GED 401

Social Behavioral Sciences

Assignment 2


This assignment focuses on the topic, Wasta or Wasata (Arabic: ), a
part of ones culture? This assignment is designed for you to critically look
and reflect on the practice of wasta in your culture.

Since this assignment requires your honest opinion about the topic,
you have an option not to write your name. However, you have to write
your ID Number for grading purposes.



















Name (Optional): ________________________ ID Nr: _______________________
Nr of years working? ______ Nationality? _________________

Please UNDERLINE which applies to you.

Workplace: Government/Semi-Government/Private Gender: Male/Female

Emirate: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah,
Fujairah

Topic:Wasta or Wasata (Arabic: ), a part of ones culture?
1. What do you understand about wasta? How do you define it?
Wasta refers to using ones connections and/or influence to get things done, including government
transactions such as the quick renewal of a passport, waiving of traffic fines, and getting hired for or
promoted in a job. It is common now a days and every one use it for every thing to get that.

2. Who do you think has wasta? Describe briefly the person who has
wasta.
Yes off course
In UAE there are specification about wasta. wasta is often a person from a royal
background or family of enormous wealth. Wasta has a relative or friend who has some
power there where you are using wasta.

3. Where do you think people use wasta? In what situation/s do you think
people will use wasta?
Every where you can use wasta
Wasta is related to many situation. Like in examem, in admission, in job, in promotion
etc With good wasta a person can get practically anything done. Wasta can be more
valuable than money. Having wasta makes life in UAE much easier for the person with
it, but for those without it or those impacted by their actions, it does the opposite. Wasta
could be described also as the root of corruption.

4. Is wasta used in your workplace? Explain briefly?
wasta might be use but there is no one having a great wasta in my workplace because the
organization where I am working are having so strict rules and regulation. Wasta just a random
someone that your friend or relative knows who happens to be in a position where he can
influence others. He or she could help get a person a job, and sometimes things work the
opposite way, they might also get you fired easily. Wasta is often used by Arabs to land a place
in university or a job in management or other sought after placements
5. Are there norms or standards of behavior (expectations from both sides)
when wasta is used in your workplace?
Yes, Much of course depends on their position, where they are, who they are and of
course what they are asking for requiring use of WASTA. The expectation is also high
because every one has wasta for selfinterest.
6. Do you think the use of wasta will benefit your workplace/institution as a
whole? Explain briefly.
Yes ofcourse there is start a growth of sharing also information sharing occurs there and no
body having any problem. If the officers meet the individual targets as given to them they are
rather bail able for the bonus. Since every officer has the responsibility to serve the bank
customers, the targets thus excogitate the concept, for every worker targets are set according to
their performance that is how they performed in their last target and quality of their work and the
total number of customer reckoned.

7. As a conclusion, do you consider wasta still a part of your present
culture? Yes or No, and explain why.
However, the world is completely different. You'll find lucky and unlucky people in the world. In
my opinion, I dont think that we are all the same and I'll be explaining with the examples below.

First of all, there are many stupid people in the U.S. that think all men and wemen are the
same. All children are born with the same intelligence, and will have the same lifestyle. All
employees have the same chance in having jobs. However, it's not because maybe the boss is
not interested in male employees, even if they were more professional than the female. I dont
know why they think that way; you may find many differences between people.

Secondly, I'm going to talk about my opinion in people. People are not created the same, like
I've said before some are lucky and some are unlucky. Some may get born in a rich family.
However, some may not. Also some people are born smart and intelligent and many people are
not born that way. Many people have an easy life by making other people do their job for them.
For example, here in Saudi Arabia there Is this thing called "Wasta" you could get things done
by wasta such as: not paying for traffic tickets or not going to jail and lots of other things which I
see is very wrong, so you can't say people are created equally.