The Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates has issued an official statement mourning the death of Abdul Razagh “Abu Nader” Mohammadi, the Emirati founder of the Philippine Supermarket in Dubai and one of the most enduring champions of the Filipino diaspora in the Gulf region.
Posted on the Embassy’s official Facebook page alongside Ambassador Alfonso Ver, the statement opened with the Islamic expression of condolence — “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return” — before paying tribute to the man generations of overseas Filipino workers called Ninong ng Bayan, or Godfather of the Nation.
“The Philippine Embassy in the UAE mourns the passing of Abdul Razagh ‘Abu Nader’ Mohammadi, a beloved friend of the Filipino community in the UAE and owner of the Philippine Supermarket in Muraqabat, Dubai,” the statement read.
“Through his generosity and compassion, Abu Nader touched the lives of countless Filipinos and became a source of comfort and support to many far from home. His kindness and humanitarian spirit will always be remembered by the Filipino community he cared for so deeply.”
The Embassy extended its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, and closed with a prayer: “May Allah grant him eternal peace and mercy.”
Abu Nader, who was 81, died recently. His passing was confirmed by Expat Media, citing a source close to the family. No official cause of death has been disclosed.
The Embassy’s tribute reflects the singular place Abu Nader held in the lives of Filipinos far from home. As CEO of Emirates International Holdings Group LLC, he founded the Philippine Supermarket in 2005 — beginning with a single branch in Al Satwa before expanding to Muraqabat and Karama. The stores became more than retail outlets; they were gathering places where OFWs could find familiar food, hear their language spoken, and feel, if only briefly, that the Philippines was not so far away.
His ties to the community ran deeper than commerce. Through his now-defunct Al Wasl Travels, he helped more than 300,000 Filipinos secure visas and airfare to the UAE, often at reduced or waived costs for those who could not pay. He gave free groceries to a pregnant Filipina whose visa had expired, sponsored a hotel ballroom so Dubai-based Filipinos could vote in the 2016 Philippine elections, and provided legal assistance and airline tickets to distressed workers. Long-serving staff members, he once said, were family.
Ambassador Ver was among the Philippine officials who had personally recognized Abu Nader’s contributions. In December 2023, Ver joined a contingent of Philippine businessmen and diplomats in presenting Mohammadi with a Plaque of Appreciation — inscribed with the words: “Maraming salamat po.”
