Dubai's blue-collar workers celebrated at Labour Day event

Close to 2,000 people were given food parcels and goods in Al Quoz

Workers attend an event held in their honour to celebrate International Labour Day in Al Quoz, Dubai. All photos: Ruel Pableo / The National

People cheer as dancers entertain the crowd.

Dancers clad in colourful outfits perform a routine.

People from all over the world live and work in the UAE.

Workers receive snacks.

About 2,000 workers attended the celebratory event.

Dubai Government officials were also in attendance.

Maj Gen Obaid bin Suroor, deputy director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs thanks the workers during a speech.

Capturing the action on camera.

The UAE is home to more than two million blue collar workers, who have helped to build some of the world’s most recognised buildings such as the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

Workers wait to receive food at the event.

Staff from different companies attend the celebrations.

Workers receive gifts and food parcels.

There's always room for an ice-cream.

Thousands of blue-collar workers were honoured at an event in Dubai to celebrate International Labour Day, which is marked annually.

The event, held in Al Quoz on Saturday, celebrated the hard work of labourers across the country who hail from countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

About 2,000 workers from companies in Dubai marked the occasion alongside officials from Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and other government personnel. It was organised by the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai.

Those in attendance were distributed gifts and food parcels, while dancers took to the stage to entertain the crowds.

The UAE is home to more than two million labourers who have helped build some of the world’s most recognised buildings including the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab and the Museum of the Future.

During the event, Maj Gen Obaid bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, honoured the workers during a speech and thanked them for their hard work.