Gulf Medical University, the UAE’s first private institution of its kind, has provided more than half of the health professionals trained in the country with their vocational education.
The campus, which features six colleges, lies at the heart of Thumbay Medicity, a sprawling 1 million square feet site in Ajman.
About 4,000 students – half full-time and half part-time – from around the world are enrolled on two dozen accredited programmes, in specialisations including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and anaesthesiology.
Its first PhD programme was introduced this year for all nationalities, with a preference given to Emirati students.
I am making it sound very easy. But the last 23 years wasn't very easy. It was a struggle to create this
“In medical education, we are the only medical university in the private sector in the entire Gulf region,” said the university’s founder and president of the board of trustees, Dr Thumbay Moideen. He is also founder president of Thumbay Group.
“We have almost trained 60 per cent of the health professionals [who have trained] in the country. It’s not doctors only, it’s nurses, dental, physiotherapy and all of that.”
The university and its network of academic hospitals have also educated approximately a fifth of the doctors who trained in the UAE.
The institution was founded in 1998 after Dr Moideen, a businessman from a family of entrepreneurs in the south Indian state of Karnataka, stopped off in the UAE on his way to Tanzania.
At first, not everyone was convinced the plan would succeed.
“When we first started building the hospital, someone told me you are building a hospital in Ajman where there is no population, it’s the smallest emirate,” said Dr Moideen.
“I said I have no option. I have built a medical school, I have to have a hospital.”
But Dr Moideen forged ahead, and his persistence paid off.
The Thumbay Hospital network treats patients from as many as 175 countries.
“Luckily for us, it became the busiest hospital in the country,” he said.
More than Dh1 billion has been invested by Thumbay Group in the sector.
“We have a huge campus. We have 1 million square feet of land.
“We have been real trend setters, very innovative.
“I am making it sound very easy. But the last 23 years wasn’t very easy. It was a struggle to create this.”
Dr Moideen believes the company's alignment with the strategic vision of the UAE's leadership has been the reason for his success.
"I have always regarded God's Grace, the government's support, and my team as the three main reasons for our achievements."
The company’s core business remains medical education and academic health research.
But it has built an entire medical city around the university, employing more than 3,500 staff, 400 of whom are doctors.
The campus features eight academic hospitals with a total of 800 beds, 11 medical centres, 46 pharmacies, five laboratories and other subsidiary businesses.
Many of the facilities are the biggest of their kind in the UAE.
Thumbay University Hospital was the first and largest private academic hospital in the region, while Thumbay Dental Hospital is the first private dental hospital in the country, and the largest academic dental hospital in the Middle East region’s private sector.
Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital is the biggest rehabilitation hospital in the country.
The site also boasts the country’s largest robotic pharmacy, in addition to Thumbay Labs, the biggest CAP-accredited private diagnostic labs in the region.
Medical tourism is another focus. The Thumbay Medical tourism department has offices in more than 50 countries and its employees speak 20 languages.
Thumbay Labs processes a large number of Covid-19 PCR tests daily and two of the group's hospitals provide more than 200 beds for the treatment of coronavirus patients.
The sprawling site, which attracts 15,000 visitors each day, also features leisure amenities for those visiting, including Body & Soul Health Club and Spa.
There is a food court with options for food from Asia, India, China, South India and Arabic cuisines, as well as The Terrace Restaurant and Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe.
A planned Thumbay Housing Project will accommodate 2,500 staff and students.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Naga
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
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
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
