India Global Updates: Desert Rain Chasers and the Spirit of Home – New India Abroad

 

In a unique story reflecting the resilient spirit of Indian expatriates, New India Abroad brings you a compelling update under our India Global Updates series. Muhammed Sajjad, a Kerala-born estate agent, has turned his longing for monsoon rains into a community movement — right in the heart of the arid United Arab Emirates.

Having moved to the UAE in 2015, Sajjad missed Kerala’s monsoon season deeply. What began as a personal search for rainfall evolved into a full-fledged weather tracking effort using satellite data and forecasting tools. Today, Sajjad, popularly known as the "UAE Weatherman," leads a growing group of fellow Indian expatriates who chase rain across the desert, seeking a nostalgic taste of home.

Every week, he shares rainfall predictions and rally points with over 130,000 followers on Instagram. Last weekend alone, he led a convoy of about 100 cars into the desert, where they were greeted by a rare summer downpour. For many, especially Indians living under the relentless desert sun, the experience is more than meteorological — it’s emotional.

“They feel nostalgic,” Sajjad said. “It’s like home for a few precious minutes.”

This surge in rain-chasing adventures reflects broader environmental trends. While the UAE uses cloud-seeding technology, its average rainfall is minimal — often below 100 mm annually. Yet extreme weather events are increasing, with April this year setting heat records, and last year’s storms marking the heaviest rainfall in 75 years.

As New India Abroad tracks such emotional and environmental narratives, it reminds us how Indians abroad preserve a sense of identity and belonging — even in the smallest raindrop. This is just one of many India Global Updates showing how deeply cultural ties endure across borders.