Special Mother’s Day for cab driver
dubai — It was tears of joy all around on Tuesday as a worker who hadn’t seen his parents for six years was reunited with them on the eve of Mother’s Day.
Pakistani driver Tahir Ayoub was only 21-years-old when he came to the UAE from Pakistan in 2012 in search of a better job and income. Now 27, the driver finally got to see his mother, in person, for the first time since leaving Pakistan.
“I didn’t have enough income to go home and see them. My mother always asked me to come home and get married but I’ve been working to save up here,” he told Khaleej Times. The heartwarming scene was made possible thanks to the efforts of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Knowing his parents were going to perform Umrah in the holy city of Makkah, his em-
I didn’t have enough income to go home and see them. My mother always asked me to come home and get married but I’ve been working to save up here Tahir Ayoub
ployer in Sharjah arranged with the GDRFA officials to help him reunite with his parents during their four-hour transit at Dubai International Airport.
dubai — For Mother’s Day, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) reunited a young driver with his parents after six years of separation.
Pakistani driver Tahir Ayoub was only 21 years old when he came to the UAE from Peshawar in Pakistan in 2012 in search for a better job and income. He continued in his job for the last six years without seeing his family.
“I didn’t have enough income to go home and see them. My mother always asked me to come home and get married, but I’ve been working to save up here,” Ayoub, 27-year-old driver with a government firm, told Khaleej Times.
Knowing his parents were going to perform Umrah in Makkah, his employer in Sharjah office arranged with the GDRFA officials to help him reunite with his parents during their four-hour transit at Dubai International Airport before they head back to Pakistan.
Under the supervision of Lt.-Col. Ibrahim Hamad, director of passport control department, the team quickly arranged an appointment with the parents to see their son at a private hall in the passport control section of Terminal 3. The meeting was set at 11.55pm, coinciding with International Happiness Day and the eve of Mother’s Day.
Upon seeing his mother, Ayoub broke down in tears as they both emotionally embraced. “My mother has a very special place in my heart, and I couldn’t help but cry upon seeing her. I had been upset I wouldn’t spend Mother’s Day with her but thankfully my wish to see her came true,” said Ayoub, who now lives in Sharjah. “You don’t get to appreciate what your mother truly is until you don’t have her around anymore,” smiled Ayoub as he recalled the incident.
He added: “I was so happy to see them, and they made a lot of prayers for me.” Meanwhile, GDRFA officials said those present in the hall were in tears upon watching the family’s emotional reunion and the parents’ embrace to their elder son who left six years ago to ensure a better living in the UAE.
Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the GDRFA, said ever since 2017 was declared as the Year of Giving, there has been an integrated national strategy to achieve happiness through giving.
“Since giving is the key of happiness, we wanted to add happiness to the hearts of this family. And we know by taking part of it, happiness will also fill us. We follow what our leaders taught us: Serving people is the true meaning of happiness,” said Al Marri.
My mother has a very special place in my heart, and I couldn’t help but cry upon seeing her.” Tahir Ayoub, Pakistani driver
Since giving is the key of happiness, we wanted to add happiness to the hearts of this family.” Maj-Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director-general, GDRFA