'Giving back runs in a Gujarati’s blood': Kutchi builder opens Dubai property to stranded Indians amid Middle East conflict

VADODARA/AHMEDABAD: As the Middle East simmers and news alerts fuel anxiety across continents, many Indians stranded in Dubai have found an unexpected refuge — not in an embassy hall or an expensive hotel, but in the warm generosity of a Kutchi Gujarati real estate developer who decided that fear shouldn't be anyone's only companion in a foreign land.

At the heart of this gesture stands Yogesh Doshi, chairman of Al Mizan Group in Dubai who has made the desert city his home for nearly three decades. When the Iran-Israel-US conflict disrupted flights, Doshi quietly unlocked 20 apartments in one of his prime properties. No rent. No conditions. Just a simple promise: "No Indian should panic here." These apartments, part of a 64-unit project in south Dubai, finished just weeks ago, have become a sanctuary for tourists and middle-class families caught in a geopolitical storm they never imagined being part of.

Yogesh's gesture — in coordination with the Indian consulate and the Indian People's Forum (IPF) UAE — has already provided free lodging and boarding to around 250 Indians since March 2. Over 25 of them continue to stay as of Wednesday, waiting for flights to resume normally or for fares to stabilize as some simply cannot afford the fares back to India which have soared to Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh per person.

The Doshi family traces its roots to Kutch's Rapar. Before Dubai called, Yogesh worked in Surat and Kenya. Today, his real estate group is counted among the well-known names in Dubai's property landscape. "The situation on the ground here isn't as alarming as it appears from the outside," Yogesh says. "Work is going on as usual. But when people come to us, they're often in panic, especially those travelling with children. The least we can do is offer them calm, safety, and dignity." For many, it's their first visit to Dubai.

Yogesh Doshi's elder brother Ashok Doshi, vice-president of IPF UAE, captures this sentiment simply: "We want to allay their fears and show them we stand with them. Apart from the food, we arranged for medicines, basic support and toys for the children."

On Sunday, the looming clouds of worry and anxiety seem to lift for a few hours. The generous host had organized a screening of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final for the group by placing a large screen in the complex for viewing.

"Giving back isn't a choice. It's in a Gujarati's blood. "We received immense support when we were trying to find our feet in Dubai," Yogesh says.

Then, there is Marwari businessman Dhiraj Jain, also associated with IPF, who opened his 11-bedroom farmhouse on 2 acres near the Ajman emirate of UAE to stranded Indians. Jain even plied 11 cars, including luxury wheels, to ferry them to and from the airport, his gesture getting a clap from M&M chairperson Anand Mahindra in a tweet.

Jain, whose family has made Pune their home for generations, says, "We have games on the premises and are prepared to host up to 500 persons at a time. We have hosted up to 350 so far. This is the time to put the virtue of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava' into practice. We can understand the plight of those stranded here. We are doing our best to help them."

Volunteers of BAPS Hindu Mandir too have welcomed stranded Indians into their homes. "The temple in Abu Dhabi too is offering accommodation and all other support to the tourists and visitors here," said Pranav Desai, director, BAPS Hindu Mandir.

A group of expat Indian women, ‘Ame Gujarati in UAE', a community group formed by expat Indian women has come forward to guide the tourists. "We are sharing important contact numbers and information with tourists who need help in this time of crisis," said Vipruta Vagadiya, who lives in Sharjah.