In an extraordinary departure from tradition, hundreds of Dubai’s migrant workers experienced an unprecedented New Year’s Eve celebration hosted by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Al Quoz. Instead of working through the holiday as typically required, these essential workers enjoyed a night of entertainment, luxury prizes, and heartfelt recognition.
The event transformed an open ground into a vibrant festival space where workers arrived in groups, some directly from their shifts still in work attire. They gathered on mats and elevated podiums, capturing moments on their phones to share with families abroad while immersing themselves in live Bollywood performances.
Celebrity performers including Poonam Pandey, Tanya Desai, Snehal Upadhyay, and Indian Idol vocalist Ankush Bhardwaj delivered continuous entertainment with popular Hindi tracks that had the audience clapping, dancing, and singing along. The celebration incorporated a generous raffle system distributing substantial prizes: mobile devices, gold coins weighing 1 gram, and most significantly, ten flydubai airline tickets enabling winners to visit their home countries.
Shubham, a laborer from Rajasthan, India, expressed astonishment at winning one such ticket, stating it would allow him to attend an upcoming family event he otherwise might have missed. The atmosphere resonated with gratitude as workers like Mushtaq and Naushad Ali highlighted the unusual experience of being celebrated rather than working through holidays. Irfan Khan, a plumber with several years in Dubai, emphasized the profound sense of respect conveyed by the gesture, noting that workers typically feel overlooked during citywide celebrations.
Throughout the evening, complimentary food distribution operated smoothly with orderly queues, while the closing performance by actress Zareen Khan capped a night that blended musical excitement with emotional significance. The initiative demonstrated a meaningful investment in worker welfare, providing not just entertainment but tangible assets and travel opportunities that reinforced their valued contribution to Dubai’s development.