Mentally ill man found in Dubai after being missing for 10 days

The 44-year-old Emirati from Ras Al Khaimah was found in Dubai by police after media circulated his photograph.

RAS AL KHAIMAH // A mentally ill man who had been missing for 10 days was found on Tuesday night, RAK Police said.

The Emirati was named locally as Salah Bahlool, 44, who is married with three sons and two daughters and lives in Al Oraibi. He was found in Dubai after his photograph was circulated on news and social media, said Col Abdullah Ali Munkis, director of the Criminal Investigation Department.

“We received a call from Dubai Police informing us that they had found the man,” he said.

“He was in good condition. We called his family to reassure them, and then we received him from Dubai Police and handed him over to his family.”

Mr Bahlool’s father, Hassan Al Balushi, said that his oldest son had suffered mental illness since birth and that this was not the first time he had disappeared.

“He has gone missing for two or three days many times. Dubai Police would contact me, saying that they had found him and every time he was found in a different area in Dubai,” said the 68-year-old.

“He goes there by taxi because we have relatives there. His sister is married and living in Dubai, so he takes a cab to go and visit her but because he does not know where her place is, he gets lost every time.”

Nabeel Al Shemaili, 40, an Emirati member of RAK National Theatre, said Mr Bahlool was well known in RAK because he travels a lot and speaks to many people.

“He has a mental disorder but he has recognition [in RAK]. He loves walking, and we see him all over the emirate. He always says ‘hi’ to people whom he sees and he can remember them and their names,” Mr Al Shemaili said. “When you say Salah, every one in RAK knows him. He is loved by everyone because he has a good heart.

“When people saw his photo on social media, they interacted with the search to find him.”

Khalfan Al Falahi, 30, an Emirati from RAK who works for an IT company, agreed.

“He [Mr Bahlool] is always around where there are gatherings, such as weddings, motorbike and car shows, at malls when there are events. He goes to these places and greets people,” he said.

“Everyone sees and knows him and he likes to sit and talk with people.”

Col Munkis appealed to families to monitor their children and those with special needs so incidents like this did not occur.