In the days of the new UAE, unification meant different things to different people. Some arrived in the years before 1971 to lend their expertise. Others came in search of a better life. And for some, the union meant something as simple yet vital as electricity. In the final part of three-part series to celebrate the UAE's 49th National Day, we speak to an Indian couple who have spent most of their lives here.
For Mahendra Mulchand and Damayanti Mahendra, the formation of the UAE on December 2, 1971, meant community.
Their ties to the country predate its foundation. The Indian couple have called Dubai home for nearly 60 years and remember the first National Day as a day like any other.
“For me, it was just like another day because everything was the same,” said Mr Mulchand, 77. “I did not find any change. It was all the same because Dubai is Dubai. Trade was good, very good, and after it was better. The [public] were saying whatever happens, happens.”
Mr Mulchand came to the Gulf with his cousin from Mumbai in 1963.
He was 19 years old and filled with trepidation as he stepped aboard the Daressa, a British India Line ship bound for Kuwait with calls at Karachi, Gwadar, Muscat, Dubai and Doha.
Before boarding, Mr Mulchand paid a crew member to save him a berth by a window. He spent most of the eight-day journey seasick and staring at the ocean.
“The room was open, like a cinema hall, and I took a space near the sea side,” he said. “I was regretting that I came. I was only a child and I had left my mother, but we were poor so I had to go and earn something.”
His family was exiled from Pakistan in 1947 after Partition, the violent division of British India into two states. They had gone to Mumbai, leaving their home and property in Pakistan expecting to return.
Instead, the family created a home in Dubai.
Mr Mulchand’s elder brother was the first in the family to travel to the Gulf, settling in Doha.
Mr Mulchand and his cousin followed, but after a month in Doha, Mr Mulchand moved to Abu Dhabi, a city ready to boom.
It was not to his liking. He told his brother he was ready to return to India.
"I was 18, very young, and I would cry," Mr Mulchand said. "I did not enjoy Abu Dhabi because there was no power, no electricity. So I told my brother, 'I'm not very happy to stay in Abu Dhabi'. So he said, 'OK. Go to Dubai'."
Mr Mulchand found work at the British Bank of the Middle East in Sharjah. He began as a typist and shared a villa with his cousin, buying electricity from a neighbour who charged 10 rupees for 12 hours' service.
"My salary was only 300 rupees and from those 300 rupees, you can't believe it, I used to save 100," Mr Mulchand said. "Once a week, I'd go to the cinema for 25 baisa."
After a year, he moved to Dubai, which had a larger Indian community.
His first Dubai home was the two-storey Bu Jassim building near Naif Police Station.
He commuted to Sharjah with his boss, a three-hour return trip by Land Rover over sand and sabkha. The working day was short and they were home by 3.30pm.
Mr Mulchand was quickly promoted and, as a talented banker, he became an eligible bachelor.
He met Damayanti in Mumbai on his first trip back to India and they married in 1968. Ms Mahendra was 18 and had never travelled abroad.
“At that time I was crying, ‘I'm only a child'," she said. "'Why has my mother made my marriage [to someone] in Dubai?'”
Mr Mulchand tried to prepare her for Dubai. “There were no women, no roads, no cars,” he said. “Only Land Rovers."
He met her at the airport with three of his cousins, who looked forward to a woman’s presence in the home.
Ms Mahendra wasted no time in settling in. On weekends, she hosted friends and relatives, placing orders for vegetables with an Indian grocer, whose goods arrived by plane on Fridays from India.
“Every Friday was a feast in my house,” Ms Mahendra said. “All the gents were coming and saying, ‘oh, now we have home cooking’.”
Once they had children, Dubai became home.
The family moved into a flat in a two-storey building between Bastakiya and Al Raffa in Bur Dubai. The Mahendras and their neighbours kept the front doors open so their children could play together and move freely between the flats.
“Bonding was stronger then,” said their daughter, Anjali Dinesh. “Because people were few, they were close knit.”
Adults socialised at the Indian Association.
“Sheikh Rashid would come every Diwali,” said Ms Mahendra, who is now 71.
“And we used to visit Sheikh Rashid every Eid,” Mr Mulchand said. “We were much closer. There were not many people. [The Indian community] was small, we were maybe 100 or 200 families.
“From the beginning we had a very good life. It was very close to India. We were not feeling that we were far away from India because our cousins were in Dubai.”
News of unification came through friends, not formal news channels.
The Indian and Pakistani diaspora had witnessed the violence that new borders could bring. But close relationships reassured them of a smooth transition.
“I was sure they would look after us, because we knew the Ruler personally and would go to the Ruler’s house,” Mr Mulchand said.
As years passed, more family came to Dubai. They have have raised three daughters.
“For us, this is home,” Mr Mulchand said. “I never thought I would stay but then I enjoyed it. You enjoy it because all your family is here.”
Ms Dinesh agreed. “The point is, people took up our language, they took up Hindi and English,” she said. “They mingled with all the communities and learnt their languages. Any policeman you talk to, he can speak your language.”
“Even the Sheikh knew Hindi,” Mr Mulchand said. “What more do you want?”
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Sheikh Zayed and the story of a nation
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Brief scores:
Toss: India, opted to field
Australia 158-4 (17 ov)
Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24
India 169-7 (17 ov)
Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22
Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
LIVERPOOL SQUAD
Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
