Dubai: Meet mother-son taxi drivers who share special bond working, fasting together during Ramadan

Khaleej Times

26-03-2025

For a mother and son duo, working together at the same company is a true blessing. Both taxi drivers, they not only look after each other but also share tips and advice on how to go about their work. During Ramadan, this bond becomes even more special as they fast, pray, and prepare meals together.
After finishing a day's work, Dubai mum Shaila Thayil Kunju Muhammad, 53, would be home by half past three to prepare the day's iftar. Her son, Shafeek, 31, who has the same work hours, would also be home to help in the kitchen.
'It's a special kind of bonding for us,' Shaila told Khaleej Times during a phone call early this week from their home in Muhaisnah, where she was busy preparing biryani, samosa, pakora and other light meals, with help from Shafeek. 'We fast together, then we prepare our meals together, and we also pray together,' she added.
In many families, it's typically the father who influences the career choices of his son. However, for Shaila, who has been with the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) for nearly two decades, she took the lead in guiding her son into the same profession, encouraging him to get behind the wheel as well.
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Family's sole breadwinner
Shaila, who is originally from Kerala, first arrived in the UAE in 1999, four years after her husband passed away. She had to pick up the cudgels and become the family's sole breadwinner.
With two young sons — Shafeek, who was just a year old at the time, and her older son Shajudeen — she took on the responsibility of supporting her family. To ensure their well-being, she left her children in the care of her family back home.
She began her career as domestic staff for an Arab family in Sharjah, sending money regularly to support her sons. Determined to improve her situation, Shaila also consistently saved money to pay for enrolment in a driving school. Her determination paid off, and she earned her driving licence in 2002 on her first attempt.
She initially worked as a family driver, with a salary higher than her previous employment. But her career took a turn when she saw an advertisement from DTC looking for Pink Taxi drivers. She applied and was accepted.
'Role model for my sons'
Shaila's warm and friendly demeanour proved essential for her role, especially in Dubai, where taxi drivers encounter people from all walks of life. She learned conversational Arabic and polished her English, which helped her navigate the multicultural environment.
Shaila takes pride in having raised her sons well. Her eldest, Shajudeen, is a graphic designer for a sales company in Dubai, while Shafeek, who holds a diploma, joined her at DTC three years ago.
Having built a reputation for herself at DTC, Shaila made it easy for Shafeek to follow in her footsteps. Shafeek credits his mother for teaching him how to efficiently navigate Dubai's streets. 'Mama knows Dubai like the back of her hand,' he said.
Throughout her 19 years with DTC, Shaila has maintained an impeccable record, never being involved in any accidents or committing major traffic violations. 'I drive safely and responsibly,' she proudly stated. 'I always wanted to be a role model for my sons.'
In terms of health, Shaila doesn't suffer from any major ailments, though she does need to monitor her blood sugar levels regularly due to her diabetes. Despite this, she sees herself continuing to work until she's 60 or even longer, especially now that her work has become less hectic after transitioning to a limo driver position at DTC.
Days before Eid, Shaila and Shafeek traveled home to Kerala to spend the holidays with their family. Shaila said she was excited to see her three grandchildren (two from Shajudeen and one from Shafeek) again.