Indian Student Killed in Tragic Dubai Hit-and-Run
21-year-old architecture student Naifa Balkees was killed in a tragic hit-and-run in Al Rashidiya, Dubai, following a flat tyre incident.
A devastating Indian student hit-and-run in Dubai has claimed the life of a 21-year-old architecture student, leaving her family and the academic community in deep mourning.
Naifa Balkees, a final-year student at Canadian University Dubai, was involved in the fatal incident in the Al Rashidiya area at approximately 3 PM on Thursday, November 6, 2026.
A Routine Breakdown Leads to Tragedy
The circumstances leading to the accident began when Balkees experienced a flat tyre while driving. She managed to pull her vehicle to the side of the road and contacted her father, Binu Hameed, a Dubai-based businessman who was visiting Kerala at the time.
Following her father's advice to contact a roadside recovery service for assistance, Balkees stepped out of her car to make the necessary calls. It was at this moment that an oncoming vehicle struck her and fled the scene.
When her father attempted to call her back to check on her, the phone went unanswered. Shortly thereafter, Dubai Police notified the family of the tragic news.
Investigation and Repatriation Efforts
As of November 9, 2026, the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. While authorities are working to identify the striking vehicle and the driver, very few public details have been released regarding the status of the perpetrator.
The victim's family, including her parents, Binu Hameed and Seena, and her brother, Nihal Hameed, have traveled to Dubai to be with their loved one. Currently, her body is being held by the Dubai Police Forensic Department while the legal procedures required for repatriation are processed.
The Indian missions in the UAE are providing necessary assistance to the family, helping to facilitate the documentation required to return her remains to Thodupuzha, Kerala, for her final rites. The incident has profoundly impacted both the expatriate community and the student body at Canadian University Dubai.