I wouldn’t live anywhere else: UAE resident Basit Aman

Every night for a month, 38-year-old Basit Aman could be found underneath a bridge in the Dubai Marina, playing an oversized version of Jenga with children.

Every night for a month, 38-year-old Basit Aman could be found underneath a bridge in the Dubai Marina, playing an oversized version of Jenga with children, nearby residents and tourists, as part of an event put on by Emaar through his employer, MnM event management.

In Jenga, players take turn removing one of 54 rectangular blocks from a tower and placing them on the top, with whoever knocks the tower over losing.

Aman — who was born and raised in Dubai and also works at an auto shop in Al Qusais – says the game has given him a chance to do what he loves — meet the different nationalities and people of Dubai.

“Most of the residents who play are really nice, really kind-hearted,” he said.

“Just now I was playing with a French guy. He comes every day.”

“There is a guy from Egypt who plays. He’s a good guy. I have some Indians as well, and an Iranian from the UK,” he said.

“I like to meet new people. With this game I have met so many really good people.”

Sometimes, however, Aman hasn’t had a warm reception.

“The other day this was this old guy and I asked him if he would like to play, and he asked me ‘can’t you see I’m jogging?’ Last Thursday also there was a lady, a European. It feels bad. I’m doing a job. I’m getting paid for it. It’s not my permanent work. When I see these kinds of people, I don’t like it. I was born here. I’ve seen all kinds of cultures over here and they are good. But what can you do? You can’t judge people.”

Aman added that he feels fortunate to work with people he likes at MnM.

“The management is really good,” he said.

“They do all kind of events. When they need me, they give me a call. They always call me.”

When asked if he’d ever consider living anywhere else, Aman responded without hesitation.

“My favourite city is Dubai,” he said.

My father, originally from Pakistan, was here for 56 years. For me Dubai is a peaceful place. There is security and it isn’t crowded.”

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” he said.

“The only thing I don’t like is the traffic.
 bernd@khaleejtimes.com

Interviewed by Bernd Debusmann Jr
Street talk is a weekly column to get a
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