More than bus supervisor: Al Rams mourns ‘Uncle Rashid’, aged 82

Ras Al Khaimah: The people of Al Rams are mourning the loss of a quiet hero. At the age of 82, Rashid Ibrahim bin Ibrahimo, one of the UAE’s earliest and most cherished school bus supervisors, has passed away – leaving behind decades of heartfelt memories and a legacy of unwavering care.
For over 21 years, ‘Uncle Rashid’, as he was fondly known, was more than just a school bus supervisor. He was a constant in the lives of countless children – a gentle guide who stood between home and school, and a second father to many.
With his calm demeanour and ever-present smile, Rashid became a symbol of safety and kindness for generations of students in Ras Al Khaimah.

A family member told Gulf News that the deceased, born in 1943 in the quiet village of Dhaya, spent much of his life in nearby Al Rams, just north of the city. Like many of his generation, he first sought work abroad – labouring in a factory in Saudi Arabia before the UAE was even formed. But he was back home, in a humble job aboard a school bus, where he made his deepest impact.

Every morning, children were met with his soft voice and helping hands. He lifted school bags, comforted nervous students, and watched over them like his own. What might have seemed like routine work to others, Rashid turned into an act of daily devotion.

His passing has touched many in the community who still remember his small but powerful gestures.

A coat in the rain

On a rainy morning years ago, a young boy missed the bus. Rashid noticed the child wasn’t there and waited, refusing to drive off until he was sure. Moments later, he spotted the boy running through the rain, struggling with his bag. Without a second thought, Rashid stepped off the bus, took off his own coat to shield the boy from the downpour, and walked him to the bus with his arm around him. It was a simple act, but to the boy, it meant everything.

Now grown, that former student still tells the story, describing Rashid as the first person to show him what compassion truly looked like. 

The last seat check

Rashid’s sense of duty never ended when the last student got off the bus. Parents still recall how he would quietly walk down the aisle after every school run, peeking between seats, making sure no child had fallen asleep and been left behind. He treated each student as a trust, a responsibility he carried with heartfelt sincerity.

He never saw himself as extraordinary. But to those he served, Rashid Ibrahim was a symbol of quiet greatness – a man whose kindness rippled through the lives of hundreds.

Last Tuesday, the people of Al Rams laid him to rest in the local cemetery. He leaves behind a loving family of six children – four sons and two daughters – and 24 grandchildren, along with a village that will long remember his warmth, his humility, and the way he made the everyday feel extraordinary.