Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has paid tribute to a firefighter killed in the line of duty on Friday.
He told of how Sgt Omar Khalifa Al Ketbi had died responding to a fire in Al Aweer district, in a message posted on social media on Saturday.
"Our firefighters sacrifice their lives to save others and to protect our nation," Sheikh Hamdan wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a black and white image of the officer.
"Dubai will remember Sergeant Omar Khalifa Al Ketbi, who passed away while on duty responding to a fire in Al Aweer."
Crews from Al Mizhar, Rashidiya and Nad Al Shiba fire stations were called to a fire at Al Kabayel Discount Centre at 12.32pm on Friday, Dubai Media Office said in a statement issued later on Saturday evening.
Officers evacuated the scene and spent several hours extinguishing the fire.
A section of the building's roof collapsed during the cooling down process at 7.20pm, resulting in the death of Sgt Al Ketbi, 29.
He had served Rashidiya fire station since 2017.
Lt Gen Rashid Al Matrooshi, director general of Dubai Civil Defence, extended his condolences to the family of Sgt Al Ketbi.
“Bravery and fearlessness are the defining characteristics of dedicated civil defence personnel who never hesitate to fulfil their duty at all times,” he said.
“Their invaluable sacrifices serve as medals of honour and evidence of the Emirates citizens' readiness to give their lives for the sake of duty, ensuring that the UAE remains a land of security and safety.”
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, who is also the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, also shared his condolences on social media.
He said Sgt Al Ketbi's memory would live on in the hearts of the people of Dubai due to his courageous deeds.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
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