Living the Dubai Life

As I pulled up in my little red car, I was greeted by a dejected looking attendant. Although I gave him my best smile (hoping it would make his day a little brighter) all I got back was a sad looking face, that instantly made me wonder the reason for such a reaction...it was unusual, no doubt, yet I couldn't stop my self from being a bit chirpy, hoping it would overshadow his mood and bring him around.

The very next moment, just as I fetched my wallet , I heard his voice say, "Ma'am, we are now a self-service station". That was when it hit me - I was on the Jumeirah Beach Road at the ENOC Fuel Station - 1 of the 10 Enoc stations in Dubai that has recently embarked on a 2 month trial project for self-service. Yes, you read right "Self-service in a VERY VERY hot country".

Yes, OF COURSE, i thought! I had just read of it a day earlier in the local newspaper, so I was mentally prepared for it, although i didn't imagine how it would be to get out of my car and do it myself. Luckily for me, I found it more exciting than the rest of the Dubaiites here and jumped out immediately asking for the "how to's". As soon as I had paid up at the cashier in the air-conditioned mini-mart (what they call C-Store) at Enoc, I ran over to the fuel pump and asked an attendant to help me out. Getting my hands on the huge handle of the pump was a bit of shock. Let me tell you, it's not light-weight!!

While the tank was filling, I realized that the doleful greeting I received earlier was due to the fact that these workers were soon to be redundant. So I initiated a little small talk asking him about the introduction of the new system and what it meant to them - the people who would be first and foremost, affected by the decision.

Not needing a literal answer that spelt out their woes, I knew that it obviously meant that a lot of jobless people would be looking out for new employment ( that is, IF they were not going to be sent on a cancellation visa to their home country and IF they did not receive a work ban to return to the UAE) After all, it is very rare that companies give their employees an easy transfer to another job, that too, if they are on lower levels of menial labour. (This is still minus the new visa rules that have come into effect)

Just as the numerous thoughts passed my mind, his low voice broke through with the words, "Not sure Ma'am. We will just have to wait and see and then will probably have to look for another job somewhere, if we can". Living in Dubai for so long, I was instantly aware of the plight of uncertainty that he, and his colleagues were already facing, and the look on his face made me sure that he too was trying to avoid the subject and stay as positive as he could. What spirit indeed!

By the time my tank was full, I bid him a quick thank you-goodbye and drove off as quickly as i could, because by that time, my mind was already working in overdrive mode, imagining and hoping of some way that I could do something to give him a little hope.

During the few minutes I spent in refilling my tank, I can say that I truly had a taste of what the fuel attendant's face every day. Unimaginable weather condition, humidity levels that leave one dehydrated and drained out, long shifts, moody customers who don't spend a moment to say thank you and above it all meager pay scales that don't amount to anything more than a few hundreds after paying off rent and utility bills. However, reading through the morning news I learnt that many drivers were pretty vocal about the new service, mentioning their discontent towards having to get out of their air-conditioned cars, paying up and filling up, while not knowing how much to fill and pay for, so that they have a full tank. Petty issues indeed, as it always takes a few tries before we are able to be perfect at anything in life!

All said and heard, i couldn't help feeling infuriated at the many comments made about the self-service, where many people grumbled and groaned at the discomfort (especially at getting out of the air-conditioned cars) without anyone stopping to think of the life that the fuel attendants face each day.

No doubt, they do it for a living and that is probably the best type of employment most can find in this city, yet i don't believe it is fair for citizens not to spare a little consideration when making curt remarks such as "that's what they are paid for" ...

Enoc's group brand and marketing manager, commented that none of the fuel attendants would be made redundant, and that the self service was introduced so that customers would get tempted to buy things from the C-store while they paid up for the fuel. I say, that's a whole load of CRAP!

First of all, the trial project is being implemented to make the city on par with international practices, so there is no way these people will hold the same job, should the project be successful. Second, if everyone parked their cars in front of the fuel pump, got out to pay up at the C-store and while at it, got tempted to buy things they would not otherwise (had they not to be in there) then one can only imagine the traffic pile up at the gas station. Talk about frustration and the height of stupid management!

Just the thought of the whole issue makes me go back to the days, when private taxis were the only way to get around within the city. The drivers were the sweetest you'd have ever seen, as most were very content with their jobs and their ability to feed their families back home. They drove around town the whole day, never refusing any customer standing on the road-side, and at most times lowered the fare with a little bargaining. To cross the creek, you would bargain your way to Dhs 5 from the initial rate of Dhs 10 quoted by the driver. That too, would be given by the time you reached your destination, with most of the them agreeing to it with a smile and asking only for prayers and good wishes. Such were the days when people came to the UAE to make a living out of the simplest of jobs.

However, since the start of the hired-taxi services, a lot changed. Many old private taxi drivers were forced to give up their jobs as they did not fall into the correct age-bracket of the new employment target. (Many of the private taxi drivers were well into their 50s and 60s and would earn as much as they could without taking too much off-time) All of them were forced to leave the country as the new taxi companies had a certain criteria to be met, before they employed drivers. And then gradually came the rules and regulations, the fines, the annoying passengers, the shift time-limits and the rest....

The question is, are these new employed taxi drivers happier than the old drivers who ferried private taxis before the introduction of the new service.
The answer: Certainly NOT!

Another question: Are customers and residents of Dubai happier at the rates and availability of the taxis, as compared to the old times, when we could hail a cab within just five-minutes of stepping out of the house (No matter where you were located) and would pay half the rate than we pay today.
The answer: Certainly NOT!

With every change comes a certain amount of disappointment and contentment. However, the degree of the change and the benefit it brings to most determines if things are for the better or the worse.