DUBAI // For many residents, Rashid Hospital continues to be a long-standing symbol of the country's evolving healthcare services.
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Established in 1973, it was the second major public hospital in Dubai after Al Maktoum Hospital.
What started as a 200-bed facility offering basic healthcare services has now transformed into a specialised institution that can serve more than 500 in-patients with a medical staff of nearly 2,000. In 2009 alone, the hospital's operating budget was more than Dh400 million.
"In the beginning, we were the only hospital serving the entire emirate," said Dr Shawqi Khoori, the hospital's chief executive. "Over the years, we started developing sub-specialties, including haematology, the first burn unit in Dubai, a cath lab for heart attacks, and a rehab centre for patients suffering from post-brain injuries or heart attacks."
In the 1980s, the hospital introduced an isolated infectious diseases unit, where all patients with communicable diseases are currently referred. The hospital also developed five intensive care units with a 64-patient capacity.
However, demand eventually exceeded supply, and specialities were distributed to other public hospitals in the emirate, including Dubai Hospital and Al Wasl Hospital.
"This was done so that we can keep a balance in place, and so that we can introduce new services in our hospital, such as our trauma centre," Dr Khoori said.
That centre is what makes Rashid stand out from the rest. Introduced in 2006, the 140-bed stand-alone facility was the first in the emirate and serves about 140,000 patients per year.
Sprawled over 20,000 square metres, it is the major disaster facility for the Northern Emirates, said Dr Moin Fikree, the centre's director.
"All major catastrophes in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are referred directly to us," he said.
The most common traumas include injuries from traffic accidents and falls, and heart attacks.
Dr Fikree described the centre as the go-to place "whenever there is a major catastrophe, disaster, or any acute emergency".
To accommodate the emirate's growing needs, hospital administrators developed strategies to use space more efficiently.
One of those strategies was establishing an infusion centre, where patients who require ongoing medical care are treated as outpatients.
"Previously we had a problem where patients requiring [intravenous treatments]were occupying too many beds," Dr Khoori said. "Now, patients who require this or other types of drugs, such as cytotoxics, can receive their medication and go home."
Rashid Hospital's services extend beyond its premises. This include the dermatology centre, which occupies two buildings in the Al Safa Medical Centre, and the Airport Medical Centre.
Yet despite the hospital's achievements and space-saving attempts, Dr Khoori said the time has come reached the end of its lifespan and it is time to move to a new site
"We need space, but we can't expand more than we already have. The hospital was built 40 years back for that time," he said. "If there is any new expansion, I'm looking to build a new hospital. We do have a plan, but we are waiting for final agreement from the Government."
However, the hospital continues to advance its services, with future plans to launch a hybrid cath lab where patients can receive catheterisation procedures anywhere on their body through an integrated medical approach.
"For example, if anyone has any bleeding in the brain, they can go to that area with a catheter and insert a coil that will stop the bleeding with the help of an interventional radiologist," Dr Khoori said. "Cardiologists already conduct such procedures, but only for the heart. This will allow us to reach anywhere in the body."
The medical equipment is being tested, Dr Khoori said, and there are plans to officially launch the lab early next year.
mismail@thenational.ae
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
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Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
Fixtures
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