Today is UAE Mother’s Day. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate all mothers – those women who physically embody motherhood, and all those individuals who exemplify motherly character traits to everyone that they come across, even those outside of their kin. I want to pay tribute by sharing a few personal reflections with you.
I have always held International Mother’s Day close to my heart, given the admiration I hold for my mother, and our Nation’s Mother, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the definition of a model mother. However, it is only in the last two years, when I myself became a mother to my son, Abdulla, that I began to understand the deepest significance of motherhood, and the extent of the wisdom Sheikha Fatima shared with me in her maxim that mothers are both learners and teachers.
As one myself, I have become a teacher who is responsible for mentoring and nurturing my child with the values, ethics and morals of our nation. In doing so, I learn more and more about myself. Who is Shamma in this new role? How can I learn from and better align with my child and his natural disposition? How will I manage my time with competing interests? These are mysteries we only begin to understand as we experience them.
And now I do indeed realise the truth that mothers are both learners and teachers, and that the two go hand in hand, like mother and child.
The more time that I have spent with my son and watched him interact with other children, the more I have seen that an infant’s natural inclination is towards acceptance, as opposed to exclusion. Abdulla is not unique in this. All babies enter the world with a childlike innocence and openness. It is through life’s negative conditioning that children are exposed to harmful and divisive positions regarding faith, race, disabilities, gender and social-economic standing, to name just a few.
As your child learns new tricks and grows, so do you, but only if you are open to learning alongside them. By doing so, you are re-conditioning yourself to exhibit a childlike openness and acceptance, becoming a kinder and more tolerant individual in the process.
Motherhood taught me that it is never too late to learn something. One simply has to have the will and desire to do so. Instead of mimicking a stagnant pool, we should keep moving in the manner of a waterfall that produces clean and clear water to drink. The more we do this, the better teachers we will become.
When I think of mothers as teachers, I cannot help but draw on examples from my own mother, Alzena, who taught me what unconditional love is, one of life’s most important lessons.
Becoming and being a mother is one of the most important and bravest undertakings in this life
It is an abstract concept that is hard to personify. However, mothers have the ability to turn the abstract into something real. They not only embody love, but they radiate it unconditionally through their speech and actions, however big or small. This has helped shape the person that I am today. My mother loved me for who I was, and she always made me feel like I was enough, no matter what grade I achieved at school, or what I broke in the house!
She also extended this love to others. Each morning, she would hurry us to get ready for school, with a Quran in her hand, and recite verses for all those she loved, whether it was for our neighbours, strangers she met once, or us. Her love was endless. She did this every day until I was 16.
My mother also taught me what it meant to be supported, in order to grow and reach my potential. I remember once after school sitting in my mother’s lap for hours, reeling off a list longer than my arm of my dreams and aspirations, as she listened to me. She did this on Sunday and then again on Monday and Tuesday, day after day, week after week. She never belittled or hampered me. She gave me the freedom to think and dream. It reminds me of the Abraham-Hicks saying, “as you think, you vibrate. As you vibrate, you attract.” And I am pretty sure my mother had not heard of Abraham-Hicks in the 90s!
All of these things have taught me that it is not enough to have just lived. We need to be determined to continue learning, growing, teaching and living for something more meaningful, whether it be bringing hope to our child, practicing unconditional love towards mankind, or supporting each other on our journeys.
In my first two years of motherhood, I have also learnt that becoming and being one is one of the most important and bravest undertakings in this life. The stakes are high. You are not given a job description or formal training on how to accomplish the task, as you would if you were becoming a pilot or a doctor, for example. Being a mother is a lifelong job, and you cannot get a refund if you change your mind!
I am still navigating this terrain, and trying to strike the balance of life as a working mum. Being a young mother and a public servant for the UAE are two full-time jobs. Overnight, my life went from being responsible for simply my own life – already a tricky balance between self, work and relationships – to an exponential explosion of competing demands, to which I’m sure many of you can relate.
So on this Mother’s Day, I would like to re-affirm my commitment to the mothers of the UAE, with their undeniable role in creating and upholding families, the foundation of our great country. Let us be a nation that champions our mothers. Let us be mothers who support each other. Let us be men who support in totality our women.
Comment from The National
As a public servant who is indebted to each of you, I would like to take this opportunity to learn from you so that we can better serve each and every young mother. Please share your insights with me over Twitter, using #UAEMothersDay. I am particularly interested in your responses to these questions: what are your hopes as a mother? What qualities does your child have that you would like to see nurtured in our nation? And what do you want for your children in the next 50 years?
My prayers, thoughts and gratitude are with all our mothers. Thank you for being you. Happy Mother’s Day!
Shamma Sohail Al Mazrui is UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More coverage from the Future Forum
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
HWJN
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More from Aya Iskandarani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
