THE DUBAI PHILANTHROPIST WHO HAS HELPED FREE MORE THAN 20,000 DEBT-RIDDEN PRISONERS: FIROZ MERCHANT
A humanitarian initiative that gives people facing financial hardship a second chance
For many people, the word prisoner immediately brings to mind serious crimes and dangerous offenders. But in the United Arab Emirates, there are also people who have faced imprisonment because of unpaid debts or other financial obligations.
One businessman has spent nearly two decades trying to help some of these people return to their families.
Firoz Merchant, a Dubai-based businessman and philanthropist and founder of the Pure Gold Group, has been supporting financially distressed prisoners through his humanitarian initiative, The Forgotten Society, since 2008. According to reports published in February 2026, the initiative has helped secure the release of more than 20,000 inmates across the UAE. (Gulf Today)
Who Is Firoz Merchant?
Firoz Merchant is an Indian businessman based in Dubai who built his career in the jewellery industry through the Pure Gold Group.
Alongside his business activities, Merchant has become known for humanitarian work, particularly assistance for prisoners who are unable to settle financial liabilities.
His approach is based on the idea that financial hardship can sometimes place people in extremely difficult circumstances, and that helping them overcome those obligations can allow them to rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families.
What Is the "Forgotten Society"?
The Forgotten Society is a humanitarian initiative associated with Merchant that began in 2008.
Its focus is helping eligible prisoners who are being held because of financial difficulties, including unpaid debts and fines. The programme operates in cooperation with the relevant UAE authorities rather than simply paying money directly to individual prisoners. (Gulf News)
The initiative has worked across several UAE emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. (Gulf Today)
This is important because the programme is not about indiscriminately releasing prisoners. Cases are handled through official channels and evaluated by the authorities.
More Than 20,000 Prisoners Helped
The scale of the initiative has grown considerably since it began.
By February 2026, reports stated that more than 20,000 prisoners had benefited from Merchant's efforts since 2008. (Gulf Today)
The figures from 2025 provide an idea of the scale of the work.
During that year:
- 2,972 inmates were helped.
- They represented more than 50 nationalities.
- About AED 2.4 million was used to settle outstanding debts.
- In many cases, return air tickets were also provided so released individuals could travel back to their home countries. (Khaleej Times)
The initiative therefore goes beyond simply settling a financial obligation. It can also help a person complete the journey home and reunite with family members.
Why Are Some People Imprisoned Because of Debt?
Financial imprisonment can arise from circumstances such as unpaid debts, fines and other financial liabilities.
People can experience serious financial problems after losing employment, suffering a business failure or facing unexpected expenses. In some cases, an individual may become unable to meet financial obligations even though the original situation was not caused by criminal intent.
Merchant has described many of the people assisted by his initiative as "victims of circumstance", rather than hardened criminals. (Khaleej Times)
However, it is important not to generalise that every person in a UAE prison is there because of debt. The initiative specifically deals with eligible cases involving financial difficulties, while criminal responsibility and release decisions remain matters for the UAE's legal and correctional authorities.
The Help Does Not Always End at the Prison Gate
One particularly notable aspect of the programme is assistance after release.
In many cases, Merchant's initiative has also paid for air tickets to the prisoners' home countries. Earlier reports have documented this part of the programme for many years. (Gulf News)
This can be especially important for expatriates who have no financial resources left after spending time in prison.
Instead of being released without a way to travel, eligible individuals may receive assistance to return home and reconnect with their families.
Help Beyond Prisoners
Merchant's charitable activities have also expanded into healthcare assistance.
According to 2026 reports, during 2025 he contributed AED 1 million through the Dubai Charity Association towards dialysis and other medical expenses for 11 patients who needed financial support. (The Times of India)
In February 2026, he also met representatives of the Cancer Patient Care Society in Abu Dhabi to discuss financial assistance for cancer patients facing expensive treatment. (The Times of India)
This shows that his recent humanitarian activities are extending beyond debt relief to include people facing major healthcare costs.
The 2026 Ramadan Effort
The programme has traditionally received additional attention during Ramadan, when charitable initiatives increase across the UAE.
By February 2026, reports said that 497 inmates had already been released as part of the year's Ramadan effort, with additional cases under review. (Gulf Today)
The programme continues to operate in coordination with government authorities and, according to reports, in partnership with the Khalifa Foundation. (Gulf Today)
A Second Chance Rather Than Just a Debt Payment
The story of Firoz Merchant's initiative illustrates an important humanitarian principle: financial hardship can have consequences that extend far beyond money.
A relatively modest unpaid debt can sometimes separate a person from their family, employment and home country for a prolonged period.
By helping settle eligible financial obligations and supporting repatriation, the initiative attempts to remove one of those barriers.
The broader lesson is not simply about how much money has been donated. It is about how financial assistance can sometimes restore something that money itself cannot easily measure — a person's opportunity to return home and begin again.
Merchant's philosophy has remained relatively simple: if clearing someone's debt allows that person to return to their family, that itself is meaningful. (Khaleej Times)
Since 2008, Firoz Merchant's Forgotten Society initiative has developed into a long-running humanitarian programme supporting financially distressed prisoners in the UAE. With more than 20,000 inmates reportedly helped, millions of dirhams committed to debt relief, and additional support for travel and medical care, the initiative demonstrates how philanthropy can address the human consequences of financial hardship. (Gulf Today)
For those who have lost their freedom because of circumstances they could not overcome financially, sometimes the greatest form of help is simply giving them a chance to go home and start again.
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