Dr Omar Noori with his wife Zainab Al Rawi and daughters Israa Omar and Ayah Omar (L-R). Courtesy: Omar Noori
Dr Omar Noori with his wife Zainab Al Rawi and daughters Israa Omar and Ayah Omar (L-R). Courtesy: Omar Noori
Dr Omar Noori with his wife Zainab Al Rawi and daughters Israa Omar and Ayah Omar (L-R). Courtesy: Omar Noori
Dr Omar Noori with his wife Zainab Al Rawi and daughters Israa Omar and Ayah Omar (L-R). Courtesy: Omar Noori

Recovered doctor calls UAE second home after donating plasma for Covid-19 patients


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A frontline UAE doctor who recently recovered from the coronavirus is back in the emergency room, to treat patients with the same disease.

Dr Omar Noori, who contracted the virus while on duty and has now fully recovered after receiving the best treatment possible, said the UAE is his "second home".

The Australian citizen said the fight against the virus has united medics across the country, and expressed his gratitude by donating plasma to be used in the treatment of other Covid-19 patients.

The father of two contracted the virus in the first week of April but showed no symptoms apart from extreme fatigue that stopped him from doing his long hours at work.

He was later quarantined for 10 days in a hotel while awaiting the test results. From getting a positive to being admitted into a hospital took around an hour.

“I got the same disease I was fighting,” he said.

“When you live in a country that makes you feel safe and secure and you know that you will be taken care of when you are sick, then you give it the best you can.

"It is truly my second home," he told The National.

Dr Noori first shared his sentiments with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, during the weekly televised Ramadan Majlis.

The doctor’s two daughters, 19 and 25, are studying in Australia.

They found out about their father being infected with the virus when he appeared on television at the virtual Mohamed bin Zayed Ramadan Majlis.

“I didn’t want to scare them,” he said.

After a full recovery, Dr Noori is back to work and has donated plasma to be used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

“This illness showed me how we all stood together to fight this virus. We had anesthesiologists, surgeons and all the doctors come together to fight the virus. It showed me how united the health system is,” he said.

More than 200 doctors in Dubai have been granted a 10-year golden residency visa for their work to protect the emirate against Covid-19.

The order was made on May 13 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in appreciation for the healthcare workers' "selfless dedication to caring for infected patients".

The 212 doctors selected to receive the golden visas have various special skills.

They were chosen because of their work with Covid-19 patients across hospitals in Dubai.

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series

All matches at the Harare Sports Club

  • 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
  • 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
  • 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
  • 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16

Squads:

  • UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
  • Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

The biog

Age: 19 

Profession: medical student at UAE university 

Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)

Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe 

Dubai World Cup factbox

Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)

Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)

Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)

Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale

Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White

Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse

Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins 

MATCH INFO

Borussia Dortmund 0

Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')

Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)