---
title: "Do I Really Belong Here? Identity in UAE & the Arab World | Areej Khataybeh, Ph.D"
description: "In this episode of Vision Voices – Arabic Series, Lara sits down with psychologist Areej Khataybeh for a conversation about identity, belonging, and mental well-being in Dubai and the UAE."
canonical_url: "https://visionvoices.me/videos/areej-khataybeh"
last_updated: "2026-05-20T06:47:22.255Z"
---

In this episode of Vision Voices – Arabic Series, Lara sits down with psychologist Areej Khataybeh for a conversation about identity, belonging, and mental well-being in Dubai and the UAE.

They explore how Arabic psychology, faith, culture, and modern life intersect — and how living between cultures shapes who we become. From the ancient concept of healing the “diseases of the heart” to navigating expat life in Dubai, this episode offers a grounded, insightful look into what it means to build identity in a constantly moving city.

This episode brings:

- Identity in Dubai: how a multicultural, fast-changing city shapes your sense of self
- Expat life in the UAE: belonging, transition, and redefining home
- Arabic psychology: understanding the “science of the self” rooted in tradition
- Healing the heart: ancient concepts of guilt, shame, envy, anger, and emotional alignment
- Language and identity: how Arabic, dialects, and English influence emotions and healing
- Cross-cultural families: raising children between languages, values, and traditions

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