Indian woman leaves behind wallet in Dubai cab with father’s last photo inside; driver’s gesture goes viral

Vartika Sharma’s wallet contained cash and cards, but it also carried something far more precious — the last passport-size photograph she had of her late father, who died in December.

Sharma expressed her gratitude to the Careem driver after her wallet was found and returned to her.

Sharing the experience on LinkedIn, Sharma wrote: “I rarely post on LinkedIn, but this felt worth sharing, especially because my work has brought me so close to Dubai. Today, Dubai gave me a moment I know I’ll remember for a very long time.”

She said she had accidentally left her wallet behind while travelling in a Careem cab.

“The cash and cards could have been replaced, but inside was something priceless — the last passport-size photograph I have of my father before he passed away in December. (Yes, I’m old-school that way),” she wrote.

Sharma said her “heart sank” when she realised that her wallet was missing.

However, a few hours later, Careem Care contacted her with reassuring news: the driver had found the wallet and kept it safe.

“A few hours later, Careem Care informed me that the Captain had found my wallet and kept it safe for me. The relief and gratitude I felt are difficult to put into words,” she wrote.

Sharma said the incident gave her a personal experience of the honesty and kindness for which Dubai is often known.

“We often hear stories about Dubai’s honesty, kindness and humanity. Today, I experienced them personally,” she wrote.

Thanking the driver, the Careem team and Dubai, Sharma added: “To the Careem Captain: thank you. You returned far more than just a wallet. ❤️”

She also praised the Careem Care team for making the process reassuring and seamless.

“And to Dubai: thank you for continuing to be a city where moments like this restore your faith in people,” she wrote.

For Sharma, the incident was about much more than recovering a lost wallet. It meant getting back a cherished photograph of her father — a keepsake she feared she had lost forever.

The Indian expat said the experience was one she would remember for a long time.