From taxi drivers to hotel staff, UAE workers describe what Eid is like while working on duty.
For many workers in the UAE, Eid Al-Adha means family gatherings, feasts, and time off. But for those who keep the country running through the holiday, the experience is different yet still meaningful. Behind the celebrations, construction workers, delivery riders, cleaners, drivers, and service staff continue their shifts so daily life carries on without interruption. For them, Eid often comes in brief moments—early morning prayers squeezed between work, shared meals in labour accommodations, or phone calls home that bridge long distances.
It’s a day marked by separation, but also resilience, where small acts of connection matter as much as larger celebrations.
Dubai-based cab driver Faizan tries to travel home for Eid when possible. When he is unable to, he begins the day with Namaz, works through his shift, and ends it in the simplest but most meaningful way he can—a good meal shared with friends. As he explains, he and his brother Junaid just want to spend the occasion with close ones. “After work, we celebrate,” he says.
Serving others as a form of celebration
For Abdallah Awadh, a hotel team leader originally from Kenya, working on Eid is not seen as a compromise but as another way of observing the occasion. “I believe you can uphold those values even while working,” he says. He plans to exchange greetings with colleagues and guests, share sweets during breaks, and stay connected with his family whenever possible. “Serving guests with a smile and ensuring they feel safe and cared for is my way of honoring the spirit of Eid.”
Abdusalam Para, a hotel supervisor from India, shares a similar view. For him, being there for others during the holiday is meaningful in itself. “Being able to help others during such an important occasion is itself a meaningful celebration,” he says.
The deeper message this year
Both Abdallah and Abdusalam acknowledge that this Eid carries added significance. With conflict and hardship affecting communities around the world, the themes of Eid Al-Adha—sacrifice, compassion, and solidarity—feel especially meaningful.
“It is a reminder to strengthen our connections, support those in need, and spread peace wherever we can,” says Abdusalam.
Abdallah adds, “While I cannot change global events, I can ensure that in my workplace, everyone feels respected and at peace.”
For these workers, Eid is not something that begins and ends with a shift. It stays with them wherever they go.
