From Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and Then to the UAE

From Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and Finally to the UAE

The Journey That Changed My Life: A Story of Struggle, Faith, and Starting Again

By Kefayatullah

There are moments in life when a single decision reshapes everything—your dreams, your family, your future. My own journey has been filled with such moments. When I look back at the path I walked—from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and finally to the UAE—I see more than years; I see struggle, sacrifice, heartbreak, courage, and a quiet hope that kept me moving forward, even when everything inside me was breaking.

Growing Up in Saudi Arabia (2004–2014): The Beginning

My story begins in 2004, when I first arrived in Saudi Arabia as a young man ready to work. I didn’t have much, but I had dreams—dreams of supporting my family back home in Pakistan, of building something better, of changing our life with my hard work.

Life was not easy. Those first ten years were full of long days and lonely nights. But I kept going because I knew my family depended on me. Every month, the full responsibility of the house in Pakistan was on my shoulders. And in Pakistan, the expenses kept rising; inflation made everything harder. Still, I continued working and sending money, hoping it would give my family comfort.

After ten years, in 2014, I went to Pakistan for a short break. After two months at home, I returned to Saudi Arabia — and not long after, I brought my wife and my mother with me. For a while, things felt steady. Life moved forward. We were together. We supported each other. We survived the challenges, like families always do.

But life rarely stays the same for too long.

The Difficult Return to Pakistan

After some time, my mother told me she wanted to go back to Pakistan. I didn’t want to stop her. She and my wife returned to Pakistan, and suddenly I found myself alone again in Saudi Arabia—thinking too much, feeling tired, stressed, and unsure of the future.

Years passed. Responsibilities increased. And then came 2021—the year that shook the world.

Corona Changed Everything (2021)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to take a short two-month leave and go to Pakistan. On 28 April 2021, I boarded my flight, thinking I would spend some time with my family and return soon.

But destiny had different plans.

Because of the flight bans and restrictions, I could not return on time. My visa expired. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and I found myself stuck — not because I wanted to stay, but because circumstances forced me to stay.

That’s when stress hit me the hardest. Everything felt uncertain. For years, my identity had been built around working abroad, supporting my family, building a future. Suddenly, I was home with no job, no income, and too many worries. Thirty long months passed in Pakistan — months that tested my patience, faith, and mental strength.

Life in Pakistan: A Hard Reality

Living in Pakistan wasn’t easy. We had no business, no strong income source. We only had our land — because my family comes from a line of zamindars. But the land alone doesn’t feed a family unless you make plans, take risks, and invest time.

Around six months after returning, I started thinking deeply about my future. Something inside me said:

“Why not grow something on your land? Something that can benefit your family in the years ahead.”

My area stays cold, so I decided to plant Japanese fruit — a type of fruit that grows well in low temperatures. I didn’t know what the result would be, but hope kept pushing me forward.

I bought more than 230 Japanese fruit plants, and with my own hands, I planted each one in my land. It was a small dream, planted seed by seed. I told myself:

“Maybe in a few years, this will become my family’s support.”

But fate had one more chapter waiting for me.

A New Decision: Leaving for the UAE

Even after planting the fruits, I knew I needed to work again. Life in Pakistan was too expensive, and without a stable income, I couldn’t support my family the way I wanted.

After months of thinking, worrying, and planning, I made a new decision:

I will go to the UAE. I will start again.

On 6 September 2023, I arrived in the UAE. I still remember the feeling—excitement mixed with fear. The UAE was completely new for me. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know where to start. And I didn’t know whether this move would save me or break me further.

Those first few months were extremely tough.

Everything was new:

New country.

New rules.

New environment.

New struggles.

Finding a job was stressful. I walked, I searched, I waited, I worried—but I kept going. Because when you come from a background like mine, giving up is not an option.

Finally Settling in Abu Dhabi

Eventually, I moved to Abu Dhabi, and things slowly started to change. I found a job in a leather box company. It wasn’t easy, but it was honest work—and it brought stability back into my life.

In Abu Dhabi, I rebuilt myself from zero:

A new beginning.

A new routine.

A new hope.

Life is still not perfect, but it is moving. Day by day, step by step, slowly but surely—I am building again.

What This Journey Taught Me

Looking back, from 2004 to now, I realize something important:

Life doesn’t break you — it prepares you.

Every struggle taught me something:

Saudi Arabia taught me responsibility.

Pakistan taught me patience and planning.

Planting Japanese fruits taught me hope.

The 30 months at home taught me courage.

And the UAE taught me that starting again is not a failure—it is strength.

I am still working, still dreaming, still fighting for a better future. My story is not finished; I am still writing it with my actions, my sacrifices, and my prayers.

And through all these years, one thing stayed constant:

I never gave up.