Man executed for raping and murdering 8-year-old boy in Dubai

Dubai has executed a 50-year-old Jordanian man convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing an 8-year-old boy.

The government-run Dubai Media Office announced that Nidal Eisa Abdullah was executed by firing squad on Thursday.

It said the death penalty was carried out after Dubai's Court of Cassation, the emirate's highest court, rejected his appeal and upheld his death sentence.

The National, a state-aligned newspaper in Abu Dhabi, quoted the boy's father as saying the first volley of shots did not kill Abdullah, who was then shot once in the head.

Abdullah kidnapped eight-year-old Obaida Ibrahim Sidgi Abdul Hadi from a workshop in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah in May 2016.

He had allegedly asked Abdul Hadi’s father, Ibrahim al-Aqrabawi for forgiveness before his execution, asking to speak to him.

Al-Aqrabawi refused to forgive him and denied his request to conversation.

"I witnessed the execution with two of my brothers who came from Jordan, and stayed until I made sure that he was dead," he said.

"The fire inside our chests is now cooler. We were comforted by many high ranking officials who confirmed to us that justice would be served and today it most certainly was."