‘If we don’t serve UAE, who will?’ Meet Emirati grandma who went viral for sweeping Abu Dhabi streets

‘If we don’t serve UAE, who will?’ Meet Emirati grandma who went viral for sweeping Abu Dhabi streets

Published: Fri 22 Dec 2023, 5:42 PM Last updated: Fri 22 Dec 2023, 11:20 PM

Emirati grandmother Um Saeed never expected to receive any recognition for cleaning up the streets of Abu Dhabi during the last UAE National Day celebrations. After all, she did it out of love.

"What I did was something personal to show my love and gratitude to my country and its land,” Um Saeed told Khaleej Times.

Captured by social media influencer Shadi Shawqi, a video of the senior Emirati and her grandsons made the rounds online — eventually reaching the office of Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).

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Moved by the Emirati woman's dedication, the DMT recently launched a community campaign in her name — the Um Saeed initiative — encouraging the public to do their bit to keep the emirate clean and green.

Um Saeed was over the moon when the authorities took notice of her efforts, calling her up on stage as the initiative was rolled out.

"I want to express my happiness for this recognition – it’s like a badge of honour for me. It was very unexpected," she told KT.

Besides expressing her love