Expat mother dies during twin childbirth in Dubai

Dubai: A Sudanese woman has died in Dubai while giving birth to twin boys, turning what had been expected to be a moment of celebration for her family into tragedy.

The woman, identified as Marwa Ahmed Al Amin Bakhit, died during childbirth as she was preparing to welcome her twins.

Mourners gathered in Dubai to bid farewell to the Sudanese mother, answering a public appeal to stand beside a woman who had no family in the UAE apart from her husband.

Bakhit was laid to rest at Al Qusais Cemetery after funeral prayers on Friday. The UAE funeral service Janaza UAE had urged members of the community to attend, telling them in an appeal to be “family and brothers” to her in the absence of relatives in the country. 

The call was answered by mourners who carried her coffin, prayed for her and gathered around her husband as he faced two profoundly different moments at once: the arrival of his newborn sons and the death of their mother.

At the cemetery, her husband moved from one embrace to another. At times he repeated Alhamdulillah (praise be to God) before tears overwhelmed him as those around him stepped forward to console him.

Images from the funeral showed mourners carrying the coffin from the mosque and gathering outside before accompanying the body for burial. 

Marwa had seen her first baby before she died but did not live to see the second, reports of her final moments said.

A later account citing her sister said Marwa suffered sudden complications during a Caesarean delivery after the first twin was born. Both babies were reported to be healthy. 

Marwa worked at Dubai Police, where colleagues described her as cheerful, calm and well-mannered, saying she was someone universally respected by those who knew her.