The 15-year-old Filipina teen Fatima (inset). SUPPLIED

Dubai authorities have granted special permission for the burial of a 15-year-old Filipina teen, Fatima, in Al Qusais Cemetery after a complex legal and residency situation delayed arrangements following her death in Ajman. Fatima was laid to rest on Saturday (May 23) after her Pakistani foster father, Syed Ali Moazzam, received approval from Dubai authorities following an appeal supported by a detailed account of her life and circumstances. The teenager was found unresponsive at her home in Ajman on Tuesday (May 19) and was later declared dead. She had been living with her foster parents, Moazzam and his Filipino wife, Muozzama, who had cared for her for years. According to a Gulf News report, Ajman authorities informed the family that burial could only take place in Dubai as Fatima was born there, and her biological mother’s last known visa record was also issued in the emirate. This required formal clearance from Dubai authorities before burial could proceed. Moazzam said he initially feared the process would take a long time due to Fatima’s lack of Emirates ID and complicated residency status, with delays possibly extending beyond the Eid holidays. He approached both Dubai Municipality and Dubai Police to present Fatima’s case. Dubai Municipality granted the burial approval, while Dubai Police issued the necessary no-objection certificate, allowing the burial to proceed despite her undocumented status. At least 100 people attended the burial, including neighbours and members of the Filipino, Pakistani and Arab communities.

A childhood marked by challenges

Fatima was born out of wedlock in Dubai, and her father had disappeared, according to her biological mother. She was initially cared for by her mother before being handed over to friends when she was one year old. Those informal arrangements eventually broke down before Moazzam and Muozzama took her in and began homeschooling her. In 2019, her biological mother reappeared and helped Fatima obtain a passport after a DNA test confirmed their relationship. However, legal complications, including the absence of residency documentation and the mother’s later disappearance amid legal cases, meant Fatima could not be formally adopted or regularised. Her education was also interrupted, despite a brief period of school attendance. Fatima was later diagnosed with subcutaneous lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune condition that severely affected her health and eventually left her unconscious and dependent on full-time medical care. For around two and a half years, Fatima remained on a home ventilator under the care of her foster parents. She was fed via tubes. Her foster parents underwent hospital training to manage her condition at home. She also had repeated emergency hospital admissions in Ajman and Sharjah, although hospital authorities reportedly waived her medical bills for humanitarian reasons. Fatima spent her final years dependent on continuous medical support, with her foster parents managing her physical care at home. Her foster father said they never stopped hoping for her recovery, and that following her passing, they hope she is "in a better place". ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page