Square in Sharjah to be dedicated to the UAE’s fallen soldiers

Emiratis have welcomed plans to dedicate a public square in Sharjah City to the heroes who have sacrificed their lives in service of their homeland.

On Monday, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, ordered that a square be dedicated in honour of the servicemen in response to a proposal made by Abu Dhabi Media employees Monzer Al Mazki and Mohammed Al Bayati via the Hotline programme, which was broadcast on Sharjah Radio and Television.

Mr Al Mazki and Mr Al Bayati proposed the building of a monument to honour the servicemen who have died since the country was founded on December 2, 1971, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National.

While exact details of the square are yet to be announced by the Sharjah Government, citizens living in the emirate said it would act as a record of Emirati bravery.

"It will be a symbol of the sacrifice that our brave soldiers did in the line of duty,” said Ali Al Hamadi, a 27-year-old government employee, adding it would show how the Emirati people have contributed to not only helping their own country but also their Arab brothers.

Dedicating a square would help to keep the memory of the heroes alive and would be popular with people as a place to show their children how Emiratis had laid down their lives for the UAE and to protect brotherly nations, said Amna Al Sewidi, a mother of three.

"Emiratis would take their children and grandchildren to learn of the bravery of Emirati soldiers,” she said.

Saaed Al Naqbi said he was thrilled at the idea of a square as a place to honour the country's heroes.

"It's for us, and for residents and tourists, to know that this country offered its own sons to help our Arab brothers,” said the 34-year-old.

"This would not be just for the martyrs but for their families as well, so that they know that this country would never forget what their sons have done for this country,” he added.

Seven Emiratis have lost their lives in the Saudi-led Operation Restoring Hope aimed at driving out Houthi rebels from Yemen and restoring to power the internationally recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.

In June, non-commissioned officer Hazim Obaid Al Ali, 40, died in Saudi Arabia during training exercises for the conflict. In July non-commissioned officer Saif Youssef Ahmed Al Falasi, 35, a father of five from Dubai, and Lt Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Kaabi, from Al Ain, were killed on duty in Yemen.

This month, Juma Al Hammadi, Khalid Al Shehhi, and Fahim Al Habsi, all first corporals, were killed in Yemen and Cpl Abdul Rahman Al Baloushi was killed after the car he was travelling in overturned in Saudi Arabia.