In a poignant ceremony on Friday, President Sheikh Mohamed honoured eight remarkable people at the 11th Abu Dhabi Awards.
Among them, three stood as beacons of strength, despite navigating through life's most formidable challenges from the confines of a wheelchair. Their stories of hardship met by unwavering resolve moved many to tears.
There is a woman who will never be able to run and play with her young son because she sacrificed her ability to walk to help others. Then, there is the doctor who has a debilitating illness but still goes to the office every day of the week and fights for the rights of patients. Then there is the woman who survived an accident that killed most of her family and has dedicated her life to helping disabled people.
However, accolades were not limited to people with disabilities - elderly Emiratis and other citizens who tirelessly worked to educate and inspire others were also celebrated, demonstrating their remarkable resilience.
Amna Khalifa Al Qemzi was planting crops even before the UAE was formed and continues to do so today. She has one of the UAE's leading organic farms and has taught generations of Emiratis how to farm. Ms Al Qemzi began planting at the time of Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1928, and showed him her crops.
“Our soil is fertile, and don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise,” she said proudly.
“And if you need help, I'll help you. I'll come myself and send you anything you need, but just start planting. There is nothing more beautiful than growing your own crops.”
On being given the Abu Dhabi Award and meeting Sheikh Mohamed, Ms Al Qemzi said: “There is no better encouragement.
“My crops breathe life into me, but meeting the President feels like I had the whole world in my hands. I'll be planting as long as there is life in me.”
Dr Ahmed Osman Shatila, a consultant neurologist who manages the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, is a doctor and an MS patient. Dr Shatila’s MS is progressive and he now requires a wheelchair, but he goes to work every day and treats patients despite the debilitating effects of the autoimmune disease. His efforts for the MS community and advocacy for diseases affecting more people daily are unwavering.
In a recent interview with The National, he said that a perfect world would be one where MS patients had all the rights.
“We have come a long way. It is almost like we have gone leaps and bounds but we aren’t really there yet,” he said.
“The medicine is good but it isn’t magic. I don’t think we are done yet. I want public awareness, patient awareness, and employment awareness. There are still some people who don’t want to get married to people with MS, and many employers don’t understand employees with MS.
“It is always nice to have more. There is always something more you can do better. You don’t want to settle. I have no words. This is the best advocacy for MS, and to be appreciated like this is unbelievable.”
Imen Sfaxi’s eyes glaze over when she remembers the fateful day in Abu Dhabi when her life was changed forever.
Two years ago, a fire broke out at a restaurant in a building next to where she was living with her two sons and husband, and instead of staying in, Mrs Sfaxi ran towards the burning restaurant to check if anyone was trapped inside or needed help. She carried bottles of water with her in case anyone needed water. Unfortunately, there was an explosion while she was running back to ensure everyone was safe.
The Tunisian spent 10 months in intensive care as a result. She is now paralysed from the waist down after damaging her spine, pelvis and nerves. Today, she is in a wheelchair and has scars from third-degree burns on her body.
“If I knew the outcome, I would still do it all again,” she told The National. “I don’t regret a single thing I did.”
Her four-year-old son says his mother is a hero. The flames from that day remain etched in her memory.
“That fire,” she said after a long pause for thought. “When it happens and you know people are in danger, you don’t think about it; you instinctively want to help.
“God will never want anything bad to happen to any of us, and today the best thing in the world happened to me, I met the President. I am so grateful to him and my family and friends for their support. I wouldn't be here standing strong without them.”
When 16-year-old Salaamah Saif Al Teneij met the President to receive the Abu Dhabi Award, she told him: “Countries compete with their nuclear power, but we lead with the power of our youths.”
This wasn’t rehearsed, she told The National.
“It is from the heart,” she said. “Our youths do so much and continue to do so because of the support we get from our leadership.”
Ms Al Teneiji is a former member of the Emirati Children’s Parliament, which consists of 40 members. She is also the spokesperson of the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood Bullying Prevention in Schools Award.
She is a strong advocate of anti-bullying, speaking at Unicef and Parliament about the rights of children to be safe and not be subjected to any form of bullying, whether online or in any physical environment.
Klaithem Obaid Al Matrooshi went through a horrific accident when she was 23. She is now 56, but the physical scars of that day are visible.
More than 30 years ago, Ms. Al Matrooshi was in a car with six of her siblings when two reckless drivers who were racing each other crashed into them.
In an instant, two of her siblings and a nephew were killed, one sustained a brain injury that caused her death a few years later, and Ms Matrooshi became paralysed from the waist down because of a spinal injury. Her siblings who died were her twin brother, a 14-year-old and a seven-year-old.
“The hardest thing was seeing my mum. Seeing the heartache of a mother who lost more than half her children,” she said.
Ms Al Matrooshi had a total of eight siblings. They are now five.
"I lost a part of my movement but my mother lost her children and a nephew. Souls disappeared forever in an instant," she said.
“But you move on and you live, and you never give up,” Ms Al Matrooshi said. “And today, this award and meeting the President is a testament that I am on the right path. This country gave us the tools to contribute and to participate in society and gives us the incentive to more forward."
Ms Al Matrooshi is a pioneering figure in the field of human rights, who has worked to empower disabled people, especially women, and has achieved outstanding local and global accomplishments.
She is also one of the founding members of the female section of the Al Thiqah Club for the disabled in Sharjah.
"What you see is the outer shell of the person but you don't see the beautiful soul inside burning with determination," she said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20and%20Alex%20Pastor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGeorgina%20Campbell%2C%20Mario%20Casas%2C%20Diego%20Calva%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About%20My%20Father
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELaura%20Terruso%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERobert%20De%20Niro%2C%20Sebastian%20Maniscalco%2C%20Kim%20Cattrall%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
