Unveiling Name Shame

I wonder if I’m the only person in the UAE who has ever tried to contact information to get a lost telephone number, address, or any other contact detail for some dear friend I’ve lost contact with, only to be told such services don’t really exist, or such information can’t be disclosed.

There is a solid generalization I can make about most UAE nationals and the culture of the UAE once you’ve spent enough time here, without feeling I’m being prejudice, insulting, or in any way offensive. I don’t like to generalize at all, but it seems a large percentage of nationals go to great lengths to keep their family name, tribal name and even first name at times, secret.

And this goes as much for people whose actions can make you think nothing less of them, than respectable, law-abiding, peace-loving, hard-working people, as it does for those with personalities less attractive, or culturally acceptable; depending on how you look at it. And it seems there are as many males who do this as females.

I find it fascinating, really. Many of these people have nothing to be ashamed of, in their family name, reputation or personality, so why all the secrecy?

If anyone has an answer to this question, I’d love to know what you think.