Workers By Day, Entrepreneurs By Night: How Dubai Workers Use Skills They've Learned To Make Additional Money

Residents in Al Quoz with diverse skill sets are taking advantage of the thriving labor market to launch their own businesses outside regular Workers by day business hours. By utilizing their skills, these earn additional money throughout the evenings.

A tailor, vegetable dealer, or juice maker by day, and a plumber, electrician, or cleaner by night.

Ahmed Ashfaq is one of the numerous workers; he decides to start a business after finishing his day job as a mason. “Work always occupies my day. I get back from the building site at 4 p.m. and relax until 5:30 p.m. I work here till 10 p.m., creating freshly squeezed grapefruit, orange, and pomegranate juice after I get my sleep,” Ashfaq stated.

Ashfaq is employed at a juice bar in his native Peshawar, Pakistan. Ashfaq added that he sells more than a hundred cups every day. “My previous job has been very fruitful for me and it is helping me earn extra income now as well,” he said.

Ashraful works as a painter during the day and a tailor at night. He serves his clients starting at 7:30 p.m. “Tailoring has always been my passion. I was a tailor in Chittagong before moving to the UAE, and after I quit, I wanted to make a business out of my interest,” Ashraful said.