For many, it's business as usual

While majority celebrate eid holidays several others work to keep the city running

  • By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
  • Published: 21:27 November 28, 2009

Call of duty
  • Image Credit: Oliver Clarke, Gulf News
  • Tek Prasad from Nepal, a fuel pump attendant at a Satwa petrol station, works during the Eid Holiday.

Dubai: Thousands of UAE residents are enjoying a well-deserved break for the Eid Al Adha holidays.

But for many people it's business as usual.

Over the festive period, taxis and buses continue to ply Dubai's roads and small businesses such as hair dressing salons, florists and restaurants operate normal trading hours.

Gulf News took to the streets of Dubai yesterday to speak to people working throughout the holidays.

Yaqoob Afshar, a 45-year-old bakery supplier from Iran, packing bread outside the Najm Al Mawsem bakery in Satwa, said: "I am very happy. I am working nine hours today but I enjoy my work."

Mohammad Siddique, a 33-year-old chef from Pakistan, was cooking three huge pans of mutton and chicken peshawari at Ravi restaurant ahead of the evening rush. He said: "I will be working 15 hours today but I'm happy because there is a good atmosphere around the city."

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Thousands of people still need transport around Dubai as they descend on the city's numerous attractions. Sarfraz Ahmad, a 35-year-old taxi driver from Pakistan, said: "I am working every day of the Eid holidays. It's not a problem for me; I'm in this country to work and to earn money for my family back home. Today I am working a 12-hour shift from 4am to 4pm."

Punsiri Fernando Tevarathanthrigl, a 51-year-old security guard from Sri Lanka, was sitting on a chair between a mosque and a mobile ATM machine. He said: "I will work between 12 and 15 hours today but I am getting overtime so it's not too bad.

"I need to earn money; that is why I am in Dubai. I need to support my wife and 14-year-old son back in Colombo. I help people use the ATM and assist those who might have problems using their card. Also I need to be on hand in case the machine is out of order."

Tek Prasad, a 26-year-old petrol pump attendant from Nepal, said: "I'm working eight hours today. It's OK, though, because I'm getting paid overtime. If the company asks you to work I believe you should work. ... I'm in the UAE to raise some money."

It was also very much business at usual at the Iranian Hospital on Al Wasl Road with many people queuing for appointments.

Are you one of the people working during Eid Al Adha? How did it feel? Can a country function if all workers had the same day off?

Comments (2)

  1. Added 13:45 November 29, 2009

    i want to wish all the workers out there in the UAE, EID MUBARAK. Without them we would suffer.

    Hazwan Karim, selangor, Malaysia

  2. Added 23:11 November 28, 2009

    In a few words I would like to thank all those people who work during Eid holidays, without whose help the 'rest' of the resting members of the public would have really suffered. Those include taxi drivers, house maids, petrol pump workers, security guards, sales persons and many more. To all of them, on behalf of the 'rest' a big 'THANK YOU'. A country cannot actually allow all its residents to be off duty during holidays.

    Agniyah Shaikh, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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