08/03/2026
Leadership is easy in boardrooms. It’s truly tested in “no man’s land.”
Last week, the geopolitical crisis left me and ~1,000 others stranded in Kuwait. With flights grounded, my group of 5 made a desperate bid to cross into Saudi Arabia by road. What followed was a harsh lesson in how systems collapse—and opportunists thrive—in a crisis.
🚨 The Failure of Systems
The Business of Fear: A prominent travel agency offered a way out—for an extortionate ₹1 to ₹1.5 lakhs per seat.
The PR Facade: The Indian Embassy’s social media painted a picture of support. On the ground? Silence. Thousands of us couldn’t reach them to arrange extended stays or emergency visas.
🏜️ The Breaking Point
At the Saudi border, three of us were denied entry for lacking physical US visa stamps, despite having valid I-97 forms. Seeing the delay, our cab driver abandoned us. We were left stranded in the blistering heat of “no man’s land” between the Kuwaiti and Saudi borders.
🤝 The Power of Humanity
When institutions failed, strangers stepped up.
The Saudi Police: A patrol spotted us. Instead of turning us away, they took ownership of our crisis, personally walking us through immigration and miraculously securing exit passes for our entire group.
The Stranger: On the Saudi side, we were negotiating with shady cab operators. An Indian driver noticed us, stepped in, paid off the other driver with his own 50 SAR, warned us of the severe safety risks, and drove us securely to Dammam Airport.
Today, I am incredibly relieved to share I have landed safely back in Mumbai, and our entire group has reached their destinations. After resting at my friend Imranbhai’s house in Dammam, being back on home soil is a blessing.
Throughout my career at Tellabs Chemicals, and recently while structuring a joint venture with in Saudi Arabia, I’ve planned for complex risks. But this ordeal proved that when contingency plans fail, pure human empathy saves the day.
Thank you to the strangers who helped us. To the thousands still stranded: I am praying for your safe return, and I hope authorities replace PR with action.
(Photos: 1. Stranded at the border curb. 2. Safe arrival at Dammam Airport.)