An Australian living in Dubai is preparing to climb two 6,096-metre peaks in the Himalayas even after two major heart operations.
Shadi Joweihan, 49, will travel to Nepal this week for a two-week expedition to Lobuche and Imja Tse, also known as Island Peak, which is the most popular mountain to climb in Nepal. A British team was the first to reach the summit in 1953.
Mr Joweihan, who has called Dubai home for 28 years, was diagnosed with a faulty heart valve in 2012.
He returned to Sydney for open heart surgery in 2014 and had a follow-up procedure two years later to allow him to maintain his active lifestyle.
It is extreme for someone who has gone through double heart surgery and there is a risk. But if you always avoid fear, you will never know what is behind the door
Shadi Joweihan,
Dubai resident
Now fully recovered and about to turn 50, Mr Joweihan, a business development consultant, hopes his unassisted climbs will show normal life can resume after major heart surgery.
“I was going for my pilot's licence and a medical showed I had a heart murmur, which was not a big deal as a lot of people have one,” he said.
“But after regular check-ups I realised it was getting worse and my heart valve was collapsing.
“If left untreated, my heart would have failed, so there was an optimal time for me to have an operation.
“I want to show how you can still live strongly and have uninterrupted resilience, despite two open heart surgeries.”
He was fitted with a Carpentier-Edwards Physio II ring to treat mitral valve regurgitation, a disease in which the valve between the left heart chambers does not close completely, allowing blood to leak backwards.
The prosthetic is designed to accommodate the changing pathology in degenerative valve disease.
It allows doctors to match the exact measurements and characteristics of a patient’s mitral valve.
The insertion has helped Mr Joweihan, a father of one, to return to a full and active life.
“I see a lot of attention given to diabetes and cancer but not so much for heart health — getting regular checkups can buy you your life,” he said.
“There is also a stigma and I want to show you are as good as anyone else after a heart operation and do not be afraid of the outcome of a procedure.
“People see my scar and ask what I’m doing, they want to wrap me in cotton wool.”
The climb will be quieter as it will be conducted off-season for traditional mountaineering but it could be more dangerous with severe weather. Mr Joweihan said he will be assisted by a small team of experienced Sherpas.
An emergency helicopter will be on standby, should he have any adverse reaction to the altitude or extreme conditions in the region close to the Khumbu Glacier.
The two-week expedition began on Thursday, December 15.
According to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, cardiovascular disease contributes to 40 per cent of all deaths in the UAE and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Some heart conditions have few symptoms, so can strike without warning.
“My doctors have been very supportive, as have my family,” said Mr Joweihan, who aims to raise the UAE flag at the summit.
“I want to challenge myself in minus 40°C conditions and winds of 70kph to really test myself.
“It is extreme for someone who has gone through double heart surgery.
“Hopefully, it will bring awareness of resilience and age, we can continue to embrace life as we get older.
"I know there is a risk but if you always avoid fear, you will never know what is behind the door.
“It is how you respond to adversity that matters.”
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
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Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
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B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
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Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
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Sector: Renewable energy
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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On sale: Available to order now
