Dubai: Loyal Apple followers paid homage to Steve Jobs in a special tribute on Thursday night hosted by the Shelter in Al Quoz surrounded by enlarged portraits of the technological wiz kid turned global CEO.
Emirati Rashid Bin Shabib, co-founder of Shelter, said he wanted his public space dedicated to creative innovation to celebrate the life of a true visionary.
Apple co-founder Jobs died on Wednesday of pancreatic cancer.
"We are paying our respects in a homage to Steve Jobs personally," said Bin Shabib.
Despite an outpouring of grief from around the globe at news of Jobs' passing, the mood among visitors at the Shelter was upbeat as members of Dubai' technical community and beyond fondly recalled their own experiences with Jobs' long list of creations ranging from the iMac and the iPod to the iPhone and the iPad.
Jimmy Grewal, GM of tech firm Elcome, brought several collector pieces to to the vigil including a 1977 Apple ][ computer, a 1984 McIntosh as well as 1998 iMac.
"Steve Jobs and the products he made had a big impact on life. This is good way to meet other people who feel the same way," Grewal said.
Prashant K. Gulati, president and CEO of Optimistix Ventures in Dubai, said he attended last night's event "to celebrate "someone wings to enjoy, someone who will impact our lives for years to come."
Gulati said Jobs also brought together "function and design" in a way that interested millions of people around the world.
Magnus Nystedt, group editor consumer technology with CPIdubai, said the evening gave him a chance to "celebrate Jobs and not be sad about it."
