Dr. Arayakandy Dhanalakshmi, a 54-year-old expatriate dentist from Kerala, was found dead in her apartment in Mussafah between the night of July 21 and early hours of July 22, 2025, leaving the Indian community in the UAE in shock. Authorities discovered her unresponsive after friends, concerned by her sudden lack of communication and unexplained absence from work, notified the police. The cause of her death is being investigated.
Dr. Dhanalakshmi, a general dentist at Lifecare Hospital in Mussafah, was a respected figure in both medical and cultural circles. When friends found her apartment locked from the inside with her daily breakfast delivery untouched, they alerted authorities, who entered and confirmed her death.
Lifecare Hospital, managed by Burjeel Holdings, mourned her as a “compassionate healer, dedicated educator, and beloved member of our medical family,” highlighting her warmth and optimism.
A graduate of the College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Mangalore, Dr. Dhanalakshmi had over 20 years of dental experience, including early years at Dhanalakshmi Hospital in Kannur, Kerala. She relocated to the UAE around a decade ago and joined Lifecare Hospital in Mussafah in August 2024.
Beyond her clinical work, she was an active member of the Indian Dental Association and a cultural ambassador, frequently participating in Abu Dhabi Malayalee Samajam events to promote health and heritage.
Her vibrant social media presence highlighted her talents as a gifted writer and orator. On Sunday, July 20, 2025, she posted a video titled “Can’t ask for more,” capturing her receiving a community service award from Malayalam actor Jagadish on July 13.
Another post, a short story titled “The Price of Kindness,” described emotional and financial betrayal, tagged with “feeling drained.” She also shared an apology for missing an arts school event in Kerala, writing, “Destiny took a total twist… things aren’t in our hands many at times.”
These posts, now viewed with hindsight, have prompted followers to reflect on her emotional state, though friends urge caution until official findings are released.
Hundreds paid their last respects in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, July 24, 2025, before her remains were flown to Kannur, Kerala, for cremation at Payyambalam crematorium on Friday morning.
According to a report by Gulf News, several close friends and community members shared emotional tributes following Dr. Dhanalakshmi’s passing.
“She was like a family member to many of us,” said Salim Chirakkal, president of Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam.
Jafer Rabeeh, a content creator who saw her as a mother figure, recalled her cancellation of a Kerala trip for work, noting her perfectionism.
“I am still in shock and disbelief. It is an irreplaceable loss for me. My family and I are devastated. She used to refer to me as her son and always guided me like a mother or elder sister. The last time I met her was at a soft launch for a restaurant. We were supposed to go to the official launch together on Monday night. But before that, she left this world.”Jafer Rabeeh, friend of Dr. Dhanalakshmi
Dr. Shazia Ansar, a close friend, described her as a confidante who “helped people quietly—emotionally and financially.”
Dr. Dhanalakshmi, daughter of Chandramathi and the late Narayanan of Anandakrishna Bus Service, is survived by her husband, Sujith, in Kerala, and her siblings Ananda Krishnan, Shivaram, and Dr. Seethalakshmi.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on her cause of death, and investigations continue. Her passing follows the recent death of another Kerala doctor, Dr. Anwar Sadath, in Dubai, further stirring the UAE’s medical community.
(Rh/Eth/PB/MSM/SE)