Sharjah Police launched an investigation on the fire accident that caused the death of Ameera Bin Karam, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council, her mother and her sister, and also caused serious injuries to her brother in their villa in Al Qadisiyah area in Sharjah.

Police said that they are still working on finding the reason that caused the fire in the villa, but they said that it might be caused by a short circuit in the majlis where the fire started. Police are also interrogating the two maids and driver to determine the causes of the accident.

Police said that they received the call in the operation room around 4:20pm and immediately dispatched the patrol and rescue unit, as well as forensic experts. The team arrived there in four minutes and cordoned off the area to allow firefighters to do their work.

The rescue unit saved Khalid, 32 years old and rushed him to Al Kuwaiti hospital then transferred to Al Qassimi Hospital. Three bodies of three women including Ameera Bin Karam, 38; Sama Bin Karam, 40 and Badriya Abdul Rahman, 58 were sent to Al Kuwaiti Hospital Morgue before the burial.

Police will later reveal the exact cause of the fire.

A massive crowd of people from various sectors of the Emirati society and expatriates gathered on Sunday at Al Sahaba Mosque to pay respect and tribute to Ameera BinKaram, her sister and mother, who died on Saturday in a fire accident in their Villa in Al Qadisiya.

Ameera Bin Karam, a pioneer of women empowerment in the UAE, her mother Badriya Abdul Rahman and sister Sama suffocated to death on Saturday evening after a fire erupted in their villa.

Ameera held many government positions including Deputy chairperson of NAMA and Director-General of Pink Caravan and Chairperson of the Friends of Cancer Patients Society (FoCP). She was 38 years old.

Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; top UAE officials and residents attended the funeral prayers at the mosque. After the prayers, bodies of Ameera, her mother and sister, were moved to the Sharjah graveyard, followed by her relatives, friends and family members. The bodies of another woman and a girl, who died in a vehicle crash, were also buried at the Sharjah graveyard on Sunday.

Sharjah mourns

Senior government officials and prominent personalities who attended the funeral expressed their grief on the unexpected demise of Ameera BinKaram to Khaleej Times. Many of them opined that the death of Ameera is an irreparable loss to the Emirati society in general and Sharjah, in particular.

Brig. Saif Al Zeri Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of the Sharjah Police, said: “Our hearts are full of sorrow and grief over the loss of the great woman who contributed a lot to the development of Sharjah, socially and economically. Her death is an irreparable loss for every member of the Emirati society in Sharjah… My heartfelt condolence to the people of Sharjah and the family of Ameera BinKaram. May God rest her, her sister and mother in peace. We also pray to heal the emotional and physical wounds of her brother Khalid, who is still in the hospital.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), also offered condolences on the tragic death of Ameera BinKaram. “As the head of Sharjah Business Women Council and as a young and dynamic community influencer, career woman, business leader and philanthropist, Ameera BinKaram had been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for her community and young Emiratis across the country. She played a crucial role in making the second “Investing in the Future” Conference in Sharjah last week a huge success. Through her leadership, her dedication for Sharjah and the UAE and her lifelong mission as the founding member and president of Friends of Cancer Patients Society, she spread boundless love and happiness all around her,” said Allay.

Khawla Al Mullah, Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, said: “We, Sharjah women and society, are struggling to comfort ourselves. We mourn the sad demise of Ameera BinKaram and pray to Allah to reward her for all the voluntary and humanitarian deeds she has done. Ameera took all her efforts to promote voluntary and humanitarian work. She will remain in our hearts and memories, because her fingerprint will never be wiped out from the achievements she made through the Friends of Cancer Patients Society, Pink Caravan and other initiatives.”

Afaf Al Merri, Director-General of the Sharjah Social Services Department, burst into tears while remembering the true ambassador of women empowerment. “We all here in Sharjah are in a state of deep sorrow for the demise of our beloved sister and friend Ameera BinKaram. Her memories will be filled in the minds of those who she supported and helped. Her charity, humanitarian and voluntary works inspire a lot of Emirati youth and her contribution to the development of the emirate is witnessed by the people of the whole country,” said Al Merri.

Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithy, Chairperson of Emirates Business Women Council, said: “Ameera has contributed a great deal in empowering women economically through her position as the chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council. She was a great example of a woman who never hesitates to achieve what she aimed for the development of the society and the country. She is great model of creativity, innovation and success in every task assigned to her. She made a lot of humanitarian, social and economic initiatives, which made a positive impact in the emirate and the country. Amira was a successful business woman and leader, rich with her good deeds and sacrifice for the nation.”

Tribute on social media

Shock over the death of Ameera BinKaram continued on social media on Sunday, with hundreds taking to Twitter, Facebook and other media to express their grief and pay tribute to the deceased.

Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Department of Ajman Municipality and Planning, called her a candle of humanitarian and voluntary work in his tweet. “She devoted herself to help and support cancer patients, needy and poor, regardless of their nationalities. May God rest her soul in peace and eternal paradise.”

Unbelievable & most tragic news of sudden death of @ameerabinkaram, a day after we met in Sharjah! Still in a state of shock, tweeted Fiza Farhan.