SHARJAH // A five-year-old boy fell to his death from the fourth floor of a hotel in Sharjah.
The accident happened at the Radisson Blu Hotel at about 9am on Friday. Police were called to the scene and the boy was taken to Kuwait Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The boy and his family, including a three-year-old brother, were on holiday in the emirate from Kazakhstan.
A police spokesman at Heera Police confirmed that the boy had died and said an inquiry into the incident was under way.
Hotel management said in a statement: "The hotel and regional management have immediately informed the authorities, and the case is under investigation.
"Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to the boy's parents and family."
It added that it would extend support to the authorities investigating the boy's death.
There has been a spate of fatal falls in Sharjah recently but this is believed to be the first from a hotel.
In November last year at least four children fell to their deaths from buildings in Sharjah. In a more recent incident, a four-year-old Emirati boy died when he fell from the Al Sundos Tower in Al Mamzar.
The problem has prompted authorities in the emirate to start devising policies to increase safety in high-rise buildings.
Sharjah Municipality has issued new regulations for windows and balconies. Windows in all new buildings must be at least 1.2 metres off the ground and in older properties must have devices to prevent them from opening wider than 10 centimetres.
Using verandas and balconies for storage has also been banned.
ykakande@thenational.ae
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
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Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills