Two gifts changed a young Najat Rashid’s life – a chemistry set and a microscope. “I fell in love with science,” says the senior consultant in clinical biochemistry and molecular biology and director at the Health Ministry’s federal medical laboratories and blood banks department.
Now in her 40s, the Emirati is a leading authority in laboratory design and protocol. Scientists from across the Middle East call Rashid for her insight in setting up research labs. “Whoever wants advice, I will give it to them,” says the scientist.
While her father hoped she would become a medical doctor, she stayed true to her passion for chemical pathology and molecular biology. “It’s not an easy speciality, you need to be strong. But if you really want it, that strength will come from within you,” says Rashid, who has a PhD in clinical chemistry and molecular biology from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom.
Rashid has also published four textbooks – another aspect of her job that gives her great joy – Manual of Laboratory Safety, Electrophoresis and Immunofixation, Review of Laboratory Medicine and HealthCare-associated Infection Control and Biocides. She is working on her fifth, about lab biosecurity. "It's in reaction to the issues that have been coming up about biological warfare."
One of her goals is to improve medical care here by expanding the reach and capacities of the UAE’s labs. She hopes to establish a UAE certificate for laboratory quality control and accreditation. “The lab is not only about testing urine or blood,” says Rashid. “It’s the first line of diagnosis and the backbone of the hospital.”
Rashid was one of the 60 Emiratis featured in Those Who Inspire: UAE, a book that portrays people who, through their actions, words and beliefs, set a positive example for young Emiratis.
My favourite brand
Louis Vuitton handbags.
My dream job
Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health.
My favourite book
The Holy Quran.
My favourite quote/motto
Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.
My favourite pastime
To spend time with my family. I also love to write and cook.
My favourite movie
Titanic.
My favourite actor
The Kuwaiti actor Abdulhussain Abdulreda.
My favourite actress
The Kuwaiti actress Hayat Al Fahed.
My favourite television show
Friends.
My childhood inspiration
My father, who came from a very educated family where the most important thing was not how much money you make but your personality, values and the impressions you leave on people.
My favourite dish
Fried fish and white rice.
My advice to young Emiratis
Do it yourself and don’t wait for anyone.
My favourite music
The legendary Egyptian singer, Umm Kalthoum.
rghazal@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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Company%20profile
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
