Devoted caregivers providing round-the-clock support to family members with cancer have told of the emotional and physical toll they face as they seek to "stay strong" for loved ones in their hour of need.
Dedicated relatives spoke of the deep bonds and sense of purpose they feel in offering a helping hand to those closest to them and the need to develop resilience and inner strength to meet the challenges they encounter head on.
Emirati Eiman Al Blooshi, 25, is one of many such "unsung heroes" and has emphasised the need to strike the right balance to avoid mental burnout while carrying out an act of compassion.
Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2023, and she started the journey of healing with her for months, with many hurdles along the way for both.
“She had chemotherapy and 15 sessions of radiation. Her body became weak and I had to be there for her,” Ms Al Blooshi told The National. “She couldn’t move without a wheelchair, and it was very difficult for me on both sides, emotional and physical.”
Being based in Ajman and having a job in Abu Dhabi meant it was an arduous task for Ms Al Blooshi to be with her mother in hospital for the surgery to remove the tumour, as well to help her to recover.
“She couldn’t move, and I was looking after her. I neglected my life and was trying to balance my work and her,” she added.
“I used to take her to emergency and stay with her to the morning and then go to work and back to her. I wasn’t eating well, and I was constantly worrying. That made me weak and unable to provide the support she truly needed.”
Balance is vital
Ms Al Blooshi began to feel weak after several months of trying to juggle work with caring for her mother. It took the intervention of a friend for her to realise something had to change.
“She told me I needed to be strong. If I became weak then I wouldn't be able to help either her [Ms Al Blooshi’s mother] or myself,” she said. She start dedicating time to walking and going out with friends to balance her life.
“When I finally followed my friend’s advice and allowed myself some time for self-care, the results were remarkable.
"I became stronger and healthier, fully capable of supporting my mom in the best way I could,” she said. “She said it is important for caregivers to find a job with flexible hours to be around the patient whenever they need.”
Ms Al Blooshi eventually left her job in Abu Dhabi and looked for something more flexible and closer to home.
Rise in cancer cases
Newly diagnosed cases of cancer are on the rise in the UAE, according to the most recent figures released by the Ministry of Health and Prevention earlier this year. The figures show 7,487 new cases of cancer were found in 2023, up from 4,633 newly diagnosed cases in 2019 and 5,830 in 2021.
Syrian Rahaf Kalthoum, who lives in Sweden, was shocked when her sister, Rania, was diagnosed with a tumour in 2021. “It was on my birthday and we went shopping when doctors called her to come and check the results. She was diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma. It was shocking,” Ms Kalthoum told The National.
“I knew from the first moment that I had to be strong for her. We returned home and celebrated my birthday to make her feel that life will go on.”
The 34-year-old, who works full-time as a nursing assistant, said her sister had 48 sessions of chemotherapy and that her condition is stable, with the tumour reduced to 4cm.
“She was touched when she lost her hair. I kept motivating her and pushed her to go out, saying she is a beautiful without hair,” she added. “I had to stay strong and positive and didn’t cry once in front of her.”
Rania’s condition stabilised and she eventually found a job and moved to Dubai. “I’m happy for her and will always be with her whenever she needs me. To make her laugh and stay positive is very important in the healing process,” she said.
Emotional impact
Dr Hana Mohamed is mobile clinic manager at the Pink Caravan, a breast cancer awareness initiative operated by the Friends of Cancer Patients, a Sharjah-based non-profit organisation.
She highlighted the need for caregivers to be emotionally and physically prepared for the challenges they will face.
They should educate themselves about the patient’s condition, treatment options, and potential side effects, which can help reduce uncertainty and build confidence, she said.
“Cancer caregiving is one of the most challenging roles a person can undertake. Caregivers are often the unsung heroes who provide essential support, yet they frequently face overwhelming stress, fatigue, and uncertainty,” she told The National.
“It is critical for caregivers to recognise prioritising their own health is not selfish but essential. Without being well themselves, they cannot provide the best care for their loved ones.”
She said Friends of Cancer patients (FOCP) has an advocacy department to support caregivers. “We have entertainment and support programmes to the patients and the family caregivers,” she added. “If the caregivers are depressed it will create negative vibes for the patients.”
She urged caregivers to maintain their own physical health with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient rest. “Remember, you are not alone on this journey, and taking care of yourself is the first step to taking care of those you love,” she said.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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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
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Scoreline
Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'
Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'
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The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
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