It is boom time for the capital’s limousine drivers who have been raking in the moolah for the past three months, thanks to the grace period announced for illegal workers.

With only two days left for the amnesty to end, they are driving continuously around the city during office hours to cash in on the passenger demand. In fact, their numbers seem inadequate to serve the city.

It is difficult to get a limousine, especially before noon or early afternoon when the temperature ranges from 42 degree Celsius to 45 degrees.

“Earlier, I used to earn around SR 2,000 a month, but nowadays I am earning SR 3,000 to SR 4,000 every month,” said Mohammed Saeed from Peshawar, Pakistan.

He starts early in the morning and drives continuously around the city. After a brief break for lunch, he continues to ply the streets for passengers.

“Most of my passengers are workers of different nationalities who are following up their paperwork at their respective embassies,” he said.

Saeed, however, said the police at the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) have become very strict, allowing entry only to limousines with passengers having urgent or necessary appointments at their respective embassies.

One place where he and other limousine drivers go for passengers is the Philippine Embassy’s field office in Um Al-Hammam district.

“As soon as my passenger gets off at the field office, another hops in,” he said, adding that he is hoping that the authorities will extend the grace period.

Another limousine driver who is making hay while the sun shines is Mohammed Khan, also from Pakistan. He used to earn SR 1,500 to SR 1,700 every month, but he is making SR 2,000 to SR 2,500 these days. His only regret is that he is not being able to make more because of advancing age.

“At 55, I can’t drive continuously and need to get some sleep in the afternoon,” he said, pointing out that the extreme heat takes its toll on his body. “I wish I could buy multivitamin capsules, but these are too expensive for me. I would rather save the money and remit more to my family back home,” he said.

Nour Hussein, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, says he is also earning more these days. “I am keeping my fingers crossed at the prospects of the authorities extending the grace period. I have nearly doubled my monthly income during the grace period. The key is hard work and a positive approach,” he said.

“My family in Bangladesh has been the reason why I am working hard, and my positive attitude has helped me from losing my temper or feel offended when the police rudely tell me that I can’t enter the DQ without any explanation,” he said.

While others are benefiting from the grace period, there are some limousine drivers who have not taken advantage of the situation. Satisfied with what they earn daily after spending on gasoline and what they call as “boundary” or money paid to the limousine owner, they have been following the same routine all these years: Waiting for regular customers to call for service or park at a certain place in the commercial district of Batha to wait for passengers.