In honor of the World Chinese Language Day, the Mohammeda bin Rashid Library organized a cultural dialogue event dedicated to the history of the Chinese community in Dubai. The event discussed the book "Chinese History in Dubai" in the presence of its authors Mao Yiming and Dr. Li Huafai. During the discussion, the guests actively participated, posing a multitude of questions about the content of the book and the experiences of its authors.
The authors of the book considered key moments, starting from the earliest historical evidence of trade between China and Dubai, such as fragments of green Chinese ceramics from the Song Dynasty (9th-12th centuries), found at the archaeological site of Jumeirah and exhibited in the Dubai museum. These artifacts served as a starting point for discussing the history of trade and cultural relations between China and the region.
The discussion covered important contemporary historical events, including the first Chinese telegrams sent from Dubai to China in the 50s-60s of the last century, the opening of the first Chinese restaurant in the UAE, the emergence of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the formation of so-called "Chinese villas" and the first communities of Chinese people.
The book also describes significant changes in the 90s, such as the history of the famous "Mushu" market, the arrival of merchants from the Wenchang clan, who changed the landscape of Chinese trade in Dubai, and the emergence of traveling fairs, which served as a starting point for the creation of the "Dragon Mart" complex.
The authors also discussed the "golden age" of Chinese business in Dubai during the period from 2000 to 2009, when the first centers of Chinese community life were established, the development of economic relations, and subsequent changes caused by the internet, cultural, and social transformations.
In the concluding part of the book, the period from 2010 to 2019 is highlighted, when the Chinese community became increasingly visible in residential areas such as International City, and a brief overview of the history of Chinese medicine, Chinese cuisine, and investments in real estate in Dubai was made.
During the event, live Chinese music filled the evening with a special atmosphere. An additional activity was organized - writing the names of the guests in Chinese hieroglyphs on bookmarks, which generated great interest and added beauty to the evening.
Participants were inspired by the content of the book and recognized the importance of documenting this little-known history. The authors noted that "the history of the Chinese in Dubai can seem insignificant on the general background, but it has great importance for those who have experienced it. If it had not been documented, it would have never happened." They expressed their gratitude to all the elders of the Chinese diaspora in Dubai, who contributed their part to this work.
