Corporal Omar Al Ketbi, who was martyred in the line of duty last week, had helped control the Al Awir fire.

He returned to the Al Kabayel Centre during the cooling period to retrieve copies of the holy Quran that remained there. Part of the roof collapsed, and he was martyred at the age of 29.

This came in a video shared by Dubai Post, which is part of the Dubai Media Office.

The director of Rashidiya Civil Defence Centre, Captain Marwan Al Kamali, told Emarat Alyoum at the funeral that he had worked with Al Ketbi since his appointment in 2017.

Al Ketbi was highly professional and knowledgeable about security and safety procedures, he added. He had responded to about 800 fires with his colleagues, and Allah had chosen him while he was performing his duty, Al Kamali said.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Ali Al Mazrouei, the deceased had complete knowledge of security and safety procedures, and was professional in his work. He was equipped with protective clothing and necessary equipment while dealing with the recent incident, but firefighters and rescue workers around the world do end up making such sacrifices.

The martyr's brother, Captain Dr Salem Khalifa Bin Hammad Al Ketbi, said his brother was a kind and generous person who almost never saved from his salary. Everyone loved him for his cheerfulness and sincere cooperation. He also helped people with job opportunities during the holy month of Ramadan. He was a great support to his siblings, his mother, and father, his brother added.

He added that the firefighter had chosen the profession because it matched his personality of loving challenges and adventures, and he had been proactive since childhood.

The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Deputy Chairman of Dubai Media Council, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, paid their condolences for the loss of Corporal Omar Al Ketbi. They visited the condolence in Al Mizhar area of Dubai, expressing their heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the family of the deceased.

Throughout their painful loss, Al Ketbi's brother stressed that the family received support from the leadership, government, and people of the UAE. Additionally, he stated that the only comfort they have is knowing he sacrificed himself for them.