Sheikh Mohammed praises Dubai airport officer's kind and humane gesture

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, stated on the X platform,“Greetings to those who bring a smile or joy to the hearts of visitors or travellers. This is the Dubai we want.”

Sheikh Mohammed’s post came in response to a video shared by Al Arabiya 99 FM, featuring Ms Heba, who was bidding farewell to her mother-in-law at Dubai Airport Terminal 2, where she praised the warm reception by a passport officer at the airport, Abdullah Al Balushi.

Al Balushi expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed for his encouraging words, which served as a strong source of inspiration and motivation for him and his colleagues to perform their duties to the fullest.

After Sheikh Mohammed praised his interaction with a female passenger at Dubai International Airport, Al Balushi said, “Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s continuous support and constant encouragement is what drives frontline employees to work with determination and dedication in line with the UAE’s vision of leadership and human and corporate excellence.”

“Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s words are a badge of honour we cherish, and a beacon that illuminates our path of work and dedication.

“We have learned from His Highness that leadership means being close to the people, and placing compassion and humanity at the heart of our daily interactions. We are proud to be part of this nation that strives to bring happiness to all who live on its land. We pledge to His Highness that we will remain worthy of this trust and continue working with a team spirit and sense of belonging to serve the UAE with love and dedication,” Al Balushi added. Al Balushi also thanked Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, and senior staff who make smiling and welcoming guests the cornerstone of their work.

During the widely-viewed episode of the programme on Al Arabiya 99 FM, presenter Heba recounted her personal experience. She said that when she headed to the airport with her husband and his mother-in-law, who were planning to leave Dubai, she was surprised by an airport employee, Abdullah Al Balushi, stopping her mother-in-law and then calling her husband, in a situation that seemed strange at the time. It later emerged that the employee was moved that her mother-in-law wanted to leave before her visa expired and wondered if her departure reflected her desire to travel, she said.

Al Balushi felt relieved when he learned that the reason for her mother-in-law’s departure was to undergo medical tests in her country, so he quickly called her husband to bid his mother farewell again, she added. He addressed her with kind words, asking her to pray for him and gently apologising for any shortcomings during her visit, she said, adding that he also invited her to visit the UAE again as soon as possible.

In appreciation of Warrant Officer Abdullah Al Balushi without mentioning his name, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid stated on the X platform: “Greetings to those who bring a smile or joy to the hearts of visitors or travelers. This is the Dubai we want.”

Recently, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that Dubai relentlessly strives to be a global leader in diverse sectors including the travel sector and the air transport sector, in particular.

The capabilities Dubai has developed reaffirm its standing as a pivotal global travel hub that offers an optimal transit point to countries far and wide, facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods alike.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of constant efforts to ensure the highest technical preparedness in terms of infrastructure at Dubai’s airports and enhancing the efficiency of services provided to customers and travellers across the emirate, which ultimately contributed to consolidating Dubai’s global leadership in the realm of air transport and keeping pace with the anticipated future growth in travel demand.