Two UAE nationals lost their lives, and three others were injured in a tragic car accident while traveling in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed on Friday.
The incident took place on the Makkah-Riyadh road, a well-known route for travelers between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Saudi authorities and the National Search and Rescue Centre of the National Guard, swiftly launched an air ambulance operation to transport the injured to safety.
The injured individuals were initially treated at King Khalid Hospital in Hail, Saudi Arabia, before being airlifted to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Hospital in the UAE for further medical care.
The MoFA also reported that the bodies of the deceased were returned to the UAE with the help of Saudi authorities, marking the conclusion of a careful and coordinated response to the incident.
In expressing their gratitude, the MoFA acknowledged the exceptional support from Saudi officials, whose cooperation ensured the timely and safe evacuation of the injured and the repatriation of the deceased.
The UAE has faced several tragic incidents involving road accidents in Saudi Arabia in recent years. In August 2023, a father and his four children, all Jordanian citizens of Palestinian origin, were killed in a collision on the Makkah-Riyadh road.
The family was returning to Abu Dhabi after performing Umrah when their vehicle crashed into another. The father, Malik Akram Khurma, and his children—Akram, Maya, Dana, and Dima—were all confirmed dead at the scene.
This latest tragedy follows another devastating accident that occurred earlier in 2023. In July, a horrific crash on the Al Batha-Haradh highway in Saudi Arabia resulted in the deaths of five individuals, with another eight injured. The collision involved two vehicles, one registered in the UAE and the other in Saudi Arabia.
Tragically, one of the vehicles caught fire, further escalating the situation. The UAE vehicle was carrying a family of 12, while the Saudi vehicle was occupied by seven family members.
These incidents have sparked concerns about road safety, especially for UAE nationals traveling in Saudi Arabia. According to a recent survey by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, road accidents are considered the most significant safety threat in the UAE.
The World Risk Poll, released in November 2023, found that 28% of respondents cited road accidents as the “number one perceived risk to safety” in the country, more than double the next most common concern—economic issues like unemployment and rising living costs, which were mentioned by only 13% of respondents.
The growing concerns over road safety in the UAE have led to calls for enhanced road safety measures, stricter regulations, and increased public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the frequency of such tragedies.
As UAE nationals continue to travel abroad, particularly to Saudi Arabia, the importance of robust safety protocols and international cooperation on traffic-related issues remains a critical concern for authorities on both sides of the border.
In light of these tragic events, the UAE government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens both domestically and abroad. Authorities continue to collaborate with neighboring countries to improve road safety and provide support to citizens affected by such incidents.