A visually impaired school pupil in Ajman who scored 99.14 per cent in her final exams will major in the Arabic language after Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, pledged to cover her university tuition fees.
Dina Fayez, 18, was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease where cells in the retina break down slowly, resulting loss of vision.
Despite visual impairment, the Jordanian studies for a minimum of five hours every day.
I love Arabic language and dream to design Arabic school books that will help make the language more popular among younger generations
Dina Fayez
“I studied between five and six hours every day and used a magnifying device that help me to see the text in the books clearly,” said Dina, who attends Al Dahra School in Dubai’s Hatta area because it is the closest to her residence in Muzairah, Ajman, close to the Oman border.
Thanks to her dedication to studying and mother’s constant help, Dina was offered a full university scholarship by Sheikh Humaid.
Her family have also been also offered a home closer to Ajman city.
“For some reason, I expected the scholarship because generosity and fostering talents is not strange to UAE Rulers, but the house grant was a surprise for me,” Dina told The National.
Love for Arabic language
Maths was her favourite subject in school and Dina would often explain problems to her classmates.
When she was named among UAE's top performers, she said her classmates celebrated.
Despite her love for maths, her dream is to study Arabic.
“I love Arabic language and dream to design Arabic schoolbooks that will help make the language more popular among younger generations,” Dina said.
Her father, an assistant engineer at a private company in Dubai who has been living and working in the UAE for more than 25 years, said Dina is a fighter.
“She always wanted to prove herself and despite her complete loss of sight in one eye and seeing only 10 per cent in the other, she did it,” her father Ahmed told The National.
He said his daughter plans to attend the University of Sharjah.
“His Highness said he will cover the costs at whichever university she decides to join and asked me how will Dina commute to and from the university of her choosing before he ordered a new house for us that is closer to the city,” he said.
Mr Ahmed said no words were sufficient to describe the family’s happiness and Sheikh Humaid's generosity.
Memorised questions
Dina, who was born in the UAE in 2004, was less than a year old when her family noticed she had a problem with her eyes. They visited several doctors over a number of years and medical reports piled up.
“We noticed she reacted to the sounds we make not to our movements,” said her mother, Khloud.
“We took her to many doctors here and in Jordan but then stopped because it was affecting her emotionally.”
It was a tough journey for Dina’s mother, who devoted herself to their only daughter and gave up her job as a physics teacher.
She said she used to read textbooks out loud to help Dina memorise mathematical equations.
“By the time she graduated from Grade 11, she had also memorised the whole Quran,” Dina's mother said
Being surrounded with love and support from her family, friends and school, Dina was able to live a happy childhood, her mother said.
“I devoted my life to her because she is my life.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
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
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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
UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')
Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')
Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The National in Davos
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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)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
