Media Release
Dubai, Jan 22: Sahebaan UAE, an organisation representing the Urdu-speaking Muslim community originating from the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, hosted a grand family get-together at the Amity School grounds, Al Qusais, here on Saturday. The large community gathering brought together over a thousand members from across the UAE, neighbouring GCC countries and India, reaffirming Sahebaan’s commitment to unity, recognition and cultural bonding.
The day-long programme, held from morning till late evening, featured vibrant cultural performances and engaging activities. Sports competitions, cooking contests, creative kiosks, a book corner and award ceremonies were organised, ensuring a memorable experience for families, children, youngsters and senior citizens alike.
The event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Master Haroon Naveed, setting a spiritually uplifting tone. Althaf MS delivered the welcome address, highlighting Sahebaan UAE’s consistent efforts in providing a platform for community members to connect, strengthen bonds of brotherhood and preserve shared cultural values.
Patrons of the Sahebaan community — Hidayathullah Abbas, K S Nissar Ahmed and H M Afroz Assadi — were felicitated for their humanitarian service, charitable initiatives and unwavering support to Sahebaan UAE.
One of the major highlights was the presentation of the Sahebaan Excellence Awards, recognising individuals for outstanding contributions in their respective fields.
The Sahebaan Academic Excellence Award was conferred on Dr Safwan Ahmed, neurologist based in Doha, Qatar.
The Sahebaan Business Excellence Award was presented to Mateen Ahmed Chilmi, managing director of Petrosolutions.
The Sahebaan Sports Excellence Award was given to Mohammed Shafi Shaban for his contribution to sports promotion.
The Sahebaan Community Service Excellence Award was presented to Mohammed Iqbal Manna from Udupi for his dedication to community welfare.
The felicitation proceedings were initiated by Sufiyan Akram, Suhail Kudroli, Althaf MS and Nayeem Khan.
Students from the Sahebaan community were honoured with Sahebaan merit and academic excellence awards. Students from the UAE who secured above 90 per cent in Class 10 and 12 examinations were felicitated. They included Razeena Beg (91 per cent), Anam Aslam (95.30 per cent), Mohammed Ibrahim (90.50 per cent), Ameerah Qazi Abdul Khader Qazi (96.60 per cent) and Simrah Khan Nadeem (91.20 per cent). Young sporting talent Mohammed Aiz of DOFA Football Association and GEMS Legacy School, Dubai, was also honoured for his achievements in football. The honours were initiated by Mohd Samiullah and Nayeem Khan.
On the occasion, K S Nissar Ahmed announced financial assistance for Sahebaan students who are unable to pursue higher education after PUC due to financial constraints. He also announced support for the marriage of underprivileged girls from the community. The announcement was conveyed by Althaf MS, who requested eligible beneficiaries to get in touch with Team Sahebaan UAE.
The programme was further enriched by sports competitions, cooking contests, quizzes and fun games for all age groups, which drew enthusiastic participation. Children’s programmes were a major attraction, featuring an Islamic nasheed sung by 22 children, a ‘Teddy and Me’ performance, a children’s qawwali and a humorous skit highlighting the importance of cleanliness.
A short documentary showcasing the journey, values and achievements of Sahebaan UAE was screened on a large LED display. Videos highlighting the contributions of Hidayathullah Abbas, K S Nissar Ahmed and H M Afroz Assadi were also presented. Distribution of gifts and raffle draw prizes added to the festive spirit.
The event was compered by Hisrar Tallani along with Aliya Imtiyaz Khan, who had arrived from Mangaluru. Their engaging presentation kept the audience entertained throughout.
The organising committee comprised Afroze Assadi, Althaf MS, Ajmal Mohammed, Althaf Khalife, Samiullah MH, Suhail Kudroli, Asif Mohammad Hussain, Nayeem Khan and Mohammed Akram. The women organisers included Parveen Assadi, Sahara Asif and Reena Althaf. Ajmal Mohammed proposed the vote of thanks.
The Sahebaan UAE family get-together concluded on a note of unity and pride, reaffirming the organisation’s role in strengthening community bonds and nurturing future generations.