Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
At first glance, the school at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) feels like any other as the new academic year rolls on.
In the nursery, parents park their strollers in a nearby corridor as they walk their children to class. On the wall, a large painting cheerfully declares, “Welcome to our nursery,” setting a warm and inviting tone.
At a building next to the nursery, which houses the preparatory and high school sections, is where the school bell rings at the end of each period.
Pupils, with their bags and wheelies in tow, move from one classroom to another. The canteen buzzes with chatter and laughter echoes through the halls as paper aeroplanes float through the air and teachers guide their pupils with care.
Children carrying the scars of war
As you look closer inside the classrooms, a different story unfolds. Some children have lost their hair from chemotherapy, others have casts or have lost limbs, and there are several pupils in wheelchairs.
Every so often, a child leaves for a doctor’s appointment and returns later in the day, while others don’t come back because they are in surgery at one of the UAE’s government hospitals or receiving chemotherapy treatments.
This unique school is attended by hundreds of Palestinian children rescued from the nightmare of deadly war back home.
It has been built within the grounds of the EHC complex, which serves as a crucial sanctuary from the near year-long Israel-Gaza conflict.
The school, which has taught a limited number of children for some months, has now fully opened for 408 children, aged one to 16.
It will provide a vital route back to mainstream learning as well as a sense of normality and structure to young lives tinged by tragedy and turmoil.
Close to 2,000 evacuees are receiving shelter at EHC as part of the UAE's continuing humanitarian operations in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The UAE continues to fly people out of Gaza to receive care for injuries or for cancer treatment. Many are accompanied by relatives.
A home from home
Mubarak Al Qahtani, spokesman for the EHC, said delivering quality education to Gazans who have called the centre home for many months was paramount.
“It has been almost a year with our guests from Gaza, and I cannot in all honesty say that there were no challenges, but we have overcome most of them,” he said.
“Providing adequate care and treatment was a priority, but also education was equally important to ensure that they can one day go back to their normal life. We’ve had students who have lost their eyesight and are now learning Braille.
“Others have lost their hearing and learning to read lips and are getting adjusted to hearing aids, and many have lost limbs. These are children who have gone through so much loss and pain, have witnessed unimaginable horrors – helping them overcome it is a major challenge.
“There are so many teams and organisations working tirelessly with these families and children, but no matter what we do, it feels small compared to the immense pain and loss they have endured.”
The EHC school operates from Cycle 1 to Grade 12, offering core sciences, drama, music, and PE classes. In Cycle 1 and 2, there are more than 20 teachers, all seconded from the Ministry of Education.
Each lesson is about 50 minutes long, and there’s always a psychiatrist or psychotherapist nearby in case anyone needs support. Roving doctors provide medicine to students during class if necessary.
This is where the differences from a regular school become apparent – with a support network of doctors, therapists, and psychologists, silently on call.
During the National's visit, one pupil, who witnessed his entire family being killed in front of him, got up from his seat and banged his head against the wall. After receiving counselling, he was later able to resume his studies in class.
The children are handled delicately, with teachers mindful of the trauma they've witnessed. Loud noises, yelling, screaming, and banging are not allowed.
“In spite of their young age, many are aware of what has happened and were under a lot of psychological stress,” said nursery director Nisreen Ali Abu Zaid.
“We’ve had children who were pulled out from under the rubble and were in such emotional shock that they did not speak when they first came.”
“We try to engage them and surround them with as much love and support as possible and have designed a variety of activities for them, and thankfully, today they look forward to coming to the nursery and excited to tell and show everyone what they've learnt.”
The children sit regular exams and receive qualifications equivalent to those offered by existing school in the Emirates.
Overcoming adversity
Lama Suhel Mady, 11, and her mother Sabreen Musa Mady, survived an air strike in Gaza that killed 45 people in one building.
More than 20 members of Ms Mady’s extended family were killed, with Lama surviving because she was at the bottom of the building at the time, playing with her cousin. However, her pelvis was fractured.
When The National spoke to her in January shortly after her arrival in the UAE, she told of how she longed to return to school. Now that dream has been realised.
“I like it here better than Gaza. The teachers are nicer, but I do miss my friends,” said Lama, a grade 6 pupil at the EHC school. They don’t yell here like the teachers in Gaza.”
Mathematics is her favourite subject, and she hopes to teach it in years to come.
Mais Abu Nada, 12, is also a pupil at the school and is delighted to be back in class. “The teachers are amazing,” she said.
Mais has her sights set on becoming a digital artist. “I’m a beginner, so it isn’t the best,” she adds, while showing a cartoon illustration of a cat's paws she created.
A family of learners
All of Maryam Hassan’s five children go to the school, embracing the opportunity for a fresh start after escaping the horrors of a raging war.
Her youngest, Yousef, 3, attends the nursery, while eldest son, Omar, 13, is in Grade 7.
The family were flown out of a war zone into the sanctuary of EHC to provide critical medical care to Omar, who has had more than 50 operations on his jaw and neck.
He now has a hole in his throat and requires further surgery. Despite the challenges life has already thrown at him, attending school bring him much-needed happiness.
“I’m happy at the school. I love all the subjects. I want to be a doctor so I can treat everyone, the people in Gaza, and myself,” Omar said.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
MADAME%20WEB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20S.J.%20Clarkson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dakota%20Johnson%2C%20Tahar%20Rahim%2C%20Sydney%20Sweeney%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Stan%20Lee
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Gelb%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Naga
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMeshal%20Al%20Jaser%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdwa%20Bader%2C%20Yazeed%20Almajyul%2C%20Khalid%20Bin%20Shaddad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Read more from Kareem Shaheen
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Match info
Bournemouth 1 (King 45 1')
Arsenal 2 (Lerma 30' og, Aubameyang 67')
Man of the Match: Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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 Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
