A 21-year-old Nepali expatriate working at an Al Ain café has received widespread recognition after a video showed her protecting a fallen UAE flag during severe weather.
Priya Shivakoti was working at Key Cafe in Al Fou’ah when thunderstorms and heavy rain struck the area. After noticing that the flag and its pole had fallen, she went outside and lifted them despite colleagues urging her to return indoors.
She did not realise that a customer was recording the incident. The video subsequently circulated online, attracting praise for what viewers regarded as a spontaneous act of respect. Another member of staff later came outside to help her secure the flag.
The café has responded by introducing a limited drink named the “Priya V60”, a mixed-fruit coffee priced at Dh35. A percentage of its sales will be shared with Shivakoti. The attention generated by the video has also increased customer visits, with some people arriving specifically to meet her.
Shivakoti first came to the UAE as a tourist in 2023. Having enjoyed her initial experience of the country, she decided to remain and pursue employment. She holds a qualification in hotel management, previously worked as a waitress and joined her current workplace about four months before the incident.
Her longer-term ambition is to bring her parents and younger sister to the UAE. The unexpected recognition has therefore become more than a viral moment: it has given a young expatriate’s career and family aspirations greater visibility within her adopted community.