After the 1970s oil boom in the Middle East, numerous Indians emigrated for work to the Gulf countries. At a time Indians out done the total Arab and rest Non Arab population of the region.
Since then Middle East started to be known as the biggest hub of Non Residential Indians or more precisely locals started putting interest and faith in their culture and native. And normally, they got more used to the names like Bombay, Chennai, Kerala, Hyderabad and numerous others, still not forgetting the fact that all these parts make the bigger India!
With that stand point you may still listen to "I'm from Kerala" or "I'm from Bombay" titles. Its a country of 'unity in diversities'!

---If you can't CONVINCE them, CONFUSE them!!!