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ABU DHABI — Abdullah Al Ameri’s first job as a Careem captain was to pick an Afghani family from Reem Island in Abu Dhabi and drop them to Sharjah.

The 28-year-old Emirati was not expecting a long trip on day one. But he was not going to shirk from the call of duty.

“I could not decline. It was a husband and wife with two children. When they saw an Emirati in a kandoora behind the wheels, they looked surprised,” Ameri told Khaleej Times.

For him also, it was the first time he was speaking to a family from Afghanistan.

“But we did not stop talking the whole trip. I learned a lot about Afghanistan and what is happening in the country. They asked me a lot of questions about Emiratis and why I am working as a driver.”

A project manager with a comfortable income, Ameri says the endless possibilities of such cultural exchanges with the UAE’s multi-ethnic population is what has wooed him to enlist as a Careem driver.

“I think I will travel to a lot more countries as I will have the opportunity to learn about their cultures,” said Ameri. According to him, he is among the new breed of young Emiratis, who are “eager to explore and learn new things”.

Since February 7, Ameri has clocked 10 hours and four trips in total. “I am only working part time spending two hours maximum a day. I am planning to have more hours during the weekends,” he said. He said it is a huge responsibility and challenge as his job also requires him to be a brand ambassador of his country.

“People think we are a closed community. But we are not. I want to show that we Emiratis are open-minded, and we can live with different cultures. In the Year of Tolerance, I want to show how tolerant we are,” said Ameri, who is married.

And his previous work experience as a culture guide at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque helps him in handling the challenges.

“Sometimes, people will approach you with pre-conceived ideas. I know we have to talk to them and slowly make them understand.”

The job is also about breaking stereotypes that Emiratis do not take up blue-collar jobs, said Ameri. “There is no shame in working as a taxi driver. As long as you are representing your country well and promoting its culture, we should be proud to do any job. I will keep doing this job as a proud Emirati,” said Ameri.

There is no shame in working as a taxi driver. As long as you are representing your country well and promoting its culture, we should be proud to do any job.”

Abdullah Al Ameri, Emirati Careem captain