Dubai: After years of publishing his cartoons in Arabic-language newspapers Al Khaleej and Al Bayan, Haider Mohammad Haider received the first push of his career: a daily space to show his caricatures in Al Bayan, which is published in Dubai.
Born and educated in the eastern region of the UAE, Haider dreamt of producing his own animated TV show since he was 10 years old, he recalls. Back then, his "biggest school" was the Walt Disney masterpiece of Tom and Jerry.
"That time, it was something like the impossible," Haider says. "I used to tell myself, this dream will not be fulfilled, yet let me dream of it."
And as it goes — if there is a will, there is a way.
As Haider grew up he had the brain-child of producing a cartoon TV show. At first, all his attempts to convince others to financially support his show failed. Later, a businessman was convinced, and that gave him a push.
Haider started sending caricatures as short clips over mobile phones, after which a Dubai TV channel approached him to start the Sha'biyat Al Cartoon show.
In the past two years, Haider has been awarded for his works and TV show — which according to some surveys tops the list of programmes watched during Ramadan.
"What I am doing is only 10 per cent of what I have in mind to do," he says.
To many of his colleagues, Haider is one of the most talented people in the country.
