No rest during Ramadan for courier firm boss Anwar

Anwar Kabbani keeps in mind lessons of the holy month as he oversees the delivery of hundreds of packages a day at his office in Fujairah.

Anwar Kabbani tries to spend time with his family during Ramadan despite his hectic work schedule. Antonie Robertson / The National

FUJAIRAH // Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr are a more leisurely time for many Muslims, but it is the busiest period of the year for Anwar Kabbani.

The operational manager of courier service Aramex’s Fujairah branch has to oversee the delivery of as many packages as possible.

“Trying to reach clients in the morning is very difficult and sometimes impossible, as most customers avoid answering their phones because they stay awake until suhoor and can’t wake up early,” said the Lebanese father of two, 40.

“We have a certain time frame for contacting clients and another for delivering packages. When they contact us late, the package arrives late and they get upset about it.

“As the manager, I tend to deal with these issues myself. It’s not easy, especially when you are fasting, but Ramadan is the month of forgiveness and I can understand the situation and have the ability to control myself and be calm.”

In the first 20 days of Ramadan last year, the branch delivered about 400 packages a day, and the figure is expected to be the same this year, although the number of packages may rise to 600 a day in the lead-up to Eid Al Fitr.

“Clients start to receive Eid clothes from tailors outside Fujairah during the last 10 days of Ramadan and then we get super busy,” Mr Kabbani said.

When he is not working, Mr Kabbani tries to spend more time with his family during Ramadan.

“Finding time to spend with the family is very difficult because I have only a three-hour break from 5pm to 8pm between the two shifts,” he said.

“During this break, I try to spend time with my kids and wife before iftar.

“The best thing about Ramadan is that we get to gather with other family members at my parents’ house for iftar every day as part of our tradition.

“We eat, chat and spend quality time together as one big family.”

A keen fisherman, Mr Kabbani hopes to find time for his hobby during Eid.

“I don’t know how hard it will be but I will give it a try, because it’s my favourite activity and I can’t stay away from it for too long,” he said.

“Ramadan is a very special month, it’s the month of worshipping and giving, and that can be achieved through prayers and hard work.”