From Kerala to Dubai: How One Indian Expat’s Journey from 1967 Across the Sea Laid the Foundations of a Business Legacy
In the early days of Gulf migration, long before the glittering skyline of modern Dubai, a young man from Kerala made a perilous voyage across the Arabian Sea — and sowed the seeds of a remarkable family story of grit, adaptation, and enterprise. His journey, which began in 1967, captures the spirit of the first Malayalee pioneers in the Gulf and offers a lens into how risk-takers from Kerala helped build their own business empires in the Emirates.
A Dangerous Beginning
In 1967, Noorankulangara “NA” Revi, a 17-year-old from Thrissur, left Kerala to chase what most would have considered a dream too risky: crossing the Arabian Sea aboard a primitive dhow. The journey was fraught with peril — lacking proper documentation, many early migrants traveled in the hold of these country crafts, enduring scorching heat, deprivation, and the threat of drowning when the vessel dropped them off too far from the shore. The News Minute+2The News Minute+2
For Revi, the stakes were personal. His first attempt in 1965 ended tragically in Gujarat, where he was arrested and sent back. But two years later, he tried again — and succeeded, landing on the coast of Dibba Khor Fakkan after a harrowing six-day journey from Mumbai. Gulf News
Starting from Scratch
Life in the UAE in those days was nothing like today’s gleaming metropolises. Revi first joined the Sharjah Royal Air Force, then moved to work in the Dubai Defence Force by 1969. Gulf News He lived frugally, saved scrupulously, and patterned his life on self-reliance.
In the early 1970s, he brought his wife, Girija, to the UAE. Their first daughter, Ragi, was born in Rashid Hospital in 1977 — one of the early Keralite children born in the Emirates. Gulf News Revi’s entrepreneurial instincts soon came to the fore: he extended a modest guest house in Jumeirah (initially offered to him by a British engineer) room by room, building it himself. He also planted a banana tree, raised ducks, rabbits, and lovebirds, and even reused air-conditioning water for irrigation — leading to a kind of “mini-zoo” in their backyard. Gulf News
Building a Legacy
Revi’s story, while not about building a billion-dollar conglomerate, holds deep significance: he laid the foundation for his family to thrive in the UAE. He brought over relatives, encouraged savings, and emphasized education. His daughters grew up in the Emirates, pursued higher studies, and became independent — reflecting how the first generation of Malayalees in the Gulf transformed opportunity into intergenerational mobility. Gulf News
This trajectory mirrors a broader pattern: the mid-1960s saw the start of what scholars call the “Kerala Gulf Boom.” The Economic Times+1 Men from impoverished coastal villages, without formal documentation, risked their lives on dhows to find work in the oil-rich Gulf states. The News Minute+1 Their remittances back home would eventually become a cornerstone of Kerala’s economy.
From Labour to Leadership
Over the decades, many Keralites who arrived as laborers or defense force staff evolved into business leaders. While not every pioneer became a billionaire, some truly did. For example, B. Ravi Pillai, originally from Chavara in Kerala, built the RP Group, a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate spanning construction, hospitality, and more. Wikipedia
Another remarkable story is George V. Nereamparambil, who began working as a mechanic in Sharjah, saw an opportunity in air conditioning, and later founded the Geo Group. The News Minute+1 His success was such that he now owns 22 luxury apartments in the Burj Khalifa. The News Minute
The Gulf Dream’s Ripple Effect
The story of Revi — and others like him — is emblematic of how Gulf migration reshaped Kerala’s socioeconomic fabric. According to migration researchers, by the 1970s and 1980s, the Gulf had become a magnet not only for laborers but also for skilled professionals. mint+1 The money sent back by expatriates fueled a housing boom, investments in education and health, and business ventures in Kerala. The Economic Times
For many Malayalees, the UAE wasn’t just a place to work — it became home. Revi and his family, for instance, lived in Jumeirah for more than three decades. They balanced their Malayali cultural roots with life in the Emirates, making the most of both worlds. Gulf News
Looking Ahead: The Next Generation
Today, the legacy continues. Revi’s grandchildren, born and raised in the UAE, inhabit a world their grandfather could never have imagined. Yet they remain deeply connected to his stories, his resilience, and the humble beginnings of a voyage across the sea.
As the Gulf’s economic landscape evolves, the foundational stories of early migrants remain instructive: success did not come overnight. It came through sacrifice, resilience, and a long-term vision — the same qualities that define many of today’s Kerala-origin business leaders in the UAE.
