Martyr father is forever a hero in eyes of daughter who never even got to meet him

Eman Al Nuaimi was born months after her father died in a flying exercise but the spirit of her family and the pride she has for him has helped see her through.

Soldier Ahmad Al Nuaimi, who died during a training flight in Sharjah. Courtesy Al Nuaimi family

AJMAN // Months after Armed Forces flight lieutenant Ahmad Al Nuaimi died, his only daughter, Eman Al Nuaimi, was born. She has since grown up knowing only of her father through what people who knew him tell her.

Al Nuaimi died on December 10, 1981 aged 22, during a training flight in Maliha, Sharjah.

Ms Al Nuaimi has lived without her father for 33 years but her pride in that he is a UAE martyr has always helped her cope in her the grief.

“I have lacked the presence of a father and the word of a dad, but I have never lacked warm-heartedness and love from my country and all family’s members,” she says.

“I grew up hearing good things about him from my family and people, and I am still meeting people who always tell me about how he was a great man who loved his parents and siblings.”

When the mother-of-five misses her father she consoles herself by immersing herself in good deeds, so she too can join him in paradise.

“When my kids are able to understand, I will tell them about their grandfather who died for the sake of his homeland. I will show them his photographs,” says the 33-year-old who is studying English language and literature.

“I will tell them how I grew up without a father to let them know how the grace of having father is a great thing.”

Yousef Sultan Al Nuaimi, Ahmad’s brother, did not let his brother’s death deter him from becoming a pilot, something he did for 28 years before retiring.

“Ahmad loved aviation and he is the one who encouraged me to enter this field,” says Yousef, 56.

“After his martyrdom I did not get fearful about losing my life for the sake of the UAE, I just got scared that my parents would be sad if they also lost me because we are a family of six sisters and just two brothers, Ahmad and I.

“My father encouraged me to continue and his great love of the UAE pushed me to ask officials to give me a training hour every day. I went back two days after Ahmad’s death and worked as a pilot.”

The faith of their father aided the whole family in accepting the loss of Ahmad, despite the sorrow in their hearts and tears in their eyes, Yousef says.

“When my dad received the news of his martyrdom, he thanked Allah and all of us accepted that,” he says.

Sultan Al Nuaimi, Ahmad’s 90-year-old father, said that despite his grief, he did not mind sacrificing his son for the country, and that comes from his faith and love for the UAE.

“No doubt I have sorrow in the heart and tears in the eyes, but this is the destiny of Allah and my son served his country and lost his life.

“I always encourage them on patriotism and I would never ever mind to lose all my sons for the UAE.”