Saudi Arabia’s social media community was plunged into shock and sorrow following the sudden death of prominent content creator Abdullah bin Marda’ Al Atif Al-Qahtani, widely known by his affectionate nickname, “Abu Marda’.” The popular personality, who was just 27 years old, was killed in a serious road traffic collision in the Hail region on a recent Thursday (December 11, 2025). The news prompted an immediate and widespread outpouring of grief, with his loss trending across social platforms as fans and fellow celebrities mourned the beloved figure. Abu Marda’ was best known as a “comedian” and a “smile maker” who shared simple, lighthearted, and locally-themed daily life clips, achieving massive fame, particularly on Snapchat.
What happened on the Hail-Jubbah road?
The tragic incident occurred while Abu Marda’ and two companions, his close friend “Abu Hissa” and his cousin “Dakheel,” were travelling together west of Hail on the old Hail-Jubbah road. The trio was on a routine filming outing, preparing new content for their audience, when their vehicle was involved in a severe collision. Official reports from the Hail Traffic Department confirmed the accident involved a collision between the creators’ vehicle and a road-maintenance vehicle (described as a road-grading machine) belonging to a contracting company. Images circulating from the scene showed the black vehicle carrying the content creators had sustained significant damage. While some initial reports suggested the cause might have been the driver losing control, the official investigation focuses on the two-vehicle collision. Emergency responders pronounced Abu Marda’ dead at the scene due to severe injuries to the head and body.
Who Abu Marda’a was?
Abu Marda’a was 27 years old and had become one of Saudi Arabia’s most loved social media faces through his comedic, spontaneous content shared on platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. His videos often turned simple daily moments into entertaining scenes, making him feel relatable and close to his audience, especially among young viewers. After the news of his death spread:
- Thousands of fans expressed shock and grief on social media.
- Followers shared tributes and prayers, remembering his funny, warm personality.
- Many shared his last videos posted shortly before the crash, amplifying the sadness over his sudden passing.
- Other creators and public figures also offered condolences and prayers on social platforms.
Tributes pour in
The shock resonated deeply across Saudi social media, with fans lamenting the loss of a creator known for his engaging personality and close connection to the audience. Many noted that the trio, including his frequent collaborators like “Abu Hissa,” “Abu Ajeeb,” and “Dakheel,” had brought daily joy to thousands of followers. Tributes poured in from public figures, including a touching post from Artist Fayez Al-Maliki, who offered condolences and prayed for the deceased and the swift recovery of the injured. On the following Friday (December 12, 2025), a large, overflowing congregation gathered at the Al Rajhi Mosque in Hail for the funeral prayer for Al-Qahtani. Mourners then accompanied his body to be laid to rest at Sodiyan Cemetery, paying their final respects to the young man who had defined a simple, lighthearted style of digital content creation.
