Dubai: With the UAE celebrating its 41st National Day on December 2, buildings, streets and houses across the country are decked in the colours of the national flag.
Not to miss out on the festivities, a large number of motorists have decorated their cars with patriotic symbols to express their love for the country.
Take Abd Elaziz Darwish for instance. An IT professional at Dubai Airport, the 30-year-old Emirati spends thousands of dirhams every year to embellish his car. This time was no exception. “It has cost me around Dh4,000. But that’s nothing compared to the Dh20,000 I spent last year on my GMC. It’s my way of celebrating,” he said.
His elder brother Khaled Darwish, 39, has the same passion. “I am never as happy as I am this time of year,” said Khaled.
A customer services agent at Dubai Customs, Ahlam Abdallah, 25, said she has been decorating her car for five years and still feels enthusiastic about it. Thousands of such creatively-dressed cars will compete for the ‘Best Decorated’ vehicle competition at the Union Car Parade in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Leisure Drive where Dh100,000 is up for grabs in prize money.
With the top prize of Dh25,000 and Dh20,000 for second place, the parade is expected to draw colourful entries from across the country.
The remaining prize money will be divided into eight additional cash prizes ranging from Dh15,000 to Dh5,000.
Iranian Ahmad Saif Allah, 33, who owns a car decoration shop in Satwa, said he has his hands full. “Of late, I have been terribly busy with orders.” Prices at his shop start from Dh400 and can go up to Dh7,000. Sabrina Bakhlolova, 32, from Turkmenistan could however fork out only Dh200. “This is the first time I am decorating my car. I love this country and wanted to be part of the celebrations,” she said.
The Dubai Police, however, sounded a word of caution. Car parades have been banned in the city. Police will confiscate cars with decorated windshields and driver and front passenger windows. They will also keep an eye out for reckless drivers and impound cars involved in stunts. Offenders face a Dh2,000 fine and 12 black points.
