Many couples share aspects of their lives on social media — from travel and cooking to vlogging and podcasting — but one Dubai-based couple has chosen a path of service over social media fame. Ahmad Hiskol, a Lebanese expatriate, and his wife, Nora, from Uzbekistan, spend their weekends and sometimes weekdays rescuing stranded drivers across the UAE, offering help without expecting anything in return.
Their efforts are not meant to build an influencer brand but to reach those in need — people stuck in remote deserts, beaches, hills, or water. Through their initiative BlueRex Offroad Rescue, they have carried out over 2,500 free rescue missions in the past 10 years across all emirates.
Ahmad, who works in luxury footwear, and Nora, an accountant, prepare every weekend for rescue calls, which begin coming in as early as Friday evening. On Fridays, they load their custom-modified RAM truck with supplies and start scanning remote areas, often staying out until 2am and resuming early the next day.
Their truck, originally purchased for Dh100,000 and modified with another Dh100,000, is built for serious off-roading and rescue. It features 11 inches of lift, large tires, GPS, off-road lights, floodlights, a full SOS control system, and a powerful 30-metre Bluetooth-controlled winch capable of towing up to 5.5 tonnes. They’ve rescued everything from small cars to garbage trucks.
Their team also includes friends Abdul Rahman and Aiham, who patrol other sections of the desert. On one mission, a man in his 60s got stuck with his wife; after initial instructions failed, Ahmad and team deflated the tires, dug out the sand, and used the winch to pull the car free — all free of charge.
Notable rescues include pulling a car from water at Jebel Ali Beach and removing a burnt-out vehicle stuck under a dune in Al Batayeh to prevent danger to other drivers. Ahmad, an off-roading enthusiast, says this work brings him peace. Nora shares his passion, emphasizing they record and post their rescues to help others know where to turn if they’re stuck.
The couple even carries extra fuel for emergencies and spends more than Dh1,000 monthly on petrol, not counting food, spare parts, and other maintenance costs. Still, they consider the work a blessing. Their young daughter occasionally joins them, learning valuable lessons in kindness and service.
Asked how they feel after a rescue, Nora responded, “The smile and relief on people’s faces is something we can’t describe. This isn’t just off-roading. It’s a rescue mission and it’s our purpose.”