UAE claimed an emphatic 10-wicket victory over the Netherlands
cricket9 hours ago
His name in Arabic means 'bringer of glad tidings or good news'. He's been working as an abra skipper for eight years, carrying passengers - residents and tourists alike - who cross the Dubai Creek from the Old Souq to Baniyas and back.
But on Monday morning, for Mubashar Zahoor Ellahi, 25, from Sialkot in Pakistan's Punjab, 'good news' unexpectedly came his way. A "very special passenger" Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, boarded his abra.
Sheikh Hamdan wished him "good tidings" and called him the "best captain". And he did not just say this in person to Mubashar, but also broadcast it live on social media to his more than 6 million followers on Instagram.
Khaleej Times caught up with Mubashar few hours after carrying Sheikh Hamdan and his company aboard RTA (the Roads and Transport Authority) abra no. 162 from the RTA marine station at Old Souq to the other side of the Dubai Creek in Baniyas.
"I'm still in complete awe," Mubashar told Khaleej Times. "I could not believe I had a royalty as a passenger and it was like a dream come true for me to come face to face with the Dubai Crown Prince."
"I was surprised and elated but during the few minutes I was ferrying Sheikh Hamdan and his company on my boat, never did I feel uneasy because Sheikh Hamdan did not make me feel that he is my prince but appeared like an old-time friend," Mubashar said.
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