In a meaningful gesture that resonates with the UAE’s Year of Community, Dubai Airports helped a son honour his father’s remarkable journey by issuing a symbolic passport entry stamp into Dubai, six decades after he first set foot in the city.
Haji N Jamaluddin, who arrived in Dubai from Mumbai by sea on 26 February 1965, never received a passport stamp as there was no formal port then and Dubai was still in its infancy. Jamaluddin's son’s wish to commemorate the sixty year milestone led to a special gesture by Dubai Airports, giving the now 84 year old a unique, honorary entry stamp that symbolises a life of dedication and contribution.
Jamaluddin, a revered educator and founder of Crescent English High School, has played a pivotal role in shaping generations since opening the school in 1984. Today, with over 1,700 students, it remains one of the most affordable private schools in the UAE, rooted in his belief that education is the best weapon for enlightenment.
Reflecting on his life in the UAE, Jamaluddin credited Dubai’s transformation to the leadership of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, whose people-first approach he says helped turn Dubai into a place where dreams are built.
To extend the celebration, students from Crescent English High School were invited to Dubai International Airport for an educational behind-the-scenes tour, highlighting the airport’s critical role in connecting global communities.
This rare stamp isn’t just ink in a passport, it’s a profound reminder that belonging is often built not by arrival, but by contribution.