My mum has been my rock for as long as I can remember. Every core memory I have and every thing I’ve ever been through, she has always been there – guiding me, supporting me and cheering me on.
I was two when I was diagnosed with cancer, and the only vivid memory I have of that time is my mother by my side at the hospital. I was seven when I participated in a talent show, and while my friends still mention my winning performance to this day, my favourite part was my mum helping me choreograph and practise my dance routine. I was 10 when I had to miss the school trip after catching chicken pox, so she turned the house into a play area to console me.
I was 14 when she came raging at my school because my physics teacher unfairly kicked me out of class. I was 17 when I experienced my first "heartbreak" and she ordered in my comfort meal to cheer me up. And I was 20 when I graduated from university with high distinction and highest GPA, so she turned every waking moment of that summer into a celebration for me.
Growing up, I knew the only thing I wanted to be for certain was like my mother
Fatima Al Mahmoud
It’s safe to say my mother has been the embodiment of a "mama bear" for me and my two brothers, and while I didn’t always appreciate it growing up (especially during my insufferable teenage years), I admire her for it. More so on days like Mother's Day.
My mother, Eliana, did a spectacular job at raising us and teaching us right from wrong, but it was in observing my mother and the kind of person she is that taught me everything I need to know and thrive in this world. From her bubbly personality and the way she lights up every room she walks into, to her strength, resilience and composure in the face of hardships, she leaves me in absolute awe.
Growing up, I knew the only thing I wanted to be for certain was like my mother, and I wanted to do everything in my power to make her proud. From spelling bees and science fairs to my career and how I carry myself as a woman today, everything I am and everything I have accomplished, I owe to my mum. She taught me to be loving, caring and selfless, but also assertive, unapologetic and autonomous.
So naturally, when the opportunity presented itself for me to move out and move abroad to start a life of my own, I did not hesitate for a second. I knew I was ready – I am my mother’s daughter after all, and I could take on whatever life threw my way. In May 2021, I packed my bags and left my family home in Beirut to start my job with The National in Abu Dhabi – a city where I knew nothing and no one. It was a bittersweet moment. Bawling my eyes out at Beirut airport as I hugged my mum goodbye, I thought to myself: "This was only temporary. Once I get there, settle in, and build the life I want, it won’t hurt as much." Little did I know.
When I first landed in the UAE and checked into my hotel, my mother was the first person I called. On my first day at the office, I sent her an outfit picture, which has turned into a daily series over the past four years. When I went apartment hunting and found the one bedroom of my dreams, I sent her a video tour. She helped me pick out my furniture and appliances over WhatsApp.
First time I did my own laundry, I called her to celebrate. First meal I cooked in my kitchen, she was on the phone with me guiding me through the recipe. My mum was the first to know when I got my driving licence, and was obviously the first to get a picture of the brand new car I bought. On my first solo trip to London, I was regularly sending her pictures and updates. And from every work event I attend or project I complete, I forward my videos and coverage. This constant communication is how I make sure my mum is a part of the life I built for myself, and a way for me to show her that I will always need her, no matter where I am or what I’m up to.
To those around me and to the world, I am a journalist, a writer, a storyteller, a fitness enthusiast and an athlete. I’m ambitious, driven, passionate, disciplined and goal-oriented. But when I’m in Beirut, back under my family’s roof, all I am is a girl who needs her mother. I am 27 today, and my mum still makes me a zaatar sandwich when I’m hungry at night because it tastes 10 times better.
She plays with my hair till I fall asleep when I’ve had a long day. And she is the first face I want to see when I wake up in the morning. I love spending time with her in the kitchen as she cooks and I chew her ear off. I love taking her out on coffee and breakfast dates. I love it when she helps me choose an outfit, and I need her final approval on how I look before I go out. I still run to the door like a giddy child when she’s away from home for hours, and my absolute favourite thing in the world is seeing the look on her face when I surprise her with an impromptu trip to Beirut.
I’m also not ashamed to say that every time I leave Beirut, I still bawl my eyes out saying goodbye to my mum, and probably always will, because no life is worth living away from her. But I have to do what I have to do to make her proud.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5