Being Chinese Muslims in Dubai: religion and nationalism in a transnational space

Chinese Muslims, or the Hui people, an ethno-religious minority that straddles two civilisations, have drawn much attention from the media and academia as China strengthens its ties with Muslim-majority countries in the last two decades. Possessing unique cultural capital, Chinese Muslims are often seen as the ‘good’ Muslims of China, distinguished from the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs who are suspected of separatist motives and inclination towards religious extremism. However, the Chinese government’s intensifying campaign to curb ‘Islamisation’ and promote further Sinicisation of Chinese Muslims in the last few years has caused much concern. This paper considers the social forces that produce and sustain the transnational Chinese Muslim community in Dubai, a strategic location on the map of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It examines the experiences of Chinese Muslims in Dubai’s dynamic and transient urban space and seeks to understand their complex emotions towards China. It suggests that the social context of Dubai may be inducive to the reinforcement of ‘Chinese Muslim’ identity due to the UAE’s policies on foreign populations and attitudes towards cultural diversity, the increasing influence of the Chinese state apparatus among overseas Chinese communities, as well as heightened patriotism and nationalism as the result of China’s rise.