Tributes were paid to Dr Muawiyah Al-Shannar, a Palestinian medic who died aged 87. Photo: Twitter
Tributes were paid to Dr Muawiyah Al-Shannar, a Palestinian medic who died aged 87. Photo: Twitter
Tributes were paid to Dr Muawiyah Al-Shannar, a Palestinian medic who died aged 87. Photo: Twitter
Tributes were paid to Dr Muawiyah Al-Shannar, a Palestinian medic who died aged 87. Photo: Twitter

Tributes paid to doctor who served Dubai for more than 50 years


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Tributes have been paid to a pioneer of private medicine in the UAE who established one of the nation’s first clinics in the early 1960s.

Funeral prayers were held on Tuesday at the Al Quoz Cemetery in Dubai for Dr Moawiyah Al Shunnar, a Palestinian medic who died aged 87.

Dr Shunnar served for more than 50 years as a doctor in the UAE and was married to Dr Zainab Karim, an Emirati gynaecologist reported to have successfully delivered more than 18,000 babies.

Raised and educated in the Palestinian city of Nablus, Dr Shunnar studied medicine in Egypt at Ain Shams University in Cairo before emigrating to Dubai to take a position at Al Kuwait Hospital in Deira.

He had four children, two sons Saleh and Omar, and two daughters Amal and Buthainah, both doctors.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, paid tribute to Dr Shunnar, describing him as a role model for his medical work.

“Dr Shunnar spent more than half a century serving and treating people with complete sincerity and dedication,” he said.

The minister extended his heartfelt condolences to Dr Shunnar’s family, praying to Allah Almighty to rest his soul in eternal peace and grant his family patience and solace.

Dr Shunnar moved to work at a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah briefly, shortly after arriving in the UAE in the 1960s, before returning to Dubai to open the emirate's first private clinic.

Two years later, his wife resigned from the hospital where the couple first met to join him at the private clinic where they both continued to work.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
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Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

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Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowdash%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESean%20Trevaskis%20and%20Enver%20Sorkun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERestaurant%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20Judah%20VC%2C%20TPN%20Investments%20and%20angel%20investors%2C%20including%20former%20Talabat%20chief%20executive%20Abdulhamid%20Alomar%2C%20and%20entrepreneur%20Zeid%20Husban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

Updated: April 13, 2022, 10:36 AM`