An Indian woman who traveled to the UAE in search of her missing husband has finally reunited with him after a Khaleej Times report led to their reunion. The family is now preparing to return to India after over three years of separation.
Sanjay Motilal Parmar, 53, a construction worker who had been missing for more than three years, will fly back to Surat, Gujarat, with his wife Komal and their son Aayush on October 2. The family is taking advantage of the UAE’s ongoing amnesty programme and has secured an exit pass.
“It feels like a second chance at life. I keep thinking it’s a dream and that I’ll wake up any moment,” Sanjay said, still processing the reality of his return home. Komal, clearly relieved, reflected on the family’s long ordeal. “For over three years, every day felt like an endless wait. The uncertainty was suffocating. Now, knowing we’ll be together again, I feel like we can finally breathe,” she added.
Komal and Aayush arrived in the UAE on September 8, determined to find Sanjay after unsuccessful attempts through official channels. With their finances dwindling, they sought help from Khaleej Times, sharing their story in the hope that someone might recognize him. Their prayers were answered just 10 hours after the report was published on September 19.
Ali Hasnain, a Pakistani Etisalat technician from Abu Dhabi, recognized Sanjay from the article and revealed that Sanjay had been staying with him and his brother since March 2021. Khaleej Times quickly arranged for an emotional reunion, bringing Komal and Aayush from Dubai to Abu Dhabi on September 20. The moment Sanjay saw his wife and son, he broke down in tears, embracing them after years of separation.
Despite the joy of their reunion, there were still several formalities to complete before the family could return to India. A missing person report filed in Bur Dubai had to be closed, and numerous documents across Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi had to be processed. “It felt like a long process at first, but now things are falling into place,” Komal said, expressing relief that their exit papers were finally in hand.
Komal expressed gratitude for the kindness they encountered in the UAE. “So many people we didn’t even know helped us, from covering our hotel stay to arranging flights,” she said, especially thanking social worker Roshan Ratauri and Ali Hasnain, who had sheltered Sanjay for so long.
Sanjay explained that financial struggles and guilt prevented him from reaching out to his family earlier. “I thought it was better for them not to know how badly I’d failed,” he said, expressing relief at their reunion.
As the family prepares to return to Surat, Sanjay is determined to rebuild his life. “I’ve been given another chance, and I won’t waste it,” he said.