Dubai: Ethiopian maid’s first Ramadan away from home; balance between work and faith – News

This is the first Ramadan away from home for 21-year-old Sameera Kadr, who arrived in Dubai in June 2023.

The Ethiopian expatriate works six to eight hours during Ramadan, while her employer allows her adequate break time to pray and rest.

“My employers follow the same religion as me; therefore, work during Ramadan tends to be lighter, as minimal cooking is required during the day. In the evenings, my wife involves me in preparing meals Ramadan. I really like the family I live with; they are kind,” Sameera said.

However, Sameera started working and supporting her family only after her father suffered a stroke and was unable to take care of the household expenses.

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She and her sister decided to move to the United Arab Emirates to work as maids and support their family at home.

“After my elder sister moved to Dubai and started working, my mother realized how good and safe it was to live here. We could earn a living and lead a good life here. My elder sister helped me find a “I work in Dubai. I thank you for connecting me with a loving family who now sponsor me,” said the Ethiopian expatriate, originally from a town called Jimma.

While her sister sends money mainly to support her son’s education and build a house for her family, Sameera aims to build a home for her parents and younger siblings.

“I also want to have decent savings so that my parents can marry me. In addition, I support my younger brother’s education.”

My employers encourage me to spend time in prayer.

Sharing her routine with Kkhaleej Times, Sameera said she usually wakes up around 3:45 am for suhoor. She begins her day by praying and helping the family in the kitchen with preparations.

“This takes me no more than an hour, and I return to my room after taking suhoor and cleaning the dishes. Although I am from Ethiopia and my patrons are from India, I enjoy their cuisine. During Ramadan, my employers encourage “Recite the Holy Quran, take prayer breaks and make the most of this blessed month.

Later, in the middle of the afternoon, after finishing the basic cleaning and cooking with the lady of the house, he retires back to his room only to come and help with the iftar preparations towards the evening.

“During iftar, I eat what the family eats and enjoy their dishes. I enjoy eating dishes made with yogurt and boiled potatoes (yogurt is one of my favorites) along with fruits, chickpea dishes and fried fritters. After that, I attend “Washing the dishes before devoting yourself to prayer and a short period of rest. The family doesn’t have dinner, so there are no post-iftar tasks other than cleaning the kitchen.”

Sameera noted that she can once again dedicate a lot of time to prayer and recitation of the Quran.

“This is my first Ramadan away from home, but I thank God that he has placed me with a good family who takes care of me. My sister is also nearby, so I don’t feel too far from home. I still talk to my family through on Zoom, so I don’t feel like I’m far away from them. Hopefully, I’ll see my family in Ethiopia during Eid Adha.”

Ramadan nights in Dubai

The new expatriate highlighted that she deeply appreciates Ramadan because it is a sacred time full of blessings and expressed how these blessings manifest in different facets of her life.

“During this month, work seems less burdensome, allowing me more time for prayer, reflection, recitation, and relaxation. Additionally, I value the moments I spend connecting with my family through phone calls.

“Another aspect that I enjoy is accompanying my sponsor’s family on their shopping outings, especially in the beautifully decorated streets of the UAE during Ramadan. This experience is particularly special for me as it reminds me of the festive atmosphere of my hometown. I feel truly blessed to witness Ramadan in this unique country, and I am grateful to God for this opportunity,” said the Ethiopian.

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