'Couldn't believe I buried my child': UAE father recalls son's fatal drug overdose

A grieving father in the UAE has shared the story of losing his son to a drug overdose, describing the devastating impact addiction had on their family. “I couldn’t believe I was burying my own child,” said the father, identified only as Abu Omar to protect the family's privacy.

Devastated father, Abu Omar, spoke publicly for the first time in Recovered (Mut‘aafi), a series launching by the Security Awareness Department at the General Department of Community Happiness, in collaboration with the General Department of Anti-Narcotics on Thursday. 

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“I couldn’t believe I was burying my own child,” he said in the emotionally charged interview, recalling the moment he lost his son to addiction. The episode, titled 'A Cry of Pain and a Wakeup Call,' recounted how negative influences led his son down the path of substance abuse, with devastating consequences.

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Hosted by Mahra Al Marzouqi, the episode carries a message for every household: stay alert, stay involved and protect your children from drugs and harmful company.

The videocast is part of a wider initiative by Dubai Police to use digital storytelling and real testimonies to reach residents and families. Dr. Colonel Saud Al Rumaithi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Community Happiness, said the project is a human-centred effort to highlight both the tragic outcomes of drug use and the possibility of recovery.

He said the series will also pay attention to Article 89 of the Federal Decree Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which allows individuals struggling with addiction to seek treatment without facing legal action.

Public awareness

“The initiative is part of Dubai Police’s ongoing commitment to use innovative media tools to strengthen public awareness,” Al Rumaithi added.

The 'Recovered' videocast will be available on Dubai Police’s official YouTube channel and across social media platforms. 

As part of their preventive efforts, Dubai Police have launched several anti-drugs campaigns and programmes targeting students, parents, workers, and delivery drivers to raise awareness about narcotics and online threats.

“We visited labour camps, schools, shopping malls, and corporate offices. This year, we expanded our awareness efforts to four major exhibitions instead of one. We reached 270,000 school students and more than 20,000 university students,” said.  Dr Abdul Rahman Sharaf Al Maamari, Director of the International Protection Centre at the General Department of Narcotics Control.

Waad Barakat

Staff Writer

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waad@khaleejtimes.com

Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.