With his family kept at a distance for their own safety as he serves on the front line of the UAE's fight against Covid-19, this year's Ramadan will be like no other for Emirati doctor Saad Al Ameri.
Dr Al Ameri works tirelessly to protect lives at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, one of Abu Dhabi's leading medical facilities and a centre where coronavirus patients receive treatment.
Once he completes his gruelling 10-hour shift, he returns to an empty hotel room rather than going home to his loving wife and young daughter.
Dr Al Ameri, 28, barely finds a moment to break his fast, such are the intense demands on his time.
I was mentally prepared for all this but I miss my daughter and family so much
He has not seen his daughter, Alsail, in about two months. When he speaks to her via video calls, the toddler kisses the phone screen.
"She is too young to understand. She keeps asking 'where is baba?'. When this is over, I am going to run to her as fast I can,” he said.
He said the outbreak meant the holy month felt very different this year.
“To be honest, it doesn’t feel like Ramadan at all. Ramadan, apart from being a holy month for prayer and being closer to God, is also about family," Dr Al Ameri said.
"Usually during Ramadan, you are always with your family and visiting each other and friends.
"It is about going to the mosque and praying and sitting down all together for a meal. Right now, Ramadan feels like every other day.”
While many people will sit down for iftar at about 7pm, Dr Al Ameri only has a proper meal after 11pm when he is back at his hotel room at the end of his shift.
The hospital’s staff have been offered paid-for hotel rooms to stay in so they can keep their families safe from the risk of infection.
“I moved into the hotel because it was too much of a risk to go home,” he said.
“This virus is highly infectious and I deal with Covid-19 patients every day at the hospital.”
Dr Al Ameri works from 1pm to 11pm. When it is time to break his fast, he is at the hospital.
“I will have some water and juice but that is it. There is no time to have a meal so I wait until I am back at the hotel," he said.
"Usually I'll just have that one main meal instead of waking up before dawn to eat again.”
During Ramadan last year, he was also on the late shift. “But we would get half an hour and could sit and eat and patients wouldn’t come at iftar time," he said.
“Now there is no time for that. We have to keep the patients moving. There are always patients and we cannot keep them waiting.
"Most importantly, before, at the end of the day I would go home and be with my family."
Fasting is also more challenging due to the protective gear healthcare workers need wear while treating Covid-19 patients.
“We wear the N95 masks for 12 hours and that, in addition to a hazmat suit, makes you feel very dehydrated regardless of whether you are fasting or not," Dr Al Ameri said.
"I usually go without food or water because I don’t want to change my personal protective equipment.
"I see the news and see how doctors and nurses around the world are suffering because of a lack of PPE’s. Everything is available for us here in the UAE but that makes me appreciate what I have more and not want to waste it.
"My PPE has become really precious to me, so I try to use one suit per shift.”
Dr Al Ameri has five brothers and four sisters. “Ramadan has a certain family atmosphere which is not there this year,” he said.
“This experience has taught me a lot. To be honest, I was mentally prepared for all this, but I miss my daughter and family so much.”
UAE-based players
Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim
Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
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42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
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Fixture and table
UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
- 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
- 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership – final standings
- Dubai Exiles
- Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Jebel Ali Dragons
- Dubai Hurricanes
- Dubai Sports City Eagles
- Abu Dhabi Saracens
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
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