A brief moment captured on a Dubai bus has unexpectedly put Indian billionaire MA Yusuff Ali in the spotlight, not for business milestones, but for a simple, warm gesture that resonated widely online.

The Lulu Group chairman was seen boarding a public bus in Dubai, where he greeted the driver with a handshake and spoke to him in Hindi, asking, “Kaise ho? Theek ho?” The interaction, shared initially on TikTok by user Sajjad Fardese, quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing praise for Ali’s grounded demeanor.

As the clip gained traction, users flooded comment sections calling him “down-to-earth” and “humble.” Some even shared personal encounters, recalling moments where Ali’s behaviour defied expectations often associated with billionaires. One user wrote, “He’s a very humble guy. Once he stopped his BMW to pray in the desert and asked me for a prayer mat which I didn’t have. He took some pieces of cardboard and prayed on them and then drove off.” Others questioned the circumstances behind his bus journey, sparking curiosity and conversation.

The viral moment followed closely on the heels of another personal highlight Ali had shared with his followers. On Instagram, he posted about receiving a personally signed copy of “Lessons from Life: Part I” from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Alongside a photograph of the book, Ali expressed his appreciation, writing, “I am extremely thankful to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for sending me a personally signed copy of the latest book Lessons from Life: Part I. As a visionary leader blessed with great wisdom and knowledge, I am sure the present and future generations can learn a lot from the life of His Highness. I am also grateful to His Highness for considering me to receive this book.”

Inside the book was a handwritten message addressed to him, adding a personal touch to the exchange.

MA Yusuff Ali is the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, which operates a vast global retail and hospitality network, including 256 hypermarkets and malls across the Gulf region and India. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at over $5.9 billion.

Despite overseeing one of the largest retail empires in the region, the viral bus video has reminded many that humility can leave as lasting an impression as wealth sometimes even more.