DUBAI // It has been a tradition that has gone on in Dubai on August 14 for more than three decades.
On the morning of Pakistan Independence Day each year, the owner of Ravi Restaurant puts on a lavish free breakfast at the Pakistani Consulate for 500 members of the community.
Despite their humble appearance, the restaurant chain is extremely popular, with patrons of all nationalities frequenting the three branches to enjoy the delicious Mughlai-Pakistani food.
Its owner, Chaudary Abdul Hameed, has provided the meal to mark Independence Day for the last 35 years.
According to him, this is the least he can do to show his gratitude to the UAE and his own countrymen.
“This party is not from my side only. It is from everyone in the Pakistan community. I just represent them,” he said.
Mr Hameed, who is popularly known as Chaudary Sahib, arrived in the UAE on January 1, 1970 from Wazir-Abad, in Punjab province of Pakistan.
Since then he never looked back.
“This is my home now. I have not visited my village since the last eight years. I don’t feel like going. I feel more peaceful and happy here,” he said.
He started his life in the UAE as a labourer, earning only Dh250 a month.
“I am grateful to the UAE. It has given so much love and respect to an ordinary labourer like me,” he said.
“I have seen hard times in life and I know the importance of good food in the lives of these hardworking people here. That’s why I make sure no one should feel left out especially when we are celebrating our National Day,” he added.
He urged his countrymen to respect and love the UAE.
“This country has given all of us a lot. It provides bread and butter to our families here and back home and has given us so much that we couldn’t dream in our homes back there. This place has special blessings from Allah,” he said.
He is, however, concerned the present civil unrest in his home country.
“It is such a beautiful country and I don’t know what goes wrong. I pray for things to improve in Pakistan,” he said.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Third Test
Result: India won by 203 runs
Series: England lead five-match series 2-1
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Profile Books and London Review of Books
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
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Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Tips for avoiding trouble online
- Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
- Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
- Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
- Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
- Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
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