DUBAI: Passengers arriving from Beirut in Dubai were handed white roses on Sunday in a heartfelt gesture of support following last week’s deadly blast.
The 163 passengers boarding an Emirates airline flight who arrived at Dubai International Airport were gifted the roses from Dubai Customs workers. The flowers came with a message that quoted the founder of the UAE, the late President Sheikh Zayed Al-Nahyan.
The message reads: “Rebuilding Lebanon is like rebuilding UAE.”
Dubai Airport CEO Paul Griffiths said the act reflects the “spirit of kindness at the heart of the aviation community.”
“I’m sure it has provided some measure of comfort for the Lebanese passengers during these very difficult times,” he said.
Like many other countries, the UAE has sent large shipments of aid to Lebanon since the explosion.
The massive blasts at the Beirut port killed 158 people and injured 6,000.
CEO, Paul Griffiths: “@DubaiCustoms’ initiative to give flowers to passengers arriving from Beirut [shows the]spirit of kindness at the heart of the aviation community.I’m sure it has provided some measure of comfort for the Lebanese passengers during these very difficult times.” pic.twitter.com/yozuS2buBn
— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) August 9, 2020