His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The President of the United Arab Emirates.
1918-2004
Three decades of his amazing legacy has ended. His demise sent shockwaves of sorrow transcending boundaries. Yesterday was suddenly declared a public holiday. Everywhere in the UAE, forty days of mourning have been made official. Government bodies are closed for eight days and private ones for three.
Locals paste his portrait on their expensive vehicles. Companies owned by locals put their businesses on hold and closed all operations to pay their final kudos. Radio stations stopped all regular broadcasting as Quran readings soothingly droned from every conti, even those that play the likes of 50cent, Backstreet Boys and Kylie Minouge on other days.
Respect resounds ubiquitously from everyone within the region, each of whom acknowledges his/her financial standing is made stable by living in the country this late president built from scratch. From a virtually unknown MiddleEastern backwater sandpit to a financial hub on it's way to a gargantuan megalopolis.
So, this old gentleman left and the Emirates staff ticket office, the Belhasa driving school, the Porsche showroom and the Gucci, Prada and Zara boutiques all over closed out of respect for him. That's how he really did take my day with him, as all these places were made crucial in my plans for yesterday. For I couldn't get my Singapore Airlines ticket processed, I couldn't take my driving test and pass it, Azim couldn't get collect the things he ordered for his car and I couldn't do some last minute Dubai shopping before I returned to Singapore.
But as my plans went awry especially as I will be going back home a day later and I have yet to get my driving license, all I could feel was the remorse that........
.....the world now stands at a loss of a one really great human being.
May Allah Bless His Soul. May his demise in this holy month of Ramadhan bring him peace in the hereafter.
And my condolences to my UAE national colleagues in Emirates.
2 comments:
Rai,
Innalillah ...my condolences.He was a great man!
&
yes u're comin back? fabulous! im glad u'll get to spend it wit mummmy dearest & family...
&
yesh mebi, juz mebi we can take a sneak peek @ each other eh?
dat'd b marvellous!
;)
My condolences to everyone there in UAE..it is always a great loss to lose a person such as him and i'll bet if SM.LKY were to go...the same mourning wub b in order eh...Anyway hey cant wait for u to be back...ahah hope to bump into u...coz i succeeded in changing flt..wohooo..so off 14,15 and 16TH!!! so Happy...Have a great flt back hor and if the crew nasty, let me know...*so i can steer clear of them muahahaha*
Post a Comment