ABU DHABI // Social media has been flooded with tributes to Abu Dhabi Sports presenter Hamad Al Ibrahim, who died in hospital in Germany on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
Immediately after the announcement of his death, thousands of people took to Twitter and Instagram to offer prayers and condolences for the Emirati who is fondly remembered for his charismatic smile and professionalism.
Al Ibrahim joined the broadcaster in 2010 and presented shows on GCC football, the English Premier League and the F1 Grand Prix, among other sports.
The 31-year-old was buried on Wednesday at Al Qusais Cemetery in Dubai.
HE Mohamed Ebraheem Al Mahmood, chairman and managing director of Abu Dhabi Media, which runs the sports broadcaster, joined employees in expressing his deepest condolences to Al Ibrahim’s family.
“We pray to Allah to rest his soul in peace.”
Islamic scholar Sheikh Wassem Yousef said Al Ibrahim “was a friend, a colleague and a brother”.
“God bless him and may he rest in heaven.”
Al Ibrahim was born in Dubai on September 11, 1985. He began his TV career at the Rottana Khalijia channel before moving to Abu Dhabi Media.
A short video aired on Abu Dhabi TV mourned the presenter’s death and paid tribute to his professionalism.
Al Ibrahim, it said, had “distinguished himself as a tactful presenter and speaker. He gained the love and respect of his audiences before his guests and although he was passionate about football he left a mark in different fields in sports media”.
The Emirati had made many contributions to Abu Dhabi Sports during his six years on screen.
“Six beautiful years that passed like a beautiful dream to everyone who worked and met him. Six years (like) we have never seen, the man with the white innocent heart, other than smiling and positive .”
Al Ibrahim underwent treatment in Hannover, Germany, in October. Not long after it was announced that he was in a coma after the cancer in his spine had spread.
Fans offered prayers and support online after photos were posted on Twitter and Instagram showing him in a hospital bed.
“No one ever complained about him,” Yaqoob Al Saadi, director of programmes at Abu Dhabi Sports, said on air.
“Hamad never spoke badly about anyone. Hamad was an example of the distinguished presenter that we are all proud of it. Hamad had qualities that I believe are lacking in many media people in the field today. Hamad was distinguished in everything – his job, personality, humanity. Today we lost a person who is special to all of us.”
Mr Al Saadi said reaction from the public to the presenter’s illness and death came “from all over Arab world. There are people who didn’t know him closely”.
Al Ibrahim last appeared on air on September 28.
“That day he could not finish the programme and was tired. His colleague took his place,” said Mr Al Saadi, adding that 10 days later Al Ibrahim left for Germany.
“Whatever we say about Hamad will not do him justice,” Mr Al Saadi said.
sainuwais@thenational.ae