The nexus of place attachment, spatial behaviour and subjective well-being. A pilot case of Indian expatriates in Dubai

ABSTRACT

With ongoing migration worldwide, communities are becoming increasingly diverse. Therefore, understanding the expatriates’ aspects of subjective well-being requires multifaceted approach, which are mostly overlooked in terms of people’s relationship with their built environment. Focusing on Indian expatriates, who are significant portion of Dubai’s population, this research investigates their lived experiences and interactions with their spatial environment by exploring the concept of place attachment. Within the scope of a pilot study, a qualitative case study method has been employed, utilizing a phenomenological approach. This pilot study’s findings reveal that Indian expatriates, by engaging in spatial behaviours such as adapting to their new place of living, recreating elements from their places of origin, and re-establishing social circles, successfully cultivate a strong sense of place attachment, which contributes to their subjective well-being in the context of migration and the meaning of home.

KEYWORDS:

• Home
• place attachment
• spatial behaviour
• migration
• subjective wellbeing
• Indian expatriates in Dubai

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Indian expatriates in Dubai who shared their stories during the fieldwork. Additionally, the authors express their sincere gratitude to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their invaluable input and comments on this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2024.2367592.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. Tulasi.

In many Indian households, you’ll find a tulasi-matham, which is an altar featuring a tulasi plant, situated in either the front, back, or central courtyard. Even in modern apartments, many people keep a potted tulasi plant. The lady of the house typically performs rituals like lighting a lamp, watering the plant, worshipping it, and circumambulating it. For Indians, the tulasi plant holds great religious significance (Ayyavu 2014). (source: (Ayyavu 2014))

2. Toran.

Toran decorations hold great cultural importance in India, symbolizing good fortune, wealth, and joy for the place they adorn. They serve as a warm welcome to guests, signifying hospitality and reverence (Panchasara 2023). (Source: (Panchasara 2023))

3. Kolam.

Kolams are intricate geometric patterns used to embellish the entrances of homes and places of worship. They hold a significant place in the South-Indian aesthetic tradition. Similar decorative drawings can be found throughout India, with names like rangolis in Gujarat, alpanas in West Bengal, jhotis in Orissa, mandanas in Rajasthan, and muggus in Andhra Pradesh (Srinivasan 2022). (source: (Srinivasan 2022))

4. Dress code of Sardar: (source: (Punjabi Clothing 2023)

5. Sardar.

Sardar is the title used before the name of Sikh men who wear a turban is “Sardar” (Sardar, 2023)

6. Gurudwara: A gurdwara, also spelled as gurudwara, is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs (Gurudwara, 2023).