Kamal, Shafi, Taj, Saif and Mohan are blue-collar workers in Dubai. They've chosen to work away from their families to provide a better future for them, but that's not the only thing they've got in common. Today, all five of them will be celebrating Eid Al Adha with their surrogate Dubai families. Bangladeshi Kamal Hossain will be sitting down to dinner with his roommate and compatriot, Neaym; Pakistanis Shafi Ullah, Taj Muhammad and Saif Ali will spend the evening on the beach, and Nepalese construction worker Mohan Kafle will enjoy his day off with friends, not alone. "This is a time when we should be with our family, but we cannot be with them. I am choosing to spend this time with the family I have made in Dubai," Shafi told Khaleej Times, on the public beach along Jumeirah Beach Road. PICS: These blue collar workers who have made Dubai a second home - (from left to right) Kamal Hossein, Taj Mohammed, Shafi Ullah and Saif Ali - have decided to spend Eid together. Between them, Shafi, Taj, and Saif have 10 children. And although none of them will be spending Eid with their blood family today, they say they will enjoy exchanging stories about their loved ones. For four-year resident Kamal, today is especially hard. He has only seen his six-year-old son, Hasnid, and his wife once in the four years. The reason: lack of money. His dream is to spend next Eid Al Adha back home with them, but for now, he's happy to settle for a simple dinner with his roommate, Neaym. "I miss my family, but it is good to have close friends here to celebrate with." Showing off pictures of his family on his phone, he smiles when he talks about them, and assures me, "one day I will be back with them." He then shows me a picture of four men, one of whom is his good friend, Neaym. Today, after completing his 12-hour shift as a cleaner, Kamal will return to his accommodation at about 7.45pm to enjoy an Eid feast with his roommate. "He does not cook, but our company cooks the food for us." And what's on the menu? Likely rice and sabji (a type of vegetable curry), he says. They'll follow the meal by praying together, he adds. One thing that is evident is that these men prefer to stick to their own - Pakistanis with Pakistanis, Bangladeshis with Bangladeshis.... Maybe this is just down to the convenience that they all share the same accommodation, but maybe it's because it gives them a feeling of home, too. Mohan Kafle, 48-year-old Nepalese construction worker, was with a whole host of other men. They're his colleagues, and his friends too. They hail from all over: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan. It is around 12 noon and they are retiring to the shade of the tree to get some respite from the searing sun. All seven men will be getting a full day off to mark Eid Al Adha today, and like Kamal, Shafi, Taj and Saif, Mohan will be marking the occasion with his stand-in Dubai family. The plan is to play cricket and enjoy some food together, with some going to the mosque to offer prayers. With more than 200 nationalities living in the UAE, the heartache of being away from loved ones is never far from mind. But with a compatriot always close by, it is humbling to know that there is no need for anyone to be alone this Eid Al Adha. kelly@khaleejtimes.com
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