AWAY FROM LOVED ONES, BUT NOT ALONE IN CELEBRATIONS
Dubai expatriates Abdul Malik, Mohammed Saeed and Iftikhar Ahmad may not have met before, but all three men share one thing in common; they live away from their loved ones.
Living in the UAE for a combined total of 20 years between them, neither worker has had the chance to travel home to spend Eid Al Adha with family during their time in Dubai. And, although they will be working again this year, each will be spending time celebrating with friends.
For Bangladeshi expat, Malik (who has lived in the UAE for 10 years), being away from his wife and four children is hard, but he said he has never spent an Eid alone.
“Yes, we work most years, but this Eid, once our shift is finished I will go back to my place in Satwa and celebrate with my eight friends. It will be nice for me to spend it with them. We have a cook who will prepare our food while we work and in the night time; when it cools down we will play cricket.”
After more than a decade in Dubai working as a car wash attendant, Malik said he has gotten used to being away from family for the festive period. “I am here for them. It is not easy, but I have my family in Dubai too; my friends. That is good at times like this.”
Working three 12-hour shifts over the Eid holidays, Pakistani expat Iftikhar Ahmad said he hasn’t had a chance to travel home to spend time with his family for Eid in six years. “Working in security, we don’t always get that time off like other workers do. But I plan to travel home in October, so I will make up for the missed celebrations during that visit.”
With four children back home, including three daughters aged 13, 11 and eight, and one boy aged four, Ahmad said he misses them even more during the Eid period, because in Pakistan the days are “spent together, visiting friends and neighbours”.
“If I was at home, I would wake early and go for prayers. Then we would visit the graves of loved ones and pray over them, then during the afternoon we would go from relative to relatives house, enjoying the food prepared for Eid and meeting friends and neighbours. Our whole village celebrates together. I miss that part of it.”
After finishing his shift on the first day of Eid, Ahmad said as with every Eid, he will dress in his favourite shalwar kameez, and will celebrate over food with friends.
“We’ll eat biryani together and make calls back home to loved ones. Our favourite food items include biryani, swaiyaan and jalebi; swaiyaan and jalebi are traditional sweet dishes from Pakistan. It’s a good celebratory food.”
And for Pakistani expat, Mohammed Saeed (who works for the municipality), the day will also be spent with his second family; his friends in Dubai.
“I don’t have a wife or children in my home country, but if I was spending my Eid there, I would be surrounded by family and friends. Yes, it is hard to be away from home but this is life. We are here to earn money and make their life better. I look forward to future Eid celebrations spent with my family.”
Yes, we work most years, but this Eid, once our shift is finished I will go back to my place in Satwa and celebrate with my eight friends. It will be nice for me to spend it with them.”
Malik, Bangladeshi expat
Working in security, we don’t always get that time off like other workers do. But I plan to travel home in October, so I will make up for the missed celebrations during that visit.”
Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistani expat
I don’t have a wife or children in my home country, but if I was spending my Eid there, I would be surrounded by family and friends. Yes, it is hard to be away from home but this is life.”
Mohammed Saeed, Pakistani expat