Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora

In Impossible Citizens, anthropologist Neha Vora examines the lives of middle-class Indian residents in Dubai, focusing on their complex status as permanent temporary residents. Her ethnographic study draws from extensive fieldwork conducted between 2004 and 2007, documenting the experiences of Indian merchants, professionals, and service workers. The book explores how Dubai's Indian population navigates life in a city where citizenship remains permanently out of reach, yet where many have lived for generations. Vora conducts interviews and observations across multiple sites including shopping districts, educational institutions, and residential areas. Through detailed case studies and analysis, the text investigates how Indians in Dubai create spaces of belonging while existing in a state of permanent temporariness. The research examines their economic roles, social networks, and cultural practices within Dubai's unique citizenship structure. The work challenges conventional understandings of citizenship, belonging, and identity in the contemporary Gulf region. By focusing on this significant demographic group, Vora raises broader questions about migration, nationalism, and the nature of global cities in the 21st century.

Readers appreciate Vora's detailed ethnographic research and personal accounts from Dubai's Indian residents. Several reviewers note the book reveals complexities about citizenship, belonging, and class structures that challenge common narratives about Gulf migration. Positive reviews highlight: - Analysis of middle-class Indians' unique position between locals and laborers - Documentation of daily life and social dynamics in Dubai - Examination of malls as cultural spaces Critical feedback mentions: - Academic writing style can be dense and theoretical - Limited scope focuses mainly on middle-class perspectives - Some sections feel repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) One academic reviewer on Goodreads praised the "nuanced look at how Indian expatriates navigate their temporary status," while another noted it "fills an important gap in Gulf migration literature." A criticism from a reader was that it "could have included more voices from working-class Indians."

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🌟 Despite making up nearly 50% of Dubai's population, Indian expatriates are legally considered "temporary guests," regardless of how many generations their families have lived there. 🏢 Many Indian professionals in Dubai live in a state of "permanent temporariness," building careers and raising families while knowing they can never gain citizenship or permanent residency. 📚 Author Neha Vora conducted her ethnographic research while living in Dubai during 2004-2005, and returned multiple times through 2012, immersing herself in the daily lives of middle-class Indian residents. 🗺️ The book challenges traditional diaspora studies by examining a community that maintains strong ties to both India and Dubai, yet legally belongs to neither place. 💼 Many Indian residents in Dubai actively choose not to pursue citizenship elsewhere, preferring Dubai's tax-free income and proximity to India, even with the uncertainty of their status.