Two UAE citizens lost their lives, and three others were injured in a car accident while in Saudi Arabia, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Friday.
In collaboration with the National Search and Rescue Centre of the National Guard, MoFA organized an air ambulance mission to transport the injured back to the UAE for medical treatment.
Airlift to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
The injured individuals were first treated at King Khalid Hospital in Hail, Saudi Arabia, before being airlifted to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in the UAE for further care. With the help of Saudi authorities, the bodies of the deceased were also repatriated to the UAE.
MoFA extended its gratitude to the Saudi authorities for their strong support, which played a key role in the successful medical evacuation and repatriation efforts. The UAE Embassy in Riyadh also received significant assistance to ensure the safety of the injured and the dignified return of the deceased.
Tragic Accidents Highlight Road Safety Concerns
In a separate incident in August 2023, a father and his four children, all Jordanian citizens of Palestinian origin, tragically died in a car accident while returning to Abu Dhabi after performing Umrah. Their vehicle collided with another on the Makkah-Riyadh road. The father was identified as Malik Akram Khurma, and his children were Akram, Maya, Dana, and Dima.
Earlier, in July 2023, another devastating accident claimed five lives on Saudi Arabia’s Al Batha-Haradh highway. The crash involved two vehicles one registered in the UAE and the other in Saudi Arabia. One vehicle, carrying a family of 12, caught fire, leaving eight more injured.
Road Safety: UAE’s Top Concern
Such incidents have sparked growing concerns about road safety among UAE residents. According to the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll released on November 15, 2023, road accidents are viewed as the top safety risk in the UAE.
The poll found that 28% of respondents identified road accidents as the biggest safety threat, more than twice the number who mentioned economic concerns like unemployment and rising costs (13%).
