actually, the cause of the price increases is the increase in demand during Ramadan. If prices did not adjust there would be a shortage. The increase in the prices encourages suppliers to put more on the market. Hence, quantity increases. Price and quantity are above pre-Ramadan levels.

Ramadan Demand

During the fasting month the demand for food actually rises. Fasting takes place during the daylight hours. Iftar, the daily breaking of the fast at sundown, is a festive event. In homes families gather for large meals that have been under preparation all day. Restaurants offer buffets to serve the crowds at Iftar. I'm speculating, but my guess is that demand rises through a combination of celebration and the inevitable waste of dealing with feeding a crowd all at once.

We see signs of the increase in demand through the government appeals to food retailers and wholesalers to not increase prices. Some examples in today's news:

Gulf News:

Oman's Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan on Sunday exhorted traders in the country to control spiralling prices of essential commodities, especially in light of advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

During a meeting with the suppliers, traders and shop owners, the Minister explored means to controlling the price rise.

"Refrain from increasing prices of essentials during Ramadan," he told the gathering at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry auditorium.
...
He said there was no need for prior approval from the ministry for offering discounts at supermarkets and hypermarkets during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Just why you would have to seek prior approval to cut prices at other times? My guess is this is a way of protecting locally-owned shops. [Update - Muscati offers another explanation based on observation rather than guess. See the comments.]

Gulf News:

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Economy has taken a number of steps to rein in prices during Ramadan, an official statement said yesterday.

The ministry will tighten its control and intensify campaigns to curb shop owners from exploiting the demand during the fasting month, said the statement, carried by WAM.

The ministry's Consumer Protection Department held meetings to discuss measures "to prevent the manipulation of prices and curb unjustified increase in the prices of basic commodities and foodstuff," it said.

Arab News:

The price hikes come with the advent of Ramadan when Saudis and expatriates purchase large quantities of foodstuffs. Supermarkets and grocery shops across the Kingdom have been filled with Ramadan shoppers.

According to one survey, Saudis believe that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has failed to deal with the crisis. They feel that the crisis has gone out of control with prices of essential commodities, including rice, milk, fruits and vegetables increasing everyday.

Economists would say its merely supply and demand at work. The higher prices signal cost. As shops with customers it becomes more costly to serve them.