Dubai Metro ‘superman’ still on cloud nine after Sheikh Mohammed’s tweet

Supplied photo

Dubai - Abdullah was the Dubai Metro employee who willingly topped up a journalist’s nol card when she ran out of credit.

Ismail Sebugwaawo

Published: Sun 24 Jan 2021, 9:47 PM

Last updated: Sun 24 Jan 2021, 11:31 PM

Emirati Abdullah Ali Issa Al Qassab isn’t really into Twitter — so he was extremely surprised when friends and family came telling him that the Dubai Ruler tweeted about him on Saturday.

Abdullah was the Dubai Metro employee who willingly topped up a journalist’s nol card when she ran out of credit and forgot to bring her wallet. To the kind Metro agent, it was nothing but a “little offer”, but for journalist Ashleigh Stewart, it was a gesture that makes him ‘Superman’.

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“My metro card was out of credit & I forgot my wallet. Bearing witness to my idiocy, this staff Superman topped me up out of his own $$ & wouldn’t accept any attempt to repay him later,” Stewart tweeted.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, hailed Abdullah for his kindness, saying he was “a true example of a real civil servant”.

Twenty-year-old Abdullah, who works as customer service agent at Emirates Tower Metro Station on the Sheikh Zayed Road, remembered seeing Stewart waiting in the queue as she couldn’t top up her Metro card.

“She then came to me and told me that she had forgotten her wallet and didn’t have any cash with her...But I told her not to worry as I will help top up her card so she continues with her journey,” he said.

“It was a very small help, but I was surprised that the lady appreciated it a lot and took it to Twitter to thank me. I feel so happy that I helped her out.” The young Emirati, who stays with his family in Al Warqa 3, had just started working with the RTA during Ramadan last year.

Still on cloud nine on Sunday, Abdullah still couldn’t believe he was recognised by Sheikh Mohammed himself. He wasn’t really into Twitter, so it was his workmates, friends and family who broke the news to him and read the Ruler’s tweets out loud.

“I was so shocked and at the same time happy being recogised by Sheikh Mohammed. I couldn’t expect that my little offer to the passenger could take me this high. I thank God for this,” said Al Qassab.

“I’m so humbled and honoured by this recognition. May God bless Sheikh Mohammed for his love for the people of the UAE,” he added.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com