Dubai: The next time you drive along a street in Dubai, take a look out the window and appreciate how clean the city is. Then think of Arshad Salim Abdul Hamid, who rises at 7.30am to keep this beautiful city spick and span.
Abdul Hamid has been working for Dubai Municipality as a waste management officer for 40 years and he has lived in the UAE for 43 years.
Things weren't always easy in his job, however.
"Before, it was very difficult, before the rubbish was collected by men with trucks. They had to dump [the rubbish] in one place. Now it's very easy and a good new system has been introduced, so it's not smelly any more," he said in an exclusive telephone interview with Gulf News.
Contrast
"[In] those days there was a lot of smelly rubbish dumping in one place. Now it is a very clean Dubai," he said. The married father of three is originally from Pakistan, but his roots are here in Dubai. His father also worked for Dubai Municipality and for the Ministry of Public Works, and was also resident in Dubai for a long time.
"When I came here there was just Maktoum Hospital, there were no other buildings. There was no air conditioning and no fridges. Dubai is superb, and it's beautiful now," he said.
Abdul Hamid arrived in the UAE when he was very young — it's his home and he said he does not want to return to Pakistan.
His son works in Dubai and his two daughters are also successful. One daughter is married and now lives in London. Whenever Dubai holds a special event Abdul Hamid will be there with his team to keep the city looking beautiful.
