In a world dominated by screens and busy schedules, AlDhabi Almheiri stands out as a young visionary, wielding the power of words to shape a brighter future for children.
The Emirati nine-year-old, who lives in Abu Dhabi, is an author, activist, entrepreneur and founder of the bookstore and publishing house Rainbow Chimney.
She launched the online bookshop during the pandemic in 2020, when she noticed how children were glued to screens.
Imagine a world with no electronics and no one reads books – no one will be able to read or write
AlDhabi Almheiri,
nine, founder of Rainbow Chimney
“I've always loved reading and I'm passionate about books,” AlDhabi told The National.
The book store specialises in children's books and toys for ages ranging from infants to 13 years old, including children with special needs such as ADHD, Down's syndrome, autism, and visual impairments.
It also offers books in various languages, including English, French and Arabic, all printed on bamboo paper.
Each book on the website is chosen by AlDhabi to ensure they are fun, educational and suitable for children.
“Imagine a world with no electronics and no one reads books – no one will be able to read and write,” AlDhabi said.
Two months ago, AlDhabi launched Eco Club, a website that is a safe space for young children to share their thoughts. She said she was inspired by the impact of climate change.
“I wanted children to learn, understand and take action,” AlDhabi said.
“Everything we do in our life has an impact on the environment and children have to be aware of this because children are the future.”
The website contains educational games that teach youngsters about the environment and information on climate change.
AlDhabi's mission is to influence 10,000 children to undertake 10,000 individual actions aimed at protecting the environment through the Eco Club.
She has visited more than 50 schools to raise awareness about sustainability and to encourage pupils to do a good deed.
Mouza AlDarmaki, AlDhabi's mother, believes it is important to create a generation of children who believe in themselves and supports her daughter.
“I've noticed how a child loses interest when something is forced on them. But with AlDhabi, I encourage her to push herself and to follow her passions and interests,” she said.
“AlDhabi influenced her love of books and reading on me too. I felt very happy and proud as a mother when I saw her impact on other children.”
Opportunities for aspiring young authors
Rainbow Chimney bookstore also encourages the next generation of writers to enter the world of publishing.
Its initiative, Books from Children to Children, provides opportunities for aspiring authors aged from four to 10 to have their work published.
Around 21 children signed their own books at this year's Cop28 in Dubai, which also included the world's youngest author, Saeed Almheiri, who published a book at the age of four years and 218 days,
All submitted books are left unedited as AlDhabi believes that letting children's unique styles show in their stories makes them more authentic, “like a friend sharing a story”.
Publishing books through Rainbow Chimney is free of charge as it is supported by AlDhabi's family members.
UAE-based Madeya AlDhaheri published her book, The Little Mermaid, earlier this year.
The 10-year-old, who has Down's syndrome, said she was inspired by AlDhabi.
“I wrote a book about sustainability to help keep our environment clean and suitable for humans and animals to live in,” Madeya said.
“I care about the environment because it is the place we live in.”
Aws Ashraf, 10, from Jordan, also wrote and published his book, Environment Friend, this year.
“I chose Rainbow Chimney to publish my book because I received unlimited support, and AlDhabi encouraged me to read and write,” Aws said.
“I think children should read books and educate themselves so we can change the future.
“We should also help to save the environment and I think it is important for children to be educated by saving the climate.”
Dubai-based Hessa Beljafla, nine, brought out three books this year through Rainbow Chimney and says it's important for children to have a place to publish their work and inspire others.
“Some books are too silly for children and some even have a lot of bad words, so I think it's great that children are able to make books for others to teach them about the environment,” she said.
Her latest book, Recycle Today for a Greener Tomorrow, was inspired by her love of nature.
“If children keep throwing rubbish, it will affect the Earth and the cost will be high,” she said.
“If the Earth is not saved, there will be a lot of earthquakes, heavy rain and more sun.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Honeymoonish
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
