Grand ‘Sahebaan UAE’ family gathering held in Dubai, achievers honoured
Dubai: : The Sahebaan UAE family gathering was held in a grand manner at the Amity School grounds in Al Qusais, Dubai, on Saturday.
The event witnessed the participation of over a thousand members of the Sahebaan community, which consists mainly of Urdu-speaking Muslims from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The gathering served as an opportunity for the community to reconnect, celebrate achievements, and honour individuals who have excelled in various fields.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the prestigious Sahebaan Excellence Awards. The awards were conferred by distinguished personalities—Hidayathulla Abbas, chairman of Hidayat Group and owner of Nash Engineering, Dubai-based businessman K.S. Nisar Ahmed, and Sahebaan UAE director H.M. Afroz Assadi.
The Sahebaan Business Excellence Award was presented to Mohammed Akram, founder and chairman and managing director of Sitara Group of Companies, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the business sector.
In the field of sports, Nasir Syed, CMD of CHS Group and DSBK racing company and an accomplished superbike racing champion, was honoured with the Sahebaan Sports Excellence Award for his achievements in Super Bike motor sports.
The Sahebaan Academic Excellence Award was posthumously awarded to late Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, a distinguished academician and scholar. The honour was received on his behalf by his brother Sajjad Assadi.
Irshad Moodbidri was honoured with the Saheban Literary Excellence Award for his contribution to literature, his son received the honour.
For their remarkable social service initiatives, Mohammed Asif and Mrs. Sahara Mohammed Asif were conferred the Sahebaan Community Service Excellence Award. Their son, Ahad, accepted the award on their behalf.
The event also recognized the academic achievements of students who had excelled in their studies. The Sahebaan Merit Award was presented to students who scored above 90 percent in their exams. Among those from the UAE, Faiz Anam with 94.2 percent, Mohammad Rayaan with 92.6 percent, and Mohammad Umair Suvaid Khan with 90.8 percent were felicitated for their tenth grade board exam results.
In the second-year pre-university category, Muskan Fatima was honoured as the Gulf topper in the commerce stream with an impressive 98.6 percent. Other high achievers, including Juveria Firoz with 97.8 percent, Siham Akbar Ali with 93.4 percent, Mohammad Rafaan with 92.8 percent, and Hiba Altaf Salah with 92 percent, were also recognized.
In the sports category, young talents like Mohammad Aiman, who excelled in the 4x4 100-meter relay, and Mohammad Aiz, associated with DOFA Football Association, were felicitated for their achievements.
Senior members of the community who have played a pivotal role in its progress were also appreciated. Businessmen and community leaders Hidayathulla Abbas, K.S. Nisar Ahmed, and H.M. Afroz Assadi were presented with mementoes as a mark of gratitude for their contributions. Their efforts were acknowledged through speeches delivered by Suhail Kudroli, Althaf Khalife, and Mohammad Samiullah.
The gathering also featured a range of cultural performances and engaging activities for children. A special attraction was the Prince and Princess dress-up competition for kids under ten. Additionally, there were vibrant performances of Indian patriotic songs and traditional Arabic dances, adding to the festive atmosphere.
A short documentary on the Sahebaan community was screened on a large LED display, offering the audience a glimpse into the community’s history, values, and achievements. The program commenced with a welcome address by Altaf M.S., followed by a soulful Qirath recitation by Mohammad Faiz and Fazil Rahil Ali. The event was anchored by Hisrar Tallani, who had specially flown in from Mangalore for the occasion.
The children’s events were coordinated by Riiha Altaf for the Prince and Princess competition, Heena Kausar for Indian Patriotic Dance, Fauzia Rahil for Arabic Dance, and Fauzia Shah for the dua segment.
The success of the gathering was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the organizing committee, which included Altaf M.S., Ajmal Mohammad, Altaf Khalife, Mohammad Samiullah, Suhail Kudroli, Asif Mohammad Hussain, Sameer Sharif, Nayeem Khan, Abdul Ahed, and Faizan Khateeb. Among the women organizers, Parveen Assadi, Sahara Asif, and Reena Altaf played a crucial role.
The Sahebaan UAE family gathering turned out to be a memorable occasion that not only celebrated the accomplishments of community members but also strengthened bonds within the Sahebaan fraternity. The evening concluded on a high note, with attendees cherishing the camaraderie and shared pride in their heritage.
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Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta's police remand extended by four days
Panaji (PTI): A Goa court on Thursday extended by four days the police remand of Ajay Gupta, co-owner of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a devastating fire on December 6 killed 25 persons.
Gupta was arrested from New Delhi on December 10. A court in Mapusa had remanded him in police custody for seven days at the time.
Gupta was presented before the lower court, which sent him to four-day police custody as his initial remand was expiring, his advocate Rohan Desai told reporters.
"Gupta had complained about back pain. The court ordered his medical examination, after which he was allowed use of a mattress in custody. He was examined by a specialised doctor at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here," the lawyer said.
Twenty-five persons, including 20 staff members and five tourists, were killed in the major blaze at the nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight of December 6.
Gupta had, during the day, filed an bail application.
So far, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including Gupta, and two other owners - Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh - who were deported from Thailand.
Five other staffers of the nightclub arrested in the case are Rajiv Modak (Corporate General Manager), Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager), Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager), Vivek Singh (General Manager) and Bharat Karan Singh Kohli (employee).
A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, police said.
