ABU DHABI // Pharmacists are not allowed to ask customers buying pregnancy test kits prying questions, such as their marital status.
The National posed the question to several women in Abu Dhabi if embarrassment has ever been an issue when buying a pregnancy test. While most said they have never felt uncomfortable, others said they felt judged.
Pharmacists reassured women they are not allowed to ask any questions of a personal nature.
“When a patient procures a pregnancy kit, we merely ask them if they know how to use it,” said K Vasudevan, pharmacy manager at LLH Hospital, Mussaffah.
“This is all that we are required to ask. We do not have to ask any further questions, personal or otherwise.”
The laws of the country make women apprehensive, said Dr Nazura Siddiqi.
“Because sex out of wedlock is illegal and prohibited in the UAE, I think people are scared to go and get pregnancy kits from a pharmacy,” she said. “But they are available freely over the counter and people do not need to worry.”
Dr Naglaa Rizk said she gets many requests from patients for pregnancy kits and also for blood tests to check pregnancy.
“We do not ask patients if they are married,” she said, adding that the only time a question about marital status comes up is when a patient is delivering a baby or applying for a birth certificate.
One resident, a married woman who asked to remain anonymous, felt awkward when she went to buy a pregnancy kit from a chemist.
“I bought a pregnancy test kit recently from a pharmacy. When I went there I felt judged, even though I made sure they could clearly see my wedding ring when I bought it,” she said.
Another woman said she was initially uncomfortable.
“I felt awkward but it should be normal,” she said.
Others were less hesitant when buying a kit.
“The pharmacists don’t ask you your marital status or age or any sort of question when you go in to buy a pregnancy kit,” said another woman. “At least I haven’t faced any such issue in my two years of living in the UAE.
“I get kits in the hypermarkets, too, but I am not very sure about the accuracy of such products. I prefer getting them from pharmacies and people there behave quite professionally.”
Another Abu Dhabi resident, who preferred to stay anonymous, agreed.
“I’ve bought them a few times without any hesitation and was never asked any questions about my marital status,” she said.
Another resident said: “I really doubt people pay much attention to wedding rings here to validate the fact that you are married or not. It is a different culture and it’s totally acceptable for people to be married without wearing one.”
jbell@thenational.ae
arizvi2@thenational.ae
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
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
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort: