Dubai workers form human flag to celebrate National Day

Dubai Municipality workers form a human flag at Zabeel Park on Sunday. — KT photos by Dhes Handumon

Around 1,000 Dubai Municipality workers, who keep Dubai green and beautiful, formed a large human flag of the UAE on Sunday morning to kick start the 43rd UAE National Day celebrations of the civic body.

Wearing red, black, white and green colour T-shirts and caps, the expat labourers, mainly the landscape workers and groundkeepers from the Park and Horticulture Department of the municipality, formed the design of the flag at the Zabeel Park in Dubai.

Launching the event, Director-General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah released a large bunch of balloons in the four colours of the UAE flag. Lootah and other senior officials also joined the workers while the national anthem was being played.

“We intend to include all segments of the community with us in the celebrations of 43rd National Day and now we started with sharing our happiness with the basic workers of the Dubai Municipality who are the real heroes in every success we (have) achieved,” Lootah said.

“There will be a lot of activities till we conclude the celebrations with a big function at the headquarters of the municipality.”

The Director of Parks and Horticulture Department Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Awadi said: “We would like to spread the “Spirit of the Union” among all and we started off with our own workers.”

Appreciating the work of the gardeners and other landscaping workers of the Parks and Horticulture section, Lootah said: “The idea is to show that they are not alone. We want to show that they are also doing their bit for the UAE and we are appreciating their work. We want to show that we are one team … one family. We work together … We have a common goal of keeping Dubai clean and green.”

Many workers said it was their first time experience to make a human flag and they felt proud of being a part of it.

Zahoor Khan from Pakistan, who has lived in Dubai for 10 years, said he felt nice and proud to have taken part in the celebrations. “We have come here to work hard. I’m happy that I am able to look after my family with this job. I love and respect the UAE for that.”

One of the senior workers, Noushad K.S from India, said: “I’ve been working here for 17 years. But I’ve never celebrated the UAE National Day like this. So far, I’ve only celebrated Indian independence day with my friends. This feels good too,” said Noushad.

Coordinated by volunteers from Signature Events, the workers also received gift boxes from Radisson Blu. Traditional Emirati sweets and lunch packs were also distributed. Last year, the department had organised a helicopter tour for the gardeners to show them the real beauty of their work and appreciate them for the hard work and dedication.

“We will continue to conduct such programmes with the aim of achieving maximum happiness for all, in line with the declaration of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai one of the happiest cities in the world,” said Al Awadi. -sajila@khaleejtimes.com