Metro staffer who bailed out tourist praised

DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised the tacful behaviour of an Emirati, Abdullah Ali Al Qassab, who works at the Emirates Towers Metro station. He is a model for the UAE government employee, Sheikh Mohammed said.

Al Qassab paid for a Dubai Metro ticket for a female passenger, Ashleigh Stewart, a New Zealand journalist, who was surprised upon arrival at the ticket office that she had forgotten her wallet and could not catch up with her appointment. He said he was happy to hear Sheikh Mohammed’s praise, which is a medal on his chest and a source of pride for him.

“As a student of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, I follow his directives and spare no effort to fulfil his wish for spreading happiness. I am keen on reflecting the honourable image of ‘Zayed’s Children’ who were taught the moral values of the UAE wise leadership,” Al Qassab said.

“I always strive to extend a helping hand to everyone while on duty or beyond my office hours. What I did is based on my keenness for the beautiful image of Dubai to be complete to all those who live in the emirate. My job necessitates me to help Dubai Metro users in every way and my morals forced me not to let down a girl who was standing in front of me and feeling sad for having forgoten her purse. When I helped her, reward or praise was not on my mind but what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid said about what I did is the most beautiful reward I have ever had and will motivate me to exert more efforts and show more dedication.”

Stewart tweeted what happened with her saying: “A moment please for this absolute hero at Emirates Towers Metro station. My Metro card was out of credit & I forgot my wallet. Bearing witness to my idiocy, this staff Superman topped me up out of his own $$ & wouldn’t accept any atempt to repay him later.

Kindness. That’s it.”

Last year, the Dubai Police Maritime Rescue Department returned valuables to an Asian national tourist ater they fell into the deep end of Hata Water Dam while he was kayaking.

The valuables included a wallet containing ID and credit cards, a vehicle key, and two phones.

Lieutenant-colonel Ali Abdullah Al Naqbi, Director of Sea Rescue Department in Dubai Police, said that an Asian man called 999 seeking help ater his personal belongings fell into the deep water at Hata Dam.