DUBAI // On September 4, Saeed Al Marri rose early as usual to lead his comrades in Yemen in fajr prayers.
Shortly after Saeed, 45, lost his life along with 45 of his companions in a rocket attack in Marib province. It was the day after his birthday and the deadliest in UAE military history.
His family remember him as a man of faith and love for others.
“My dear brother Saeed was a devout man who became known as the ‘imam of the martyrs’ on social media because his last act before dying was leading his brothers in prayer,” says Marwan Al Marri.
As news of the attack reached home, Saeed’s family were hopeful that he might have survived.
“It was a devastating day for the country and all of the martyrs’ families,” Marwan says. “We were hopeful that he might still be alive but a DNA sample that was a match destroyed all hope.”
A DNA sample from a family member was needed to identify the body.
“Our mother would wake up every day and ask us if we’ve heard from Saeed while we were waiting for news,” says Jameela Al Marri, the soldier’s sister. “The news was hard on her but she couldn’t be more proud.”
As sad as they were, Jameela says the support the family has received from even the highest levels has helped to ease their pain.
“I’ll never forget the moment Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed [Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces] walked through our door.
“It felt like he was one of us. He came in and consoled us, made sure we were OK.”
Saeed’s nephew and close friend, Mohamed Al Suwaidi, 43, says his death has left a hole in his life .
“We were close in age and lived together in the same house. Words can’t express the void he’s left,” says Mohammed.
He says that Sheikh Mohammed’s words – “Al bait mitwahid”, or “We are one house united” – resonated with the family.
“The house did feel unified,” says Mohamed, who works with Dubai Police. “We were unified in our grief and sorrow. The funeral period usually takes three days but our house and welcoming tent kept receiving people for a few days after.
“The whole country was united and remains so. We honour Saeed, his brothers and their sacrifice, and so did everyone who came to offer their condolences,” said Mr Al Suwaidi who works for Dubai Police.
Umm Saeed says what happened to her son is God’s will and she accepts it.
“If our children didn’t protect our countries then who else will,” she says. “His children are a reminder of him, they’re continuing his legacy.”
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
In the lead up to Commemoration Day The National speaks to the families of the soldiers who have died during the Saudi-led coalition launched Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen. Check out our coverage here:
› Chief executive of Aldar Properties is proud to be a martyr's son
› Emirati widow's grief soothed by birth of son
› Children of UAE hero killed in Yemen proud of father's sacrifice
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
