'I like to move it': Watch this man sing to keep crowds moving at Dubai World Trade Centre

Visitors to the Gulfood exhibition taking place at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) on Thursday were welcomed with a musical performance by two employees who were responsible for crowd control.

Egyptian national Ahmed Abdelhalim encouraged people alighting from the metro and taxis to keep moving by crooning to the tune of hit number “I like to move it, move it” by will.i.am for the movie Madagascar 2. Matching the beat to his song with his clapping and whistles was Ugandan national Patrick.

The two men, who met each other the first time on Thursday morning, entertained the hundreds of people who arrived at the DWTC via the entrance close to the metro station. When asked how they managed to work so well together despite knowing each other for just a few hours, Ahmed quipped “We just got off the right rhythm.”

“This is the best reception I have got here at Gulfood,” said Kathleen George, who had just arrived by the metro. “I have been coming here every day and honestly it is sometimes tedious. The metro is crowded, it is sunny, and I am just about to head into a day full of work. Today, this performance really made me smile.”

Ahmed, who has been a Dubai resident for over 6 years, said this was the first time during this conference that he has been put on crowd control duty. “Thousands of people are coming, and I just wanted to do something to put a smile on their faces.” As someone who loves to sing, Ahmed said he regularly entertains his wife and two kids, who live in Egypt, by singing to them.

He said that he had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd. “Some people have been singing with me while others have been taking photos and videos,” he said. “But my primary aim is to make sure the crowds move in a safe manner.”