Dubai Bling | 10 Years of Boycotting the UAE
(TW: mentioning of human trafficking and exploitation)
In the months leading up to this moment, the idea of a global call to boycott the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had not even crossed my mind. For nearly a decade, I stood steadfast in my singular conviction, often feeling like an outlier. However, this isolation never bothered me, as my decision to boycott was not about following the herd; it was about adhering to what I believed was right. If that led to isolation and critical glares, I was more than willing to endure it. Now, not only am I holding my ground, but I am witnessing a satisfying shift in conversations surrounding this critical issue.
This unexpected surge in a global call to boycott the UAE compels us to confront the world’s infatuation with its ostentatious glamour, glossy yet vacuous lifestyle, and wholehearted embrace of capitalism. Despite the glossy allure, my commitment to boycotting has remained unyielding. Every discussion about purchases or travel plans transforms into a battlefield, where I find myself having to mount a defence with lengthy explanations just to be understood or, at the very least, left alone on the topic.
