Time Out Dubai recently posted a picture gallery of the “50 Hottest Celeb Sightings in Dubai” but how many of the half century of celebrities are Emiratis or Arabs?There are actors, tennis champs, cricketers, golfing stars, footballers, basketball players, politicians, singers, rock bands, punky popsters, F1 motorcar drivers, entrepreneurs, comedians and celebrity cooks.
They come from different parts of the world to the stages, courts, fairways and kitchens of Dubai and they bring heaps of money into the UAE coffers.
Nothing against international celebrities but wouldn’t it be great to see more and more Emiratis inspiring the cosmopolitan population that makes up the UAE?
Celebrity Leadership
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is inspiring many UAE residents and people all over the world (check out all his international fans on Facebook and his world-wide followers on Twitter) through his celebrity leadership, innovation, sportsmanship, poetry and diplomacy.
The maturing of a cultural identity as in the UAE requires the cultivation of heroes from its own ranks who perform with excellence not only nationally but on the international stage.
Emiratization of Celebrity Culture
No doubt there are other lesser known Emirati footballers, golfers, singers and entertainers on the rise but it would be good over the next decade to see the Emiratization of these spheres and TimeOut Dubai’s 50 Hottest Celeb Sightings in Dubai in 2019 comprising a goodly number of UAE nationals.
See For Yourself
50 Hottest Celeb Sightings in Dubai, Dubai Pictures Gallery, Time Out Dubai, 14 July 2009.
What’s Your Selection?
If you had to select some Emirati nationals or UAE residents for a 50 Hottest Celebrity List in Dubai and the UAE who would you choose?
Let me get you thoughts flowing by choosing HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
Dr Geoff Pound
Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.
Image: A sampling of TimeOut Dubai’s Half Century (pics in this collage courtesy of TOD’s picture gallery at the above link).
