The aim of this master's thesis is to study the Slovenian diaspora in the selected countries of the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar) and to fill the gap in understanding the Slovenian diaspora in this region. Until now, we only had a good understanding of the Slovenian, mostly female, emigration to Egypt at the beginning of the 20th century, known as Aleksandrinke. We had only basic information about the diaspora in the UAE and Egypt. We found out that there are indeed Slovenian diasporas in the selected countries, each with its own characteristics. These diasporas are similar in some aspects and different in others. Most Slovenians live in the UAE and Egypt, fewer in Qatar. In the UAE and Qatar, diasporas formed mostly in the last 15 to 20 years, following the rapid economic rise of these countries and subsequent career opportunities. In Egypt, there is a mix of a younger diaspora and older descendants of Aleksandrinke. We have found out that Slovenians in Egypt and the UAE are also connected in associations and regularly remain in contact with Slovenia, the Slovenian language and culture.
|