The Green Men of Al Ain
Al Ain – an oasis bordering on the Oman and the second largest town in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the UAE is not just famous for it’s green palm trees but also for it’s green fodder market. Anyone who owns a horse, a camel or a goat knows about Al Ain Central Market as this is the only place in the country where one can buy Alfafa and other fresh feed for the animals. More than 80% of the greenery comes from Oman and is sold straight from the truck. An officer checks the quality of the leaves and the weight of the bundles and once the buyer and the seller have agreed a price the men dressed in green begin to work. They throw and carry the bundles from one truck to the next all day and through the night. Most of the men are from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and they work for tips. Solely the green uniform is provided by the municipality.