A woman drowned and her daughter was rescued in an accident off the coast of Umm Al Quwain on Friday morning. Reem Mohammed / The National
A woman drowned and her daughter was rescued in an accident off the coast of Umm Al Quwain on Friday morning. Reem Mohammed / The National
A woman drowned and her daughter was rescued in an accident off the coast of Umm Al Quwain on Friday morning. Reem Mohammed / The National
A woman drowned and her daughter was rescued in an accident off the coast of Umm Al Quwain on Friday morning. Reem Mohammed / The National

Mother drowns while swimming with children in Umm Al Quwain


Salam Al Amir
  • English
  • Arabic

A mother drowned and her husband and children were rescued when the family got into difficulty while swimming on Friday.

The Indian woman, 32, was pulled from the sea off a beach in Umm Al Quwain.

Her husband, 49, and twin children, 4, were saved.

Members of the public ran to help the father as he tried to swim out to his wife, UAQ Police said. Police and marine rescue arrived soon after.

Never allow children to swim without armbands

All four were taken to a nearby public hospital where the mother was pronounced dead.

The children and their father are in a stable condition, said police Brig Khalifa Al Shamsi.

He urged beachgoers to take care in the water, wear life jackets if they are weak swimmers and keep a close eye on their children.

The women's death was the third such tragedy this week.

On Tuesday, a five-year-old boy who spent 50 days in intensive care died as a result of a swimming accident.

  • Zaid Al Shehhi and his uncle pictured in a family photo. The five-year-old died 50 days after being pulled unconscious from the sea. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
    Zaid Al Shehhi and his uncle pictured in a family photo. The five-year-old died 50 days after being pulled unconscious from the sea. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
  • Zaid suffered brain damage after getting into difficulty in the water on April 4. He was rescued by a jet skier who took the boy ashore for medical help. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
    Zaid suffered brain damage after getting into difficulty in the water on April 4. He was rescued by a jet skier who took the boy ashore for medical help. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
  • Doctors kept the child alive for 50 days but he suffered brain and organ damage related to loss of oxygen. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
    Doctors kept the child alive for 50 days but he suffered brain and organ damage related to loss of oxygen. Courtesy: Al Shehhi family
  • In a further tragedy, Zaid's friend Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, died in a similar drowning accident off Al Rams beach in RAK
    In a further tragedy, Zaid's friend Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, died in a similar drowning accident off Al Rams beach in RAK
  • Public beaches in Ras Al Khaimah have lifeguards are various points, but are not all patrolled. The National
    Public beaches in Ras Al Khaimah have lifeguards are various points, but are not all patrolled. The National
  • The authorities urged parents to ensure their children have inflatable jackets or armbands, whether a lifeguard is present or not. Pawan Singh / The National
    The authorities urged parents to ensure their children have inflatable jackets or armbands, whether a lifeguard is present or not. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Even strong swimmers can be caught off guard by riptides and sudden current changes. Pawan Singh / The National
    Even strong swimmers can be caught off guard by riptides and sudden current changes. Pawan Singh / The National

Zaid Al Shehhi was pulled unconscious from the water at Al Maahad beach on April 4 after getting into difficulty while swimming.

He suffered brain and organ damage relating to oxygen loss.

In a further tragedy, a friend of Zaid's family drowned in an accident on Thursday.

Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, 14, was pulled from the water dead after getting into trouble while swimming off Al Rams beach in Ras Al Khaimah.

Dr Ammar Al Hakim, head of the paediatric unit at Ajman's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, one of the largest hospitals in the Northern Emirates, urged parents and lifeguards to be alert.

“Pulling a child out of the water doesn’t mean they are safely rescued, because a body deprived of oxygen can lead to severe repercussions," he said.

It can prove fatal hours after the accident, if medical treatment is not sought.

"I'm saddened by this and its an eye opener for all parents to be more cautious," he said. “Never allow children to swim without armbands."

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)