Show of respect
In a heartfelt show of respect, 15 shops in Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre closed their shutters on Tuesday. Several residents and business owners gathered to pay their respects.
Originally from Uduma in Kasaragod district of the south Indian state of Kerala, Anwar had been living in the UAE since 1996. He initially worked at his uncle’s shop in the old Abu Dhabi Souq before moving to Baniyas and eventually becoming a partner in the current business.
A dedicated community worker, Anwar served as the treasurer of the Uduma Panchayat Unit of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) in Abu Dhabi, a prominent social welfare organisation supporting the Indian diaspora.
Scheduled to fly home in weeks
He is survived by his wife and four daughters. His eldest, a 22-year-old graduate, was set to get married on August 9. Anwar had planned to travel to Kerala in the first week of July to begin preparations and had already started inviting friends and relatives via WhatsApp.
“He was so excited about the first wedding in the family. He kept talking about it to everyone at the shop and in the community,” Noushad said, his voice breaking.
Anwar’s family in Kerala, including his elderly mother, is reportedly heartbroken. KMCC volunteers, including Noushad, are supporting the family with the repatriation procedures which are likely to be completed on Wednesday.
