Dubai: When you spend over two decades with a group of people, they tend to become family. Such is the story of Abdul Razak, a distribution agent at Al Nisr Publications.
Razak arrived in Dubai on December 6, 1985 to work as a distributor with Gulf News. Today, almost 28 years later, the people he works with and the customers he deals with are like family.
He said: “My life has changed a lot since I came here. Due to this job, I have managed to make a home for my family in Kerala, India. I have three children and I managed to get them into good schools. I am grateful for this job.”
When he first started working, he was given accommodation in Deira, Dubai, and would cycle to the Al Qusais area to deliver paper.
He said: “I remember my first day at work; it was December 13, 1985. At that point, there was only the Shaikh Rashid Colony in Al Qusais and a small shopping complex. We had to collect the newspapers close to Al Mulla Plaza and cycle through the streets to deliver them to our subscribers.
“The next morning, we had to sell the newspapers at the traffic signals. It was a tough job. The minute the signal turned red, we would run to the cars and try to sell as many papers as we could. Each paper sold would mean a 50 fils commission for us. Look at how far we’ve come. The newspaper has grown so much.”
Over time, Razak has seen a lot of changes in the distribution system, which helped him and his colleagues deliver the paper earlier than usual.
He said: “Once, I dropped off the paper at a customer’s place. He picked it up and threw it at me. His issue was that he wanted the paper at his doorstep at 6am. Earlier, we would get the paper at 6am and so this wasn’t possible. However, the decision to have an early and late edition has made life simpler.”
Razak says his experience with Gulf News has been a memorable one and he hopes to continue working till his health allows.
He said: “The relationship between the distributors is really good. If we ever have any problems or ever need anything, we can easily raise our voice without any worries. I never think about leaving. This is my home. This is my family.”
Abdullah Baduvankunhi, a distributor working at Gulf News, has a similar view.
He said: “Recently, a customer was leaving Dubai and cancelled his subscription. I’ve been delivering the paper to his place for years. On his last day here, he hugged me and cried.”
Baduvankunhi arrived in Dubai on December 5, 1985 and started work on the same day as Razak. He recalls going from door to door on his first day on the job and informing people of promotions.
He said: “The newsboys are selected very carefully. We are responsible for sales to a certain extent. We work so hard because we know if the company grows, so will our careers.
“Living in Dubai, I have managed to make a house for my family back home. There were a lot of problems in my family, but I was able to manage it all due to this job. Additionally, I am also grateful for the health insurance. Nobody knows when they might fall ill and the health card has been a blessing.”
In his years at Gulf News, Baduvankunhi has witnessed the evolution of the newspaper and systems.
He said: “I am very happy with the human resources (HR) online system. We get our salaries on time and our holidays are sorted out. Additionally, the printing process has improved tenfold. There are two editions of the newspaper, which is helpful. The early edition is ready at 1.30am and within three hours we all manage to cover our areas. The areas have been divided and we are all given maps to allocate the houses we need to reach.”
According to Baduvankunhi, Gulf News has evolved along with the times.
He said: “Technology has improved a lot. We now have tablets and smartphones. So keeping with the trend, even Gulf News has gone smaller in the form of the Berliner.
“Gulf News is a big name in this region. People who move to the UAE from other countries want to subscribe to the paper, especially people from India and Pakistan. I guess the biggest factor is the Appointment and Classifieds section. People who are new in town look through this for job opportunities.”
