From engineer to street dweller

A mechanical engineer who lead a comfortable life for a long time in the capital is now sleeping on the streets and eating from garbage bins over the past one month, Gulf News has learnt. He is reported to be mentally disturbed.




When Gulf News visited him Monday, he showed us his labour card (expired in 2011) which reads his personal details — Name: Ayad A Zaki, Profession: Mechanical Engineer, Nationality: Iraqi. Zaki, who is in is his 50s, spoke in fluent English about his past in Abu Dhabi.



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"I had worked in the Iraqi Army for three years in the desert as part of compulsory army training during Saddam Hussain's rule. So, I don't have any problem withstanding the weather on the street



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Ayad A. Zaki



Evicted for unpaid rent



Zaki claimed that his company had not been renewing his residence visa and paying his salary dues. He had been living in a company accommodation in an old building in Khalidiya, but was evicted by the landlord on a court order for not paying rent.






He has been seen sitting on the pavement near the building during the day and sleeping on streets at night for almost a month, according to residents in the area. He was often seen searching for food remnants in garbage bins, they added.