Migration of Culture and Ideas: The Engagements of the UAE with India and France

Abstract The concept of migration should not be restricted to the movement of people. It should encompass the movement of ideas and cultures that impact the places that receive them. In recent years, UAE has made a concerted effort to rebrand itself as a ‘soft superpower’ and be regarded as the model of tolerance and cultural diplomacy in the region. The ultimate aim is to make the country the global capital for culture and dialogue among civilisations, an approach that will contribute to crafting an identity for the country that will set it apart from the rest of the GCC countries. The paper intends to first, examine the UAE’s endeavour to be recognised as a ‘soft superpower’ and a modern and tolerant country, and second, the possible intentions behind this approach. Today, the UAE shares strong bilateral ties with India and France, two very culturally rich nations. The recently inaugurated Louvre museum and the Sorbonne campus, symbols of French universalism, and the construction of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple, the first traditional stone Hindu temple in the Middle East, a symbol of peace and tolerance, could be regarded as sites for the migration and cross-fertilisation of diverse ideas and cultures.