Latest news with #Haima road
UAE Moments
5 days ago
- UAE Moments
Emirati Soldier Dies in Oman Crash During Salalah Road Trip
Mohammad Faraj, a 70-year-old retired UAE Armed Forces veteran, lost his life in a devastating car crash on Oman's Haima road on Saturday, August 2. The accident occurred while he was traveling with his wife and daughter for a short vacation during the Khareef season, a popular time for UAE residents to visit Salalah for its cooler weather and lush landscapes. 'My father had passed away at around 2pm. I received a call at 4pm from the authorities informing me of the incident,' said Sabri Al Tamimi, one of Faraj's six children, in a statement to Khaleej Times. The collision, which happened on a two-lane stretch of highway, involved a head-on crash between the family's black SUV and another car driven by an Omani citizen—who also died in the accident. Graphic video footage circulating online shows the two vehicles slamming into each other at high speed from opposite directions. Faraj succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His 69-year-old wife, Fathima Al Hashmi, remains in critical condition at a medical facility in Oman but is reportedly showing signs of recovery. Their 42-year-old daughter, who was also in the vehicle, was unharmed. The family expects Faraj's body to be repatriated by Sunday evening or Monday, with burial arrangements planned in Dubai, where the family lives. 'We are all in shock as of now. Our family is still grappling with the news. My father was a great man,' Sabri shared, visibly heartbroken. Faraj dedicated 27 years of his life to serving in the UAE Armed Forces and was widely respected for his courage and service. He was also a two-time cancer warrior—first diagnosed in 1989 and battling a recurrence in recent years. His wife, too, had survived a five-year fight with breast cancer. The couple's love for their country was deeply rooted. In 2012, during the UAE's 41st National Day (also their 41st wedding anniversary), they hand-stitched a 25-metre-long UAE flag to hang on their villa in Mirdif as a tribute to the nation's leaders and the care they received during their treatments. This incident comes amid growing concerns over road safety on routes leading to Salalah. With more UAE residents choosing to travel by car during the Khareef season, authorities have repeatedly urged the public to drive responsibly and observe speed limits. The tragedy follows a deadly multi-car crash on July 11 in Dhofar Governorate, where five people—including three Emiratis—lost their lives. The victims included Fujairah police officer Rashid Gharib Al Yamahi, his wife, and his mother-in-law. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated medical evacuation for survivors in that incident. In a separate 2019 crash, an Indian family of four met a similar fate on their way back from Salalah, with only one child surviving.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Video: Former UAE soldier killed in horrific crash during weekend break to Salalah
In a tragic accident on Saturday, August 2, an Emirati family lost their father in a deadly car crash on Oman's Haima road, the victim's son confirmed to Khaleej Times. Seventy-year-old Mohammad Faraj, a former UAE soldier, was travelling with his wife and daughter to Salalah when their car crashed into another vehicle on the highway that is commonly used by UAE residents heading towards Oman. The three members were going down to the neighbouring country for a trip over the weekend and were planning to come back by the next week. "I received a call at around 4pm from the authorities informing me of the incident. My father had passed away at around 2pm," said Sabri Al Tamimi, one of the victim's six children. An Omani citizen, who was in the other car, also lost his life in the accident. His body was transported from Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah to Liwa in North Batinah Governorate by the Police Aviation. A video being shared online shows the two cars (white and black) crashing into each other, while driving at high speeds. The son confirmed that his family was in the black SUV. Mohammad Faraj died at the hospital, while Sabri's mother, 69-year-old Fathima Al Hashmi, is still in the Omani medical facility, where she is currently in a critical state but seems to be on the road to recovery, according to her son. His 42-year-old sister, who was accompanying her parents on the trip, was unharmed. The remaining family members are expecting to receive their father's body by today evening (Sunday, August 3) or tomorrow (Monday, August 4), after which they will proceed with the burial in Dubai, where the family resides. "We are all in shock as of now. Our family is still grappling with the news. My father was a great man," said the grieving son. Mohammad Faraj was known for his valour, as he spent 27 years of his life serving in the UAE Armed Forces. Not only that, he had also survived cancer once in his life after battling it for years, after he was originally diagnosed in 1989. However, during the past five years, the Big C had returned. Tamimi's mother, also a cancer survivor, fought breast cancer for five years. The couple was known for their pride towards their nation. Back in 2012, the duo made a 25-metre long flag, as both battled cancer at the time, on the occasion of the 41st National Day, which also happened to be their 41st wedding anniversary. The family had adorned their villa in Mirdif with the flag, paying ode to the nation's leaders and thanking them for helping with their treatment and getting access to the best healthcare in the UAE and abroad.
