At Dubai's Smartlife club, senior expats are building a thriving community, connecting, socialising and finding a sense of belonging.

Singh, who arrived in the UAE three years ago to live with his daughter, was among the first members of Smartlife's senior citizens' club. Last Saturday, he joined dozens of others to celebrate the group's second anniversary with a retro-themed morning of music, dance and skits. Members dressed in their finest vintage outfits, and the room filled with laughter, mischief and memories.

For British expat Meenu Choitram, the group was a lifeline. After 45 years in the UK, she quit her job and moved to the UAE to be closer to her children. "It was hard to uproot my life of 45 years and move to a new place," she said. "When I came here, my daughter-in-law introduced me to her friend's mother. We became good friends."

She tried other sessions for the elderly but found them focused on those who needed help moving around. "But we were physically fit. We just needed a group to socialise," she said. "Now I have people I can call if I need anything - or if I just want company."

The group isn't only for newcomers. Eighty-two-year-old Keki Tavadia arrived in the UAE in 1969 and lives surrounded by children, grandchildren and an extended family network. He joined in May and now can't imagine his Saturdays without the Smartlife meetings.

The Smart Senior Citizen and Single Parent project was designed to support and engage retired senior citizens and single mothers living in Dubai. One of the founders of the programme, 67-year-old Manjula Ramakrishnan described it more as a family than a programe.

"It was conceived as a free programme," she said. The idea took shape two years ago, when Golden Visas began drawing retired residents and ageing parents to the UAE. "For many people like us, Dubai is home. I've been here 45 years, and my grandchildren study here. With more people above the age of 60 coming here to settle, I could see a vibrant senior citizen community emerging."

(Source: Khaleej Times)