Abdulmajid Koutrach with his wife Farah Oubed and her young son Adam.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has repatriated Farah Oubed along with her young son Adam and newborn baby Ahmad.

Oubed’s husband, Abdulmajid Koutrach, has not seen the family for four months after they were stranded as a result of the global lockdowns caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Koutrach said: “I am truly grateful to the UAE government and Etihad Airways for bringing my precious family back to our home in the UAE. It was very hard to be away from them for so long due to the coronavirus crisis and I’m the happiest man alive to see my beautiful wife Farah and our oldest son Adam again, and especially to meet my new son Ahmad for the very first time.”

The family, who have been UAE residents for more than 10 years, were granted approval to return to the country and travelled on Etihad Airways flight EY140 from Toronto to Abu Dhabi on 12 May.

They were welcomed at Abu Dhabi International Airport by Koutrach who met his newborn son Ahmad for the very first time.

As part of the keenness of the General Command of the Dubai Police to serve community members and promote its charitable and humanitarian work, the General Department of Airport Security assisted in the return of an Indian couple to their country, after attaining the required approvals and purchasing their travel tickets.

Brigadier Mohammed Ahmed bin Dylan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Director of the Department, highlighted the keenness of the Dubai Police to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need. He added that this approach is due to the charitable and humanitarian role of the Dubai Police, which reflects its institutional identity, especially during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Al Mazrouei added that the couple, which included a pregnant woman, came to the UAE on a visit, but due to the global pandemic they were unable to return to their country, and could not cover the cost of housing and food.

Al Mazrouei noted that the couple asked the Dubai Police for assistance to help them return to their home and family, especially as the wife is waiting to give birth, adding that the department immediately contacted relevant authorities.