Birthday gifts: Best of the worst received in Dubai

The day you were born, is truly your special day, and some celebrate it with gifts, while others don’t.

And then there are some who wish they didn’t receive any gifts at all!

Emirates 24|7 spoke to a few of them to find out why.


Special chicken

“My eldest sister gave me a gift I can never forget,” said Mohammed A.J., student.

That present was a rubber chicken, a  world-famous prop that’s an immediately recognizable symbol of bad comedy.

In addition to that, when you squeeze the rubber chicken, it lets out an annoying and long-lasting shriek.

What’s worse than getting this practically useless item?

Mohammed explained that the way he received his present was just as bad, and memorable.

“She hid it under my bed’s mattress so as I was going to get on the bed, I heard this loud disgusting shriek and immediately jumped off, and discovered the wrapped up gift below.”


Phonebook

Ah, the all-time favourite classic Disney movie Toy Story, may not be a hit with everyone.

Ahmed A.D., Dubai resident, recalled the worst gift he ever received when he recently turned 26.

“A Buzz Lightyear phonebook, an actual phonebook, in this time of smartphones, I don’t know who uses phonebooks anymore,” he said.

He added: “I remembered it clearly because it was such a bad thought for a gift. It’s from my aunt so I had no choice but to accept it, but I’m going to give it away to my little cousin.”

Ahmed said there was one positive point though.

“The wrapping was amazing!”


Fresh-scented box

Heba A.S., writer, certainly got the surprise of her life when she received this birthday gift from her friend.

“The poor girl, I don’t think she had a chance to go out and get something nice for me, so she must have chosen something that was around her,” she said.

She added: “It smelt good as I unwrapped it, so I thought it was a bottle of perfume or something like that, but I was shocked with what she got me instead – detergent powder.”

Heba thought her pal had used the washing powder box as something to place her gift in, “I realised that the washing powder was actually my gift!” she said.

She added: “I thought she was joking and I looked at her smiling waiting for her to smile and say ‘Gotchya!’…but she never did.”

A gift from Mother Nature “Don’t gift plants to people on their birthdays, just don’t!” advised Diana S.

The hotelier said she loves plants, but received one of her least favourite gifts from one of her colleagues.

“She gave me a cactus plant for my office desk, I know there’s a spiritual meaning to it and I was told I don’t have to worry about watering it, but I’m sorry to say I cannot stand looking at it, it doesn’t look as friendly as my other plants.”

She said the worst part is that she cannot get rid of it or give it away because her colleague work’s in the same department.

She added: “It’s just a bad idea and I’m sort of stuck with this thing!”


The fruits of life

Would you present a box of dates to a local resident for his birthday?

Abdullah A.S., student said: “The whole experience was just weird.”

He added: “I’m used to getting phones, perfumes, videogames,  but I got this box of ordinary dates, and it wasn’t meant to be a joke, it was a real gift, but I’m from here and we have these everyday so it was just strange.”

Causing a stink  Somaya M.A., homemaker, said the idea of perfumes as a gift should be stopped.

“I’ve received really bad perfumes a lot, so that’s not good at all.”

She said most of the time the authenticity of the designer fragrance is questionable, and stressed that trying it beforehand is a must.

“I really hope I don’t get perfume anymore unless I’ve tried it and like it!” she added.

“The perfume is meant to make you smell nice, but I end up as a stinky, so be very careful if you’re getting someone perfume as a gift! Everyone is different”

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