E-Paper
Sign In
Video: Former UAE soldier killed in horrific crash during weekend break to Salalah
Mohammad and his wife, who both fought cancer, were known for their national pride — and once made a 25m-long flag for the 41st National Day, which was also their 41st wedding anniversary
- PUBLISHED: Sun 3 Aug 2025, 11:10 AM UPDATED: Mon 4 Aug 2025, 8:26 AM
- By:
- Laraib Anwer
- Share:
In a tragic accident on Saturday, August 2, an Emirati family lost their father in a deadly car crash on Oman's Haima road, the victim's son confirmed to Khaleej Times.
Mohammad Faraj, a 70-year-old former UAE soldier, was travelling with his wife and daughter to Salalah when their vehicle collided head-on with another car on the highway, a route frequently used by UAE residents heading to Oman. The family had been on a six-day weekend trip and was planning to return the following week.
"I received a call at around 4pm from the authorities informing me of the incident. My father had passed away at around 2pm," said Sabri Al Tamimi, one of the victim's six children.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
An Omani citizen, who was in the other car, also lost his life in the accident. His body was transported from Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah to Liwa in North Batinah Governorate by the Police Aviation.
A video being shared online shows the two cars (white and black) crashing into each other from the opposite sides, while driving at high speed on the two-lane road. The son confirmed that his family was in the black SUV.
Mohammad Faraj died at the hospital, while Sabri's mother, 69-year-old Fathima Al Hashmi, is still in the Omani medical facility, where she is currently in a critical state but seems to be on the road to recovery, according to her son. His 42-year-old sister Samiha was unharmed.
In another car behind them was Mohammad Faraj's other daughter Alia, her two-year-old son Said and her husband Abdullah, who were accompanying them to the holiday destination in their own vehicle. The family witnessed the crash take place.
The family members are expecting to receive their father's body by today evening (Sunday, August 3) or tomorrow (Monday, August 4), after which they will proceed with the burial in Dubai, where the family resides.
"We are all in shock as of now. Our family is still grappling with the news. My father was a great man," said the grieving son.
Mohammad Faraj was known for his valour, as he spent 27 years of his life serving in the UAE Armed Forces. Not only that, he had also survived cancer once in his life after battling it for years, after he was originally diagnosed in 1989. However, during the past five years, the Big C had returned. Tamimi's mother, also a cancer survivor, fought breast cancer for five years.
The couple was known for their pride towards their nation. Back in 2012, the duo made a 25-metre long flag, as both battled cancer at the time, on the occasion of the 41st National Day, which also happened to be their 41st wedding anniversary.
The family had adorned their villa in Mirdif with the flag, paying ode to the nation's leaders and thanking them for helping with their treatment and getting access to the best healthcare in the UAE and abroad.
Recent incidents
With the Khareef season ongoing, more UAE residents tend to go to Salalah to get respite from the region's heat. Many tend to resort to travelling by car, which has led to a rising case of accidents on these roads.
UAE authorities have time and time again urged residents to exercise caution when travelling by road and to adhere to traffic laws and speed limits.
Last month, on July 11, five people were killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Sultan Said bin Taimur Road in Dhofar Governorate. From the five who passed away, three were Emirati citizens.
Rashid Gharib Al Yamahi, a police officer in Fujairah, his wife Jawaher Mohammed Al Yamahi, and his mother-in-law Khadija Ali Al Yamahi, died in the accident.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the injured were airlifted back to the UAE after receiving initial medical care in Oman. The repatriation and medical transfer were coordinated by the ministry, the National Search and Rescue Centre, the UAE Armed Forces, and the UAE Embassy in Muscat.
Meanwhile in 2019, an Indian family of four were on their way back from Salalah when a car crash altered their lives forever. The father, mother and eight-month-old baby boy died in the crash, while their three-year-old daughter survived.
Safety tips
With travel increasing during the Khareef season, it is crucial for drivers to be more wary of the roads. In a previous report by Khaleej Times, UAE residents who have made the journey to Salalah before strongly advise against rushing the drive.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Drivers should ensure their vehicles are in excellent condition.
Tyres must have good grip and brakes should be responsive, especially given the slippery, rain-soaked roads.
Visibility often drops due to fog and mist, so using fog lights and low beams, instead of high beams is crucial.
The misty roads in Dhofar can be deceptive, and it's common to encounter livestock such as cows, goats, and camels crossing unexpectedly, particularly near rural farms.
Some turns along the route are narrow and sharply curved, making it essential to slow down even if the speed limit allows 80kmph.
