Growing up Emirati: How extended families and multilingual experiences shape children's development.

What is it about?

This groundbreaking study is the first of its kind to examine how Emirati children learn language and culture within their unique family environments. Researchers studied 20 Emirati families with young children (ages 2–4) using interviews and home observations. The central finding is that Emirati children are raised very differently from the Western “nuclear family” model that dominates most child development research. Instead, they grow up in multigenerational households where grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and older siblings all share caregiving duties. The traditional majlis (family gathering space) serves as a living classroom; boys, especially, learn hospitality, respect, and gendered social codes by observing and participating alongside elders. Grandmothers often serve as linguistic gatekeepers, passing down Emirati Arabic through storytelling and religious teachings, while older siblings take on quasi-parental roles. Children develop rich multilingual abilities naturally through daily life. They navigate Emirati Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, various tribal dialects, and English, often with domestic workers introducing South or Southeast Asian languages too. Importantly, this multilingualism is organic, not forced, and children mix languages creatively. This study challenges Western-centric developmental theories by showing that collective, kin-based caregiving is a strength, not a deficit. Policy implications are significant: early childhood programmes should include extended family members; speech therapists and teachers must recognise multilingualism as normal, not a delay; language policies should balance Arabic preservation with English proficiency; and assessments must use locally grounded benchmarks rather than foreign standards. The research urges policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals to validate Emirati family structures and to design interventions that reflect children's lived realities, rather than WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialised, rich, democratic) assumptions.

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Photo by Godwin Bephin on Unsplash

Photo by Godwin Bephin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper is critically important because it provides the first empirically grounded understanding of how Emirati children actually develop within their authentic cultural environment. What makes this research special is its primary longitudinal data, collected directly in the UAE over an extended period, which allows researchers to build deep trust with 20 families and capture the dynamic nature of children's socialisation. The findings reveal a collective, multigenerational caregiving model where grandparents, siblings, and extended kin raise children through rich multilingual exposure across Arabic dialects and English. This indigenous knowledge directly serves “We the UAE 2031” vision, which envisions a "Forward Society" built on empowered citizens, and the UAE Centennial 2071, which prioritises “Educational Excellence” by investing in future generations. Policymakers can craft language strategies that strengthen Arabic while supporting English. Early childhood programmes can include extended family and honour oral storytelling traditions in the early years as a bridge for literacy development. By validating Emirati family structures and multilingualism as strengths, this research empowers policymakers to create environments where children flourish, culturally grounded, linguistically rich, equitable, and prepared to lead the nation toward its ambitious future. National strategies that embrace these realities will build a stronger, more cohesive, more confident, and truly forward-looking society.

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