Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, bid farewell on Monday to an Indian office assistant who worked around 40 years at the Crown Prince’s Court.
Shaikh Mohammad exchanged friendly talks and expressed his thanks and appreciation to Kunhi Mohiuddin, 63, for his hard work and dedication. He wished him success and safe return to his family in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
“The UAE is proud of its brothers and friends who contributed to the march of development and progress in the UAE. We owe them all the respect and appreciation and affection for their efforts and faithful hard work,” said Shaikh Mohammad, according to WAM.
Shaikh Mohammad told Mohiuddin that the UAE will remain his second home country and that he is always welcome whenever he wants to visit the UAE.
Mohamed bin Zayed bids farewell to worker Moideen, who has been serving for more than 40 years at Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and has been an example of a dedicated and diligent worker pic.twitter.com/c9VtVjQq7X
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) January 22, 2018
Mohiuddin told Gulf News that he would definitely come back as and when possible.
“I am excited but not fully surprised about this love and affection because I have been experiencing it every day during the past forty years,” he said.
“No doubt that being mentioned by His Highness on his official twitter [handle] is a rare honour. That is the only difference. He and his senior officials …I may say all Emiratis…shower the same love and affection on everyone around them every day… this not a special gesture on a particular occasion like a farewell,” Mohiuddin, said.
In a video posted with his tweet, Shaikh Mohammad was seen hugging Mohiuddin, talking to him and posing for pictures.
Mohiuddin always had a chance to see the top leader but from a distance. When got a chance to speak to the leader for a few minutes, he never anticipated that the entire world would watch it on twitter.
“I have always watched him [Shaikh Mohammad] with admiration when he speaks very friendly with all staff members with a smile. He spent a few minutes with me and asked me about my wife and children,” Mohiuddin said.
He joined the media department of the Crown Prince Court in 1978.
“I reached Abu Dhabi in late 1977 and landed on this job after few months’ job hunt.”
As he had to support his family at a young age, he had not completed his school education. “I could not pass my tenth grade. This was the best job I could get with my level of education,” Mohiuddin said. “I never had any bitter experience in the past 40 years. My superiors always supported me all possible extend,”
His wife Abida, 48, is here on a visit visa. “She is also excited.” The couple has five children- four daughters and a son who is working at his uncle’s shop in Saudi Arabia. Three older daughters got married and the youngest one is studying. “Thanks to this job my family is well settled and even I was abe to help my extended families as well,” Mohiuddin said. He will work until January 31 and would leave Abu Dhabi on February 15.
Commenting about Mohiuddin’s honour, Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News: “I think this is an exceptionally gracious gesture by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad towards a long-serving member of his staff. It also shows the nobility and class of His Highness."
"We are all aware of the tremendous contribution that the Indian community in UAE makes, with examples ranging from humble office boys like Mohiuddin to business leaders like Yusuff Ali M.A and B.R Shetty. But it is truly heart-warming to see such recognition come from the highest level,” Suri said.
