RAS AL KHAIMAH // By the grave, his distraught uncle knelt in grief, inconsolable.
Overhead, even the grey skies of Shaam, on the nation’s northernmost tip, seemed in mourning.
It was the day his family, his friends and his country laid to rest the Emirati hero who went to Bahrain to serve and defend the peace, and gave his life protecting the innocent from the scourge of terrorism.
First Lieutenant Tariq Al Shehi, 41 and a father of four, died after an improvised terrorist bomb exploded on Monday as security forces dispersed Shiite protesters in the village of Daih, near Manama.
UAE authorities dispatched a private plane to fly Lt Al Shehi’s body to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, and the body was escorted by a police convoy to the grave site in his home town of Shaam, 56 kilometres away near the Omani border.
More than 500 mourners lined the little town's main street, along with official and private vehicles from around the emirates, waiting for Lt Al Shehi's body to arrive.
As the ambulance opened its rear doors mourners jostled for an opportunity to carry the body for the few metres to the final resting place.
Before the body, wrapped in white, was lowered into the grave, they laid it on the ground for a brief moment of silence.
Grieving family members were the first to place dirt over the body, followed by other mourners.
Lt Al Shehi’s uncle, Ali Abdullah Al Qaidi, was close to tears over his nephew’s nameless headstone after the burial was complete.
Mourners took turn reciting Quranic verses over the grave, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, offered his condolences to the grieving family, and conveyed those of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Sheikh Saif said the sons of the nation, such as Lt Al Shehi, did not hesitate in fighting terrorism and in standing up for what the UAE considers of mutual interest.
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, the National Security Adviser, was also among leading government figures at the funeral.
Lt Al Shehi “was an example of goodness, dedication, discipline and excellence”, said Maj Gen Sheikh Talib bin Saqr Al Qasimi, chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police.
“He was loyal to, and did a great deal for, his homeland, and received martyrdom for the sake of his God and his homeland, and for duty, humanity and peace.
“On this sad occasion, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of the martyr, asking the Lord to have mercy upon him and accept him in paradise as a martyr.”
Two other police officers with the Bahraini security forces were killed in Monday’s bomb blast.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50