Dubai A wheelchair-bound brother-sister duo are spreading cheer at the Global Village.
Fresh flowers and sunny smiles are what Jordanian siblings Neema Fathi Hassan and Saber Fathi Hassan are dishing out to thousands who throng the festival.
The brother-sister duo crippled by a congenital disability have a flower shop called Mounting Flowers in Al Ain, but both want more out of life. “I did not want to confine myself to the four walls of my house. I want to see the world and meet new people every day,” said Neema. And that is exactly what she is doing at Global Village.
As visitors stop by to bargain for a bunch of flowers or toys neatly laid in front of her wheelchair, the ever-chirpy Neema does not miss an opportunity to chat with her customers or check out their accessories. If a nice ring or a bracelet worn by a female customer takes her fancy, Neema has no qualms in trying it on.
“She is soaking it all up. She is a people person and hates to sit at home. Our business is doing well because of her. People just love talking to her,” said Mohammad Hassan, the younger brother of Neema and Hassan, who helps his siblings in their business.
The three siblings landed in the UAE as kids when their parents moved out of Jordan. “It was our destiny to be in the UAE. And we thank God that we are living in a great country,” said Saber, who is married with an eight-year-old daughter. Neema is single and lives with her brother’s family.
The siblings are regulars at exhibitions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and visitors say they are familiar faces at GITEX, Ramadan events and at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre.
The duo have been part of the festival for 10 years now. Saber and Neema say: “Flowers are a part of all good occasions and we are there whenever there are celebrations.”
