What do an Egyptian policeman, Nigerian soldier and Filipino call-centre operator have in common?
All three were among hundreds hoping to be selected under the latest round of Dubai taxi driver recruitment at an open day in Abu Hail on Friday.
Each had a different story to tell as to why they queued for hours to take on a new job behind the wheel in one of the thousands of Dubai Taxi Corporation vehicles operating in the city.
Driving on the road in Dubai does not compare to Egypt, it is much safer here
Mohamed Breakaa,
Dubai taxi applicant
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority recruiters hosted walk-in interviews for applicants, and there was no shortage of interest in driving positions for a monthly salary of up to Dh5,000.
One of those hoping to be employed was Dauda Rasheed, 31, from Nigeria.
The former soldier was a helicopter gunner with the Nigerian army and fought against Boko Haram insurgents in Sudan.
He was lucky to survive a bullet wound in the face, before retiring from the military and heading to Dubai to work as a security guard at the Mall of the Emirates four years ago.
“I was in the military for five years. It is how I was injured by a stray bullet in 2015,” Mr Rasheed told The National.
“I was an anti-aircraft gunner, so working in Dubai has been very different.
“With the skills and knowledge I have, I should be using these but this is the best job for me now.
“My salary as a security guard was around Dh2,000, so driving a taxi pays much better and there are more advantages ― as long as I don’t get fined that is.”
Due to the imminent expiry of his visa, Mr Rasheed was hoping a government position as a taxi driver would allow him to remain in the UAE to work so he can send his salary home to support his wife and two children, aged 8 and 3.
Citizens of certain African countries have had a difficult time obtaining visas in the UAE, he said.
"Thursday was my last day [under the visa] so I thought I would try my best for this interview,” said Mr Rasheed, as he waited to be interviewed, dressed smartly in a black suit and tie.
“If I get a visa direct from the government I will be able to stay so I can support my family back home.”
Although driving jobs were open to both genders, young men overwhelmingly dominated the lines of applicants hoping to be selected and secure a steady job working 12-hour shifts, with free accommodation and health insurance.
Another man hoping for a job was Egyptian Mohamed Breakaa, 28, who travelled from Cairo on a tourist visa in the hope of finding work in Dubai.
If selected, the former policeman's salary as a Dubai taxi driver would amount to ten times what he would earn in the same role in his home city.
“I came here looking for work on March 1,” said Mr Breakaa, who is single.
"I looked at a security job because of my background in policing but I was told I needed a certificate to become a security supervisor here.
“I have good communication skills and can work easily with different cultures.
“The job is to give tourists the best experience, communicate well with them and keep them safe.”
Adverts called on applicants to be hard working and prepared to work long shifts in the day or night.
Pre-requisites included a high school or secondary diploma, valid UAE driving licence, good eyesight, good communication skills, valid visa and fluency in English.
Mr Breakaa said the roads were easier to navigate in Dubai than Cairo.
“Driving on the road in Dubai does not compare to Egypt, it is much safer here,” he said.
“There are highway rules in Egypt, but only in the cities and people do not always stick to them.
“My brother is in the US and this is a new life for me.”
Taxis in demand
It has been a busy time for taxi drivers in Dubai, with Fifa World Cup visitors and a bumper winter tourism season making it one of the busiest periods in recent years.
The industry is on the cusp of change, with more electric and driverless vehicles added to the DTC fleet and restrictions on street-side hailing coming into force in some areas, forcing people to pre-book rides online.
Sunnie Banquite, 36, from the Philippines recently lost his call-centre sales job with an American company in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
“My company closed so I had to look for new work and I’m not afraid to try new things,” said Mr Banquite, who was hoping to be thrown an employment lifeline by the RTA.
“I drive my own car in Dubai so I know the roads well and this kind of job will be a nice change.
“I enjoy the roads, to see beautiful places and meet new people.
“I am interested in what the life of a taxi driver is and want to feed that curiosity.”
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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More from Janine di Giovanni
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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THREE
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
Indika
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JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Everton%20Fixtures
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JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
