Few relationships are as important as the ones we have with our doctors. But check-ups have changed rapidly in recent years thanks to a combination of a global pandemic and the spread of accessible communication technology such as smartphones and video-calling apps like Zoom.
The UAE is well-known as being something of an international crossroads, but there is something notable about The National’s story this week of therapists and other mental health professionals based in Dubai logging on to help overseas patients who have struggled to find suitable treatment in their own countries.
One of these professionals, Marie Byrne, a mental health counsellor from Ireland, holds regular Zoom consultations from the UAE with patients around the world. “It has many advantages, such as offering support in the comfort of familiar surroundings at home,” she said. “If a patient is upset, they can immediately process what has happened in somewhere they are comfortable, rather than a clinic. They don’t have to drive or travel anywhere either.”
The advantages of remote consultation and treatment are many. Communicating online reduces the risk of passing on infections and suits those millions of people who have mobility problems or live far from their healthcare provider. According to a 2021 case study on UAE telemedicine by Mediclinic Middle East, a private hospital group, doctors spend more time in preparation for each online appointment, something it claims has improved patient-doctor dialogue. The study also found that telemedicine was “excellent for the home monitoring of chronically ill patients” who are unable to come in for examinations.
Remote medicine also allows patients to schedule appointments at times that suit and – able to access services internationally – can receive care in their native language. It also frees healthcare professionals from having to treat only those people who can physically make it to their office or clinic – instead they can build up an additional patient base overseas.
Although the pandemic has largely passed, it has left behind significant demand for remote medicine and mental health care. Physicians are busy meeting this demand, as can be seen in the proliferation of professional training courses for digital medicine. Cornell University and the Mayo Clinic in the US, as well as the James Lind Institute in Switzerland are just three organisations that have added telemedicine into their prospectuses.
In the UAE, digital medicine is now well established. In December 2019, the Dubai Health Authority launched a smart service called Doctor for Every Citizen that enabled Emiratis to receive free health consultations around the clock through video and voice calls. The service was later extended to all Dubai residents as the pandemic took hold. In Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s RemoteCare smartphone app has a tool for examining symptoms, diagnosing non-emergency cases, booking appointments and organising tele-consultations with doctors via voice or video calls or text messages. Many private healthcare providers in the UAE also offer services on smartphone or desktop devices.
Despite the advantages, few who champion remote medicine would argue against the enduring need for in-person consultation and treatment. In medicine, as with much in life, the personal touch is important. And some doctors have their concerns. In 2021, Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners – family doctors in the UK – told the Guardian newspaper he thought remote consultations risked damaging the relationship between GPs and patients.
Although a balance will have to be struck, there is little doubt that the way of seeing one’s doctor in the 21st century has changed profoundly. If technology allows a therapist in the UAE to help patients on the other side of the world, or for doctors to give results and advice to someone during their lunch break, then it seems digital medicine is here to stay and that is a good development.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
More on Quran memorisation:
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
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
