رحيل خالي الإعلامي المعروف رياض الشعيبي (أبو محمود) إثر نوبة قلبية Mourning My Uncle Riyad Shuaibi

With great sadness I mourn my dear Uncle, Riyad Shuaibi. He has been a role model and inspiration for me even since I could remember. I grew up hearing about his legacy and accomplishment in the Arab medial arena: the first voice announcing the launch of the radio service of Dubai in the 60’s, launching the first colored TV broadcast in the 70’s, publishing the leading newspaper "Al Bayan" in UAE, the first Arab satellite channel in the 90’s, and producing many of the household names of popular TV shows that people still remember to our days.

I vividly recall the times I spent with him in the presence of influential people discussing media trends, major projects, or regional issues of the Middle East. These left an ever lasting impression inside of me to be involved and to care about the world around me.

I used to go up to him proudly when I score well in school, when I got accepted into university, when I went to do my Masters in McGill and whenever I make a big step in my life. His few encouraging words and his looks were sufficient to keep me going and ignite the passion inside me to do more and make him proud of me. I needed very little from him and I got so much out of him.

When I got that telephone call in the dawn of Saturday, February 20th from my mother, I clearly sensed the urgency in her voice calling me to go up to his house. I knew something was critically terrible. The short road to his house felt like a slow motion ride to the unknown. There, I got the news. I can find little description of the feelings and events that took place then. The rest is history. I was involved in every step of the way to be a support to my family at such time of grief. The warm and solid feelings I felt from everyone who knew him made us know that we are not alone in this and that he meant a lot to so many other people.
We lost a great man and a legacy. But, we all have a bit of him inside of us and know what would he say or do in important events of our lives.

God bless you my uncle, keep your memories alive inside of us, and guide us to always make you proud of us even when you are away …

خالي رحمت الله عليه كان و ما زال أعز الناس وأغلاهم إلي و لكن علمت أنه قدر الله ، و حسبنا الله و نعم الوكيل. و أدعو الله أن يسكنه فسيح جناته و يبارك في ذريته ليكملوا مسيرته.
دعواتكم الصالحة..