The media is frequently accused of putting negative news at the top of the agenda, with positive stories rarely hitting the headlines.
There has certainly been plenty of troubling news to report on in 2022, from the continuing war in Ukraine to pressing concerns over climate change and the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But The National has also been able to shine a light on heartwarming tales bringing hope and inspiration.
From beating the odds to survive terminal illnesses to Emirati women breaking new ground there was a lot of good news to cover over the past 12 months.
Here, we take a look back at some of the highlights.
Cancer survivor’s inspirational tale
Cancer is a disease that has affected the lives of most families around the world.
One person who knows better than most about its impact is Sarah Agha, a Syrian mother-of-two who was forced to have her breasts, uterus and ovaries removed.
It would be understandable, to say the least, for her to have become depressed but she told The National in October that she was grateful after all that she had endured.
She explained how before she was diagnosed with cancer, she was unhappy with her appearance and had booked cosmetic surgery.
“Right before I discovered I had breast cancer, I had scheduled an appointment with a plastic surgeon because I wasn’t happy with how my breasts looked, and now I've lost them,” said Ms Agha.
“I wasn’t happy with my hair and I became bald. I wanted to be thinner and I gained weight, because of all the chemotherapy and treatment.
“I was never happy with what I had and I lost everything that I wasn’t happy with.
“But now because of cancer, I have started loving myself.”
She also said her battle against cancer had allowed her to show her children what could be achieved with courage and positivity.
“I started feeling good about myself and inadvertently taught my children valuable lessons, too,” she said.
“I taught them that everything will pass no matter how bad it is and told them to love themselves.
“I put myself first now and my family.”
First bone marrow transplants for children in the UAE
History was made in Abu Dhabi in April when two young children were the first to receive paediatric bone marrow transplants.
Burjeel Medical City’s bone marrow transplant unit performed the procedures on Jordana, five, and Ahmed Daoud Al Uqabi, two, just weeks apart.
Two-year-old Ahmed travelled to the UAE from Iraq for the life-saving operation after he was diagnosed with thalassaemia, a genetic defect in the composition of haemoglobin. His donor was an older sibling.
Jordana, five, from Uganda, who has sickle-cell anaemia, received healthy stem cells from her sister Jolina, 10.
Dr Zainul Aabideen, head of paediatric haematology and oncology at Burjeel Medical City, said that Jordana had endured great pain and suffering in her life.
“The only curative option for this life-threatening condition is bone marrow transplantation,” Dr Aabideen said.
“Prior to this procedure, there would have been immense suffering for the patient.
“The entire care team here at the hospital, as well as the child’s parents, are delighted that the transplant will remove this pain from her life.”
Hundreds of Emiratis attend funeral of elderly American woman
There was a show of community spirit when hundreds of Emiratis attended the funeral of an elderly American woman outside Abu Dhabi, despite many not knowing her.
Lois J Mitchell, 95, had just one surviving relative when she passed away last month.
She lived with her son John and daughter-in-law Asil after moving to the capital following a long spell as a home economics teacher in Baltimore.
She converted to Islam and took the name Latifa.
People became aware of her death through a social media account that publicises local funerals.
Emirati video blogger Majed Alarmy shared the news of her burial on Twitter.
“In Islam, they say if 40 people attend a person's funeral and pray for that person it is sufficient to wipe away their sins,” said Mr Alarmy.
“Only Allah knows what beautiful deeds did she do that so many people turned up. May Allah grant her paradise.”
Lift off for the first Emirati airline captain
Aisha Al Mansoori made history in August when she officially became the first Emirati female airline captain.
She had almost 6,000 flight hours under her belt when she got the four stripes on her uniform, confirming her new status.
“It is an achievement that I've been looking forward to and working hard for since I was a cadet pilot,” she said.
“We are both privileged and lucky to be born in the UAE as opportunities are open. All you need to do is seek it and take it.”
She joined Etihad as a cadet in 2007 and is now flying Airbus A320s.
Dh10 million Mahzooz win for factory winner
There is no question that most of us have dreamt of becoming rich overnight and wondered how it would change our lives.
Sadly, for most of us, a dream is all it will ever be. However, for one Pakistani factory worker living in Abu Dhabi that dream became a reality in October.
Machine mechanic Saad, 32, whose surname was withheld for security reasons, planned to use his newfound fortune to bring his family to the UAE — because the country had been so good to him.
The mechanic, who lived in labour accommodation, said he could barely believe his eyes when he saw that he had the winning numbers.
“I had to check with my friends and we all looked at the app on our phones and realised it actually was happening,” he said.
“I was so excited that I was shaking. It was an incredible feeling.
“I haven’t been able to bring my wife to live here but that’s going to change.”
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
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
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
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
57%20Seconds
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How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
