Dubai's Youth: Small Children, Big Ideas

March 12, 2009— -- It's a tiny Arab emirate with big attractions but now Dubai, like much of the world, is suffering through a severe economic downturn. Still, that hasn't squelched something else that's big in Dubai -- the spirit of its children.

"Good Morning America's" Chris Cuomo sat down to talk with five Dubai fourth-graders -- Mohammed Lootah, Zainab Marood, Khalifa al-Attar, Aya Saleh and Mohammad al-Shirawe -- to hear their thoughts about their home, their future and the world around them.

Despite Dubai's economic troubles, the children -- who all attend the the Al Mawakeb School, a private international school in Dubai -- are clearly proud of their home.

"People from all over the world come to Dubai and say Dubai is very big and very fantastic!" said Zainab.

The children spoke of Dubai's famous venues, like the Burge Dubai, the world's tallest building; the Atlantis aquarium, which boasts the world's largest viewing panel; and Ski Dubai, a giant indoor ski slope.

Attractions like these is what Mohammad says he likes about Dubai.

"Dubai has lots of places and lots of stuff to do," he said.

But the children are also aware of Dubai's problems.

A financial crisis is underway because "a lot of people are playing with their money," Mohammad said.

Life is now visibly different in the emirate, the children agreed.

"The business is stopping now because there is no money," said Khalifa.

But the significance of money and the economy seemed to pale in comparison to the value they place on their families.

"Even if you lose your money, you get to have your family still," Zainab said.

The children are still optimistic about their futures: Mohammed wants to grow up to be businessman who builds towers. Aya and Zainab want to become engineers.

They're also optimistic about the president of the United States. They like that President Obama -- whose middle name is Hussein -- has a Muslim name. They feel they can trust him more.

And Obama, they believe, "can do a lot of things in the world," Mohammed said.

Three of the children have visited the United States.

Mohammad said he liked that the United States is a big country with "lots of different people from many places."

Khalifa said he enjoyed American music -- specifically, that of rapper 50 Cent.

But they had their dislikes too. Aya said there was a robbery in the United States "every second," though the girl conceded that she hadn't witnessed that for herself. It was something she'd been told, she said, by her father.

The children were also mixed on their feelings on world affairs -- specifically, war. They were well aware of the war in Iraq and the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. The latter, said Aya, will probably never end.

Mohammad struck a more hopeful note.

"There will be a day where the world will be all at peace," he said.