Family of missing Emirati men hold out hope

The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance searches for the two missing Emirati men in Mirbat on Friday. The family of Abdullah Mohammed Al Dhaheri and Mansour Mohammed are holding out for hShow more

DUBAI // The family of two Emirati brothers who disappeared while swimming off the southern coast of Oman on Thursday are still holding out hope they are alive – but say there is nothing they can do other than wait and pray.

Omani authorities continue to search for Abdullah Mohammed Al Dhaheri, 21, and his younger brother Mansour Mohammed, 19.

An older brother, Arar Al Dhaheri, who was with his siblings when they went missing, said: “My uncle and cousin are still in Oman and they are updating us, but there’s nothing new. My mother is, of course, distraught. It’s a very tough situation.”

Unable to conceal his emotions, the 22-year-old said he hoped his brothers, the youngest of nine children, returned home to Al Ain.

“What can I say? God willing, they will be returned,” the brother said.

The father of the missing men, Mohammed Al Dhaheri, said he was trying to remain positive.

“The Omani authorities are still looking for them, but it has not been easy on the family, and their mother is tired,” he said. “Hope that they will return to us is there, but it’s all up to God. Whatever He wills will happen.”

The men’s uncle, Saeed, said he, too, was holding out hope that they would be found alive.

“There is still no news, and, God willing, they will find them, but at this point we are just waiting. There’s nothing else we can do,” he said. “We want them to be found, alive or dead. We just want them back here with us.”

Meanwhile, Dubai Police said its search and rescue unit was ready to assist the Omani authorities, who have extended the search to the Taqah area .

Lt Col Ahmed Burqibah, deputy director of the department, said: “We have a station in Hatta and we are always ready and on stand-by 24 hours a day for search and rescue missions in the country and abroad if the authorities request it. In such cases, we always ask whether the other country’s authorities need our assistance, but they are usually ready and have things under control. Nevertheless, we are willing to help at any point.”

Lt Col Burqibah said the incident was tragic, but he remained hopeful that the Emirati men would be found.