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UAE: Missing expat found after 9 days; how residents helped police narrow search
Khaleej Times' report helped residents identify Saud, helping authorities trace the 24-year-old in Dubai after he went missing in Ajman
- PUBLISHED: Tue 25 Feb 2025, 10:55 AM
A 24-year-old Bangladeshi expat who had gone missing nine days ago on the evening of February 15 from his home in Ajman has been found safe in Dubai, bringing relief to his panic-stricken family.
On February 21, Saud Jamal Zakariya's mother reached out to Khaleej Times with her plea, and community members swiftly rallied to action after the report was published. Saud was found on February 24 at around 10am when the Ajman Police informed the young man's family about his whereabouts and returned him home safely.
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Residents from across the country came together in their efforts to help locate the young Bangladeshi. The search broadened when a KT reader commented on an Instagram post, mentioning that the missing man had been seen in Dubai. A few days later, another individual realised he had spotted him near Museum of the Future, after seeing the same post.
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How he was found, rescued
Saud's mother revealed that a comment under Khaleej Times' Instagram post led the police to widen their search efforts to Dubai. A user wrote he had seen Saud near Sheikh Zayed Road. "I saw the guy here in Mazaya Centre twice while I was working. He asked for food."
The missing expat's family who had been scanning the comments under the post for any information, immediately informed the authorities of the development.
"We are very grateful for the published story and for community members who helped him get through this time. I am glad he is safe and unharmed and hope we don't have to face a situation like this again," said the mother of six, who has been struggling financially while supporting her family alone since her husband left for Bangladesh seven years ago.
The young expat has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia disorder, as per medical reports seen by Khaleej Times. He had been receiving treatment at Al Aweer's Amal Psychiatric Hospital.
Information from another Dubai resident helped police narrow their search and find Saud. At around 1.45am on Saturday, Pakistani expat Hassan Khan saw the missing young man sitting on the sidewalk near the Museum of the Future. "I was dropping a friend at the Fairmont Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. I turned right and waited with cars ahead of me when I saw him sitting on the footpath talking to himself."
Hassan was not aware of his situation at the time. "It stayed in my head until I reached home." The next morning (Saturday), at around 10am, the 30-year-old expat saw Khaleej Times' report about Saud and immediately called his uncle, Fayaz.
"After I gave him the young man's location, I received calls from the police who were trying to find him. They asked me to send the exact location of where he was last seen by me."
'People came together to help him'
When Saud returned home, he wore a different jacket and new shoes. "I think people helped him while he was out there alone. We have tried asking him where he got food and water from, but he didn't specify details and said he was well taken care of," said his uncle Fayaz.
Saud will soon be taken for his doctor's appointment, which was due last week. "I gave him his medication when he reached home and put him to sleep. He is doing okay now and is safe, which is all that matters. We are grateful to God and the people who came together to help him," said his mother.
