Dubai: About 500 people gathered on Monday night at the Mexican consulate to celebrate the 198th year of Mexico's independence from Spain.

Francisco Alonso, General Consul of Mexico, welcomed Dubai's Mexican families with traditional music and food. He thanked the Dubai Chamber of Commerce for making the opening of the consulate possible.

Alonso, who moved to Dubai two months ago, said he's very pleased that the Emiratis invited the Mexican community to stay with them.

"We would like to increase our connections, contacts, interchange trade, commerce and culture. We have so many things in common even though our two countries are so far from each other, but you will discover that Mexico is very close to Dubai."

Although 300 Mexicans are currently listed as living in the UAE, Vice Consul Roberto Galán said the actual number is probably closer to 400.

"I'm impressed. I was not expecting so many people to show up. I didn't know that many Mexicans were here," said Santiago Muñoz, a Mexican who's been living in Dubai for two months. "It's nice have such a big community of Mexicans around, and I hope to make good friends and contacts."

After eating Mexican chicken, hot sauces and beans, everyone gathered on the consulate's front lawn waiting for the consul to shout the "grito," or cry of independence, from his balcony. He shouted the names of the heroes of the independence and "Viva Mexico," which was loudly repeated by all the people present.

Just before dawn on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo, a priest, addressed his people to encourage them to revolt against the Spanish government, which resulted in a revolution and Mexico's independence.

The cry of independence is repeated every year in Mexico City from the balcony of the National Place by the president of Mexico, and it is echoed by the governor of each state throughout the country and by consuls in 90 countries around the world.

Galán, who worked on getting the consulate built six months ago, was pleased with the high turnout. "All my feelings are here now because I can see my Mexican community. I can see my work reflected on this," he said.

Several Mexicans said they're excited to have a consulate in Dubai, as they used to have to travel to other countries to have their paperwork done.

"Before we had to do everything through the Mexican Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. So it was complicated to do our paperwork," said Ricardo Gutierrez Balboa, a pilot for Emirates airline.

Ingrid Flores, who grew up in Mexico City and works at Telecoms, said "It's important for us as Mexicans to have a consulate here because we're very far away from our country and it makes us feel that we belong somewhere, that we have someone who is like us."

By Pauline Forte, XPRESS Reporter

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Mexicans in Dubai celebrate independence