Watch: UAE residents since 1960s leave Dubai home of 48 years

Dubai: For Muzavor Mohamed Sadiq, 85, and his wife Rukaiyabi Muzavor, 79, leaving their two-bedroom apartment in Al Shaab Colony in Dubai’s Deira marks the end of an era.

Having lived there for 48 years, their departure signifies more than just a change of address to the Indian expat couple who have been UAE residents for nearly six decades. Their life in that little colony, one of the oldest urban residential neighbourhoods in the emirate, has grown and changed alongside Dubai itself.

Hailing from the western Indian state of Goa, which was a Portuguese colony prior to 1961, Sadiq arrived in Dubai in 1966 on a Portuguese passport when he was 26.

“Soon, I secured my Indian passport from the Indian Consulate in Muscat, Oman,” he recounted in an interview with Gulf News just before leaving Dubai recently.

His first priority after landing in Dubai was securing a driving licence, which he achieved in just a month. "My driving licence number is 1216 and dated o4/o8/1966. Going by the number, I understood that only around 1,200 people had secured the licence by then," he said with pride.

Sadiq went back to India in 1969, got married to Rukaiyabi, and brought her to Dubai. Though she did not start driving, Rukaiyabi treasures her learner's driving permit issued in 1974.

It was in 1977 that the couple moved into Al Shaab Colony in Deira's Hor Al Anz are, a new community established by the then Dubai Ruler, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

“We were among the first tenants who moved in to this community when it was brand new. Soon, the colony was full of families, children playing cricket and football at night,” Sadiq recalled.

“Dubai Police used to patrol on horseback, ensuring our safety. It is very sad to leave this place. It has given us a beautiful life and amazing memories.”

He said their rent was only Dh8,000, which offered affordable accommodation to hundreds of expat families.

Al Shaab Colony's low-rise residential buildings and vibrant community life made it a cherished neighborhood for many families, he recalled.

Over the decades, Sadiq worked in various capacities, including at Altradico Watch Company and later with some prominent Emirati families. In 1973, he opened his own watch shop in Deira’s Murshid Bazaar.

“Our shop’s rent was Dh3,000, which must be more than a hundred thousand now.”

His business flourished for a decade before challenges led him to work in a carpet and curtain company until his retirement at 59.

One of his unforgettable experiences is sitting next to former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricket legend Imran Khan, as well as his contemporary cricketer Mudassar Nazar, at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium.

The elderly couple’s two sons are now settled in the US, while their two daughters live with their families in Dubai. The family has witnessed Dubai's evolution from a modest town to a bustling metropolis.

His eldest daughter Rafia Shaikh recalled that she was only two-and-a-half when the family moved to Al Shaab Colony. “This community has been our home, and now, it is all coming to an end. But we will always have memories of a lifetime with us,” she said.

For Raufa Shaikh, the youngest daughter, it is the place where she was born. “I literally know this place and this community from the time I was born. Growing up here, we always had a secure feeling.”

The sisters shared memories of playing on the terrace and in the alleys with their cousins living nearby and growing up in a diverse community known for tolerance and harmony. “It's a very emotional time for all of us, but we have had one of the best years of our lives growing up here,” said Raufa.

The alleys of the Colony have also witnessed some cross-border love stories bloom. In the case of Sadiq’s family, Rafia found the love of her life, Sharin Gul from Pakistan, in the neighbourhood.

“I used to come to this community as I had relatives living here. Our families also had a common friend between us, but we were not aware until I proposed to their eldest daughter. Her parents have been broadminded and approved my marriage with their daughter,” Gul recalled.

“They have set high standards for honesty and truthfulness with everyone. Their kindness with various people, including strangers, is immeasurable. It is hard to find such peace-loving in-laws, and their love for Dubai is unmatched,” he added.

As Dubai continues to modernise, communities like Al Shaab Colony are being earmarked for redevelopment to make way for new construction. Though Sadiq's apartment is well-maintained, several buildings in the colony have deteriorated due to a lack of upkeep, and many longtime tenants have since moved out.

For Sadiq and Rukaiyabi, the decision to leave their Dubai home and join their sons in the US is bittersweet. Yet they remain grateful for the life they’ve built and the memories they have created in a city that has been their home for most of their lives.

“I have lived in this country for 58 years and in this community for 48 years. Now, time has come to say goodbye. It is heartbreaking for both of us as we have always felt this country is our home,” said an emotional Sadiq.

“We love the people and the government here. Life is so peaceful here. We are always grateful for everything that we have received from this great country, especially for the good education that we could give to our children,” he added.

The couple made their last Eid Al Fitr celebration memorable and later held a special farewell lunch with all the members of their family, including their grandchildren, before leaving Dubai for good.