Greeks
There are over a thousand Greeks living in the UAE, most of whom are based in Dubai. They are predominately professionals in white-collar industry serving in various positions such as executives and businessmen. Many of them have been living in the country for more than 20 years, while every year an increasing number of newcomers are setting up in the UAE. In addition, there are more than 120 Greek companies of different sectors which are currently operating in the country.
The Greek community is organised through social circles; there are two (informal) Greek schools, whose teachers are posted and managed by the Greek Ministry of Education.
The Greek Orthodox Church of the UAE is under the jurisdiction of the Antioch Patriarchate; the current bishop is the Metropolitan of Bagdad and Kuwait Constantine. There is a Greek Orthodox Church of St Nikolaos in Abu Dhabi. Prior to its construction, there existed no Greek church in the UAE and the community had to use other churches for their services.
Read more about this topic: Expatriates In The United Arab Emirates
Famous quotes containing the word greeks:
““The Greeks used to say,” he said bitterly, using a phrase that had been a long time on his mind, “that when a man became a slave, on the first day he lost one-half of his virtue.””
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“Christianity is the religion of melancholy and hypochondria. Islam, on the other hand, promotes apathy, and Judaism instills its adherents with a certain choleric vehemence, the heathen Greeks may well be called happy optimists.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“The Greeks have snatched up their spears.
They have pointed the helms of their ships
Toward the bulwarks of Troy.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)