ABU DHABI // Workers have demanded action to improve the quality of food served in their labour accommodation.

The National visited three camps to speak to labourers living in Icad, International City Abu Dhabi in Mussaffah, and Workers City 1 and 2 in Al Mafraq.

“Because of poorly cooked khobuz [bread] I developed digestive disorders,” said Zakir Hussain, 40, who lives in Icad.

“Caterers mix too much maida [bleached wheat flour] with wheat flour, which causes gastric ailments,” he claimed.

Mr Hussain has lived in Abu Dhabi for eight years and works as a mason. He said there were separate meals cooked for Bangladeshis, Chinese and Filipinos at the camp.

“There is one food for Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese Muslims, while different for non-Muslims, and this is good,” he said.

But expatriates from Nepal wanted more.

“We are workers and don’t have that much wages to eat outside, so if the management arranges separate food for us, it will be good,” said Sita Ram, who also lives at Icad, and earns Dh800 a month.

Shafeeq Mian, a Bangladeshi expatriate, said: “In Al Raha camp, outside food is not allowed, while other camps don’t object.”

He said that whatever food was cooked was not prepared well and was tasteless.

“When we complained about the poor quality of food, the caterers just said that ‘thousands of people eat it gladly, only you have a problem’.”

Mr Mian said he had not eaten the chicken served at the camp for the past six months because it was poorly cooked. “They just boil chicken and serve, which is tasteless, how you can eat that?” he said.

“When we go to the dining hall, we take along green chillies, onion and pickle to at least swallow the badly prepared food.”

But not everyone had complaints.

Icad resident Zaid Ansari, 20, said: “The food is good and they are allowed to take their own food into their accommodation to eat.”

A labourer from Workers City 1, Maroof Hussain, was happy with the food quality. “The food is good and they allow us to take outside food inside our accommodation,” he said.

anwar@thenational.ae

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
MATCH INFO

Tottenham Hotspur 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 55')

Man of the Match Allan (Everton)

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sunday's games

All times UAE:

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm

Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm

Everton v Watford, 8.30pm

Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm

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ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS

Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)

Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens

Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)


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