Dubai Electricity & Water Authority | DEWA celebrates “Hag Al Layla”

The Child Care Center at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organized a number of activities and events to mark the mid-Sha’ban – the 15th day of the Islamic month of Sha’ban, commonly known in the United Arab Emirates as “Hag Al Layla”. H.E Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority stated: Our heritage constitutes a great value and is a key element to preserve our national identity while contributing to the preservation of our patrimony. H.E added: Celebrating the heritage events and in particular the mid-month of Sha'ban or the so-called “Hag Al Layla”, comes within our activities aiming at highlighting the features and the authenticity of UAE’s society which impacts all the residents. DEWA has provided everything necessary to give employees’ children the joy that characterizes this special occasion. DEWA was also keen to provide the highest levels of service for its employees in order to encourage them to provide the highest levels of performance and quality services to customers . Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, vice president of human resources at DEWA was greeted by the celebrating children wearing their national dress and carrying incense, perfumes and different kinds of sweets and nuts, packaged inside small lanterns, in front of a tent installed at the entrance of the Child Care Center. The tent included some folkloric tools and sweets. Children from the Ministry of Social Affairs’ nursery took part in the celebration. This comes within the framework of cooperation between DEWA and all government departments to serve the society and achieve the strategic vision of Dubai. DEWA is keen on the participation of staff and their children at all the events that encourage the consolidation of our national heritage which is embedded with our historic customs and traditions that foster patriotism and the religious feeling, Dr. Akraf said. Mona Ibrahim, Director of DEWA’s Child Care Center said: We organized some activities, which included teaching the children popular songs to make this day an unforgettable experience of joy and fun. The events included the participation of the children’s mothers and also witnessed the distribution of gifts, sweets and nuts provided by DEWA and the parents, she added. UAE’s children celebrate the fifteenth of Sha'ban every year, this occasion is an inherent part within our culture and traditions, where children wearing beautiful and radiant costumes visit homes within their neighborhood carrying bags to fill with candy, nuts while chanting Give us sweets for tonight and God will reward you with a pilgrimage to Mecca, Ibrahim added. “This occasion is regarded with t importance of this occasion and is a kind of culture and folkloric revival that generates a spirit of love and family cohesion among our community members and is a clear indication that the familial social bonds still exists despite the changes in our world today,” she concluded. On the other hand, the Corporate Communications Department at DEWA organized in cooperation with the Dubai International Airport, another series of activities celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha'ban (“Hag Al Layla). A selected group of orphaned children from Bait Al Khair Society with the participation of popular cartoon characters Bou Mheir , Afari and Chambeih received the comers to Dubai International Airport and distributed gifts, sweets and flowers for them and bringing joy and happiness to everyone. The corporate communications team included Asma Abdul Qadir, Maryam Abdullah, Mariam Ali Muassam and Fatma Salem Al Shamsi, The team provided simple explanations on the celebrations for the coming passengers. The activities witnessed a great success. Abdullah Ali al-Rida, Director of Building Management services at Dubai International Airport stressed the importance of organizing similar events which strengthen the value of UAE’s national heritage.