In a city like Abu Dhabi, you grow up surrounded by many voices. English, Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog, Hindi – they blend into daily life like the sound of traffic or the call to prayer. At first, you don’t think much of it. But over time, you begin to realise something: you’re always translating.
You translate between languages, yes – but also between expectations, between ways of thinking, and between who you are and who people expect you to be.
Growing up in the UAE means you’re often learning how to carry tradition and openness at the same time. You’re taught to hold on to who you are, but also to listen, adapt, and build bridges. That, I’ve come to realise, is a kind of quiet strength of its own.
I remember a moment in school when a teacher asked us to describe ourselves in one sentence. My classmates gave confident answers “I’m Indian,” “I’m Egyptian,” “I’m British.” I hesitated. My instinct was to say, “I’m Emirati,” but I knew that wouldn’t capture everything I felt. I was shaped by Friday prayers and American cartoons, by majlis conversations and international classmates, by Arabic poetry and English novels. Even then, I sensed that identity wasn’t singular. It was layered.
In university, that complexity grew louder. Group projects required me to balance direct communication with cultural nuance. In one setting, confidence was expected; in another, humility was prized.
Belonging doesn’t always feel loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s quiet. It’s found in the way we speak to colleagues, how we carry our values into our work, how we honour our culture
I often found myself adjusting my tone depending on who I was with – not out of insincerity, but out of instinct. I wasn’t pretending. I was bridging. And that taught me a valuable lesson: translation isn’t about erasing yourself. It’s about expanding your range without losing your core.
For many of us, especially in my generation, belonging isn’t a single, solid thing. It’s not one flag, one language, or one version of ourselves. It’s more flexible than that. We live in families with mixed influences, work in offices where people come from everywhere, and learn in classrooms where our ideas are shaped by more than just our own background.
My own family is a good example. I grew up hearing stories of my grandparents’ values – discipline, faith, hospitality – but also watching my parents interact with a changing world. They carried old-world ethics into a new-world rhythm. I learned that respect doesn’t mean rigidity, and that change doesn’t mean loss.
This tension between preservation and progress runs through our national story, too. The UAE is young, yet proud. Rooted, yet curious. Every day, we witness what happens when tradition walks alongside ambition. It’s not always easy, but it’s something rare: a society that is trying to grow without forgetting.
And while this can be a gift, it can also be confusing. Sometimes, you feel like you’re floating between identities – Arab, Emirati, Muslim, modern, traditional, ambitious, humble. You’re all these things, but not just one. The world wants simple answers. But real life, especially here, isn’t always that simple.
I used to think that belonging meant having one clear definition of who I am. Now, I believe it’s something we grow into – not through certainty, but through self-awareness. It’s not about being just one thing, but about knowing how to live with your full self, even when parts of you feel like they’re in translation.
Living in the UAE has taught me that living with diversity also means learning how to belong – not by blending in, but by understanding who you are, while still holding space for others. That takes emotional maturity and grace.
How do we stay rooted, while still growing? How do we hold onto identity, while learning from others? And how do we speak to different people without losing our own voice?
I've come to believe that belonging isn’t about geography. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up fully, even if parts of you are still finding their place.
I’ve also come to believe that cultural fluency is a form of leadership. Those who can speak across difference – without losing their integrity – can help build more cohesive communities.
Sometimes, I wonder what our future will look like. Will the next generation feel more certain about who they are, or will they inherit the same beautiful complexity? I hope they’ll feel permission to be themselves. To carry their heritage without burden, and their curiosity without shame.
In the end, I’ve come to believe that belonging doesn’t always feel loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s quiet. It’s found in the way we speak to colleagues, how we carry our values into our work, how we honour our culture while still being open to others. It’s found in how we make peace with complexity.
And maybe, especially in a place like the UAE, that’s the point. We don’t need to choose between our identities. We just need to live them – fully, honestly and without apology.
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
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.
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The five pillars of Islam
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
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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.
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
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Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
BLACKBERRY
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Fixtures
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
