Students across Dubai are mourning the tragic death of three brothers who were killed in a weekend car accident, with the loss deeply felt as it coincided with the first day of the new school term.
Dubai students grieve after three brothers die in a weekend road accident on the first day of school
Dubai resident Fiza is finding it difficult to comfort her Year 9 son, a student at Arab Unity School (AUS), after a heartbreaking start to the new term. He had been eager to reunite with friends on the first day of school, but was instead confronted with the devastating news that one of his closest classmates had lost his life in a fatal road accident over the weekend.
“Early in the day, the school principal and a teacher visited his classroom and gently informed the students that a fellow student had passed away in a car accident,” she told insider18. “Several children, including my son, broke down in tears. They shared a close bond. However, the school addressed the situation with great sensitivity and delivered a meaningful message, encouraging the children to pray for their late friends.”
The fatal crash occurred on Saturday as the family was returning to Dubai after a trip to Liwa. The accident claimed the lives of three brothers and their housemaid.
On Monday, parents received an official email from the school confirming the tragedy. Fiza said she was stunned when she read it. “When I picked my son up and we saw each other, we couldn’t hold back our tears,” she said emotionally. “We hugged and cried together. I used to see those boys laughing and playing with my son every day during pick-up time. The entire school is shaken. A friend called me to say her child cried all the way home. It’s truly devastating.”
Fiza’s son was too overwhelmed to speak to insider18.
Kind-hearted and responsible
She shared that two of the boys had studied alongside her son over the years. “They were very mature, warm and friendly,” she said. “Always cheerful and full of humour. Their parents loved sports, and the boys were very athletic. All five siblings attended the same school, and I would often see them arriving together. The eldest always looked after the younger ones with such care.”
Fiza added that she had spoken to their mother on several occasions. “She was once part of the school’s parents’ forum, and we interacted there,” she recalled. “Later, she contacted me when her older son needed some study notes. They were a wonderful family.”
She said her prayers were with the grieving parents and the remaining children. “The 10-year-old girl was so sweet, always coming to school with her hair in ponytails,” she said. “I can only pray that the family finds the strength to endure this unimaginable loss.”
Support from the school
AUS Principal Mark Pollitt said the school acted with clear priorities once the tragedy became known. “Our immediate focus was to honour the family with compassion and dignity, while also safeguarding the emotional wellbeing of our students and staff,” he said. “The information was shared calmly and thoughtfully, allowing time for prayer and reflection, with trusted adults present to support the children.”
He added that school counsellors, pastoral teams and senior leaders are available throughout the campus and will continue providing support in the coming weeks. “We understand that grief has no fixed timeline,” he said.
“Our staff have been advised to approach students with empathy and patience, and we are working closely with parents to ensure children receive appropriate support both at school and at home. Our hearts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to the family during this time of profound sorrow. As a school community, we stand with them in compassion, care and solidarity.”
In the days following the tragedy, conversations around loss and emotional wellbeing have become more prominent within the school community. Teachers have been encouraging students to speak openly about their feelings, reassuring them that grief can take many forms. Parents, too, have been advised on how to support children processing sudden loss, particularly adolescents experiencing bereavement for the first time. Fiza said she has noticed her son becoming quieter than usual, spending more time reflecting and asking questions about life and safety. “It’s hard to find the right words,” she said, “but we are just trying to listen and be present.”
Several parents have also come together to support one another, sharing messages of comfort and organising prayers for the bereaved family. WhatsApp groups among parents and students have been filled with condolences, memories and expressions of solidarity. Some families have spoken about teaching their children to value friendships more deeply and to check in on one another during difficult moments. For many, the loss has been a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be, especially when tragedy strikes without warning.
The school is expected to continue offering counselling sessions and quiet reflection spaces in the coming weeks, recognising that the impact of the loss may resurface over time. Educators say they will remain attentive to behavioural changes among students, particularly those who were closest to the boys. Fiza believes this collective care will help the children heal gradually. “Nothing can erase this pain,” she said, “but knowing the school and parents are standing together gives us hope that our children will find comfort, strength and understanding as they move forward.”
