This Dubai 'hummer' is all about never-say-die

Waheed Haitam Abdu retired as a constable from Dubai Police in 2000, two years after a road accident near Clock Tower in Deira, Dubai, which caused him more than 80 per cent physical disability.

Waheed and his “Hummer” are quite familiar to residents and motorists of Al Qusais area of Dubai, Sharjah, Sonapur and parts of Ajman as he visists these areas on his 4-wheel drive at least two or three days a week.

'Emirates24|7' saw the elderly Waheed who is now physically disabled easily navigating through the busy highways sitting on an electric-powered wheelchair that he says was donated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“For me this electric wheelchair is more than a Hummer. It is not very fast, but can take me wherever I want to go without depending on others. Every Friday I go out from my accommodation in Sonapur to the nearest mosque on this vehicle. Two-three days a week I go out with the help of my Hummer which has a rechargeable battery,” he says, pointing towards the electric wheelchair fitted with an electric motor and many innovations - a shopping bag behind for his clothes, food and water, a joystick-like controller that regulates the vehicle’s speed, brake and other controls, a hazard light and a horn to alert pedestrians and motorists to give way." Some of these extra fittings are for his easy navigation.

Motorised wheelchairs are normally used by disabled people who cannot use manual wheelchairs to cover long distances or difficult outdoor terrain.

Speaking to this website, Waheed, a Yemini, said he has been living in the UAE for 32 years and served Dubai Police for more than two decades. “I am now 80 per cent disabled after a road accident near Clock Tower in Deira, Dubai in 1998. I was going to work and the accident happened around 5am and my car overturned, leaving me completely bedridden. I was bleeding and lay on the pavement when a Civil Defence team came and rushed me to Al Rashid Hospital. I spent a few months at the hospital and later went to Germany for three months’ treatment. All the medical expenses were borne by the insurance company,” Waheed, who is married with seven children, said.

“Only one of my sons is working. I am able to stand up, go to bed and walk short distances only. I cannot go to mosque using a manual wheelchair,"

While the insurance company financed part of his treatment, he has got only a small amount as compensation. “God has given me an insurance coverage. I don’t need any other insurance to travel through the Dubai highways,” he said.

As he is a familiar face, many people on the road help him. When he is thirsty, they give him water.

Says Babu, a resident of Al Qusais, “He is a regular visitor to many areas in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. He manages the electric wheelchair very nicely and navigates through all these areas. This is the right way to fight disability.” He added that Waheed should get a better wheelchair now, as his “Hummer” is already old and some charititable organisation should help him get a new vehicle.

Says Nagaraj, a petrol station employee in Al Qusais, “Waheed Uncle is a regular visitor. Our petrol station is a stopping point for his wheelchair. As it is an electric vehicle, he does not need to fill petrol. He comes to have tea, coffee or water. Some charity should help him with a better vehicle to navigate through these busy roads.”

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