Photo by Danish Farhan

My husband and I were watching a news bite on BBC about the soon-to-be-inaugurated Burj Dubai, when he made a really interesting point.  To paraphrase, he believes this iconic structure will not only be symbolic of Dubai’s determination to be the best, but will also come to represent “Dubai’s resilience through its present and future difficulties.”

Interesting.

It seems we are predisposed to give meaning to everything around us – both animate and inanimate, and from what I’ve observed, it is purely rooted in our tendency (or obsession) to develop innumerable connections with that which is in our environment.  Whether this is a biological or cultural tendency, I do not know, but it is reality and we see it everyday. It is real because these connections we seek to develop give us reassurance that our lives do, in fact, have meaning, and are not being lived in vain. Personal objects such as a charm bracelet from a dear friend, or a test paper from math class, take on a new identity because they may be perceived as physical manifestations of our feelings, efforts and hopes.

There is meaning, and indeed, there is also symbolism.

When observed in a larger context, an object that is honoured and celebrated by a people with such fervour and joy takes on a special national identity because it is now emblematic of a nation’s spirit. But I think the identity of the Burj Khalifa (previously known as Burj Dubai) goes beyond national identity, and this is due to its nature of being the ‘tallest in the world’.

Today marks a historic day not just for the residents of the UAE, but for everyone.  We can appreciate the engineering and architectural marvel that is the Burj Dubai, but more importantly, we may come to acknowledge and appreciate an abstract, metaphorical facet that can be associated with the identity of this inanimate wonder: a facet which is symbolic of hope.

For even amidst the political and financial turmoil we are facing globally, this tower is a standing reminder that goes beyond borders; it is a reminder that we can continue to be inspired, so as to visualize great things and bring them to life.