Corporate house gives homeless engineer a chance to rebuild life

Abu Dhabi: An Iraqi homeless man in Abu Dhabi is set to go back to his profession as a mechanical engineer thanks to a kind gesture from a prominent UAE business group.

Ayad A Zaki, 50, got a job offer from Al Hamed Group of Companies based in Abu Dhabi following a recent Gulf News report about his plight of sleeping on the streets after being evicted from his accommodation. Zaki was reportedly distressed due to the difficult situations in the recent past.

"We have made him an offer to work as a mechanical engineer with Al Hamed International Industries in Ajman," Khalfan Al Qubaisi, chairman of Al Hamed Group of Companies, told Gulf News yesterday.

Al Qubaisi who already met Zaki in Abu Dhabi said he was impressed with Zaki's professional career and family background. He had a nice life in the past and the unfortunate present situation should not spoil his life, Al Qubaisi said.

Treatment

"Zaki needs medical treatment and care of his family, and we will try our best to support him," Al Qubaisi said.

Zaki was excited about the meeting with Al Qubaisi and the new job offer.

"They have offered me a family accommodation in Ajman. I will bring my wife on visit visa when my younger son's secondary school exams end after two months," a smiling Zaki said. "I am really grateful to Mr Al Qubaisi and his company for offering me the job. Actually they are offering me a new life."

Al Qubaisi said his company wanted to extend support to a human being in his troubled times. "We are not asking any commitment from him. When he gets well if he wants to find better job anywhere else in the world, we will support him," he explained.

"Business does not mean making money and professional satisfaction alone, but it is also about taking care of fellow human beings around us," Al Qubaisi said.

Zaki was seen round the clock around his favourite coffee shop in Khalidiya in the past few days, although his previous employer had arranged an accommodation in Musaffah. "I feel lonely in Musaffah … with only the blowing wind for company," he said. He is not interested in immediately moving to his new employer's accommodation also. "I will go to Ajman when my paper works related to the new job are completed," he said yesterday.

He said he got the no objection certificate yesterday from his previous company to transfer his visa to the new company.

An executive from his previous company said they would settle Zaki's end of service benefit as soon as his new employer gets approval for his visa. Zaki had a dispute over his salary dues and end of service benefits with the company which is reportedly in financial trouble.