Friday 30 / May / 2025
Out of the 2 million expatriates living in Oman currently, there are hundreds dying each year. While the kin of the deceased is trying to endure the grief of losing their loved ones, they also need to go through the pain of finding a way to repatriate the body or cremate it here in Oman, which sometimes can be a tedious process. It is in such situations that people like Sirajudheen Dawari come as an angel to help those in need.
“I came to Oman 16 years ago and have been working as a social worker since 2006,” said Sirajudheen, who has been actively helping people in the Jalan Bani Bu Ali area and beyond. According to him, once an expatriate passes away, the family has to go through a lot of trouble in terms of documentation, procedures and paper work, especially if they want to send it back to their home country. “So far I have helped many people, can’t recall the number, and will continue helping Indian expats in distress as long as I’m here,” Sirajudheen said.
In order to send a body back home you need to get a death certificate from the hospital and go to the embassy. A death notification, original passport, and ID copy of the deceased, letter from a relative, and a letter from a sponsor is then required after which the Indian Embassy will issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) will then complete other formalities that need to be taken care of, “I have been closely working with the Indian Embassy for a while and know the formalities well to help people more efficiently,” he added. Recently, when an accident in Jalan Bani Bu Ali killed a 15-year-old after the car she was travelling in hit a camel and toppled, it was Sirajudheen, who was the fore coordinating with hospital authorities, the ROP and even media.
“The family of the deceased is usually not in the right frame of mind to talk to people and get things done so that’s why I try to help in any way I can,” Sirajudheen said. He is also an active member of the various expatriate clubs and communities in Oman that try to push young talent and give them a platform to express themselves. “I am an active member of different clubs and have helped organise various events, including sports, cultural events, and festivals.”
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