An Emirati citizen helped 375 Kyrgyz travelers…and deserved a “medal of appreciation” from their government.

Emirati citizen Qasim Ahmed Al Morshedi did not realize that the photos that documented his assistance to 375 Kyrgyz passengers at Sharjah International Airport, during the travel crisis that the region witnessed last March, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, would turn into a widely circulated story on social media in Kyrgyzstan, before reaching the Prime Minister of their country, and ending with him granting him a certificate of honor and a medal in honor of his humanitarian efforts in helping them return to their homeland.

In detail, the story began during the escalation of the situation in the region, when the Chargé d’Affairs at the Consulate of the Kyrgyz Republic in Dubai turned to Al-Morshedi, due to their previous acquaintance, asking for help in facilitating the return of 375 Kyrgyz citizens to their country, after air traffic was affected and some flights were stopped.

Al-Murshedi told Emirates Today that he took the initiative to communicate with the relevant authorities and airlines, taking advantage of his community relations and experience in volunteer work, in order to find solutions that contribute to accelerating the return of travelers to their country, explaining that transporting all passengers at once was not possible, so successive flights were organized over a period of about 10 days until the return of all travelers was completed.

He added that the concerned authorities and workers at Sharjah Airport, Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and Air Arabia responded remarkably to his efforts as a citizen volunteer, and contributed to speeding up procedures and overcoming obstacles for travelers, which helped complete return flights smoothly, especially for women, children, and the elderly.

He pointed out that the 375 Kyrgyz travelers whose conditions he monitored during the crisis became the focus of his day throughout the month of Ramadan, as he was keen to ensure the progress of their travel procedures, meet their needs, and follow up on the arrangements for their return, step by step, until they left for their homeland.

Al-Morshedi recalled one of the situations that is still firmly embedded in his memory, saying that an elderly woman could not control her tears after being informed that her travel procedures had been completed and the date of her return to her homeland was approaching. She kept repeating words in her language to express her joy and gratitude, in a scene that he said touched his feelings and embodied the magnitude of the impact that a simple humanitarian initiative can make in the lives of others.

At the end of each flight’s procedures, a number of travelers were keen to take souvenir photos with him in appreciation for the help he provided. After their return to Kyrgyzstan, they published those photos and videos on social media, talking about their experience at Sharjah Airport and the support they received during the crisis.

Al-Murshedi explained that the spread of the photos and clips received widespread interaction within Kyrgyzstan, which prompted the official authorities there to contact their embassy and inquire about the details of what happened, before praising the role he played in evacuating Kyrgyz citizens from the UAE.

He added that the echo of those efforts later led him to receive an official invitation to visit Kyrgyzstan, where he was awarded a certificate of honor and a medal of appreciation during an official ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Adilbek Aleshovich Kasymaliev, and those in charge of Kyrgyz diplomatic affairs.

The certificate of honor included praise for his effective contributions to the travel of Kyrgyz citizens from the United Arab Emirates to the Kyrgyz Republic, following the escalation of the military and political situation in the Middle East during March 2026.

Al Morshedi stressed that what he did was not in search of honor or compensation, but rather was based on his belief in the value of humanitarian and volunteer work established by the UAE, pointing out that this medal is an appreciation for the values ​​of Emirati giving before it is a tribute to his person.

He continued that his passion for volunteer work and serving others derives its roots from the humanitarian approach established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, and continued to be consolidated by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, and this approach continues today under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the State. Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, which made giving and humanitarian work part of the culture of Emirati society.

Al Morshedi is known for his activity in volunteer and community work, as he previously won the Sharjah Award for Volunteer Work in the category of the best honorees for special volunteer work for the year 2024. He was also chosen as an ambassador for social and humanitarian communication in the Year of Zayed 2018, and participated in many humanitarian initiatives inside and outside the country.