You might have seen me rolling around Zayed University, the malls, the beach or different parks. I say rolling because I come with a white-framed wheelchair and LED wheels that glow in the dark.
But you can save the pitying "meskinas" because I am happy with who I am. The old me that loved to be spontaneous, play around, get dirty and occasionally get hurt – I had to let her go out of necessity. War does that. It forces us to make choices and leave the things we hold dearest behind. The war I experienced was not manmade but one of biology. It was a battle my body waged against itself and forced me to adapt. This conflict resulted in me falling and tripping continuously until one day, my feet couldn't carry me, despite the strength they possessed. My parents thought my shoes were the problem so they got me new ones but my legs continued to falter and then my hands followed the same path.
The problem was a condition called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, which is a rare neurological disorder that my body suddenly developed when I was nine years old. Sometimes I feel I lost more than the ability to walk. I lost myself. Everything that once defined me – my nationality, religion, sex, interests, goals, hopes and dreams – all faded to the one thing that everyone immediately identifies with me, the wheelchair. Yet the same wheelchair that replaced the legs that once gave me mobility and provides me with a modicum of independence has rendered me virtually invisible in the eyes of the world.
That invisibility blankets every aspect of my life and is a constant source of frustration that I navigate daily. I’m commended for wearing a shayla and abaya – as if I suddenly ceased being an Emirati, proud of her cultural heritage, when my legs stopped working. It bothers me that I have to work twice as hard to prove my worth or to be taken seriously. For instance, my efforts to search for an internship and possible employment are often met with confusion, surprise and outright scepticism. Why do I have to lead with the fact I have a GPA of 3.7 to be taken seriously at a job fair? Why can’t they trust that I am just as capable of doing the same work as my peers and stop assuming my physical limitations are synonymous with my intellectual capacity?
Even after my GPA is established, I often have to go through another layer of vetting as they figure out what I might be capable of doing. I often wonder whether I will ever be enough, or will I have to keep proving myself over and again to fight the wheelchair effect?
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China’s ambitions leave Pakistan out in the cold
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Public perception is one thing; public access is another. Recently the advocacy group Wings of Angelz organised a Ramp Day, where members went around Dubai identifying public spaces that were not wheelchair accessible. Access is never an easy thing. Most people can’t imagine what it feels like to be denied access to a certain place, for reasons beyond their control.
A federal law on accessibility was introduced in 2006 but is not always enforced. My enthusiasm for being in public places is not always matched by the options of getting there. The cinema poses difficulties; so do old buildings. However, the number of new buildings in Abu Dhabi where I live that do not have adequate access is quite incomprehensible. It affects my choice of where to work and hang out. Wheelchair access on pavements can be tricky; some have slopes to make it safe to cross the road but others lack a decent slope, which forces the wheelchair user into a dangerous and even life-threatening situation. Wings of Angelz believes complete access to anywhere is every person’s basic right. In an attempt to help Dubai reach its goal of total inclusivity, it has helped countless wheelchair users by building more than 750 ramps in the last couple of years.
Still, being confined to a wheelchair is not something that I feel warrants pity. I don’t ask to be treated in a special way. In fact, the next time you decide to be extra nice, fake nice or even careful with your words, please don’t. After years of being bound to a wheelchair, people do not realise it has become a crucial extension of my physicality, a substitute for my legs. I take care of it as if it were part of my body. I check for loose screws and clean it on a regular basis to keep it working. Yet I have had fellow students put their feet on the wheels as if it was some type of object. Just as there is an etiquette on how to eat and act, there is an etiquette on how to behave with a person with a different ability.
However, the wheelchair can be quite handy sometimes, particularly when I want to avoid being bothered by salesmen in stores and can hide behind tables.
Change is a necessity and part of life, as we are either moving forward, backward or improving but we are never stagnant as we are always in motion. The wheelchair is not a source of frustration but people feeling constantly bad for me because of the chair can be annoying.
Society has a low standard for people who are different in any way. Their eyes fill with sadness, sympathy and curiosity as they utter the word "meskina", which means poor thing. But I will not let their preconceptions determine my destiny, so please don't "meskina" me. As hard as it is to live in a wheelchair, it is not impossible and neither is it miserable. I am very happy and contented with my life and I am constantly striving to be the best version of myself. The stereotypes that are associated with life in a wheelchair as sad or depressing must be shattered. All in all, my life is pretty amazing and I expect it will only get better as I apply myself to my goals.
In a few short months, I will graduate with a degree in international studies with a focus on international affairs and a minor in communication and media sciences. I want to pursue a masters degree in public policy and develop my blog, which aims to create a new social wave of normal, one where you are not defined by anything except what you contribute to society. I also aim to fly around the world and discover new cultures and traditions as I shatter stereotypes about able people like me. Moreover, I plan to start a foundation that helps people with different abilities in developing countries where accessibility is very low and access to adequate healthcare is poor.
I don’t think there is an avenue I can’t explore because when I have my mind set on something, I always work towards achieving it.
Being ordinary is overrated. Sure, the ability to be extraordinary might take a few bruises, punches, sweat, sleepless nights and sometimes tears but the rewards of greatness are well worth the challenges. Those same challenges have catalysed my need to redefine the word “normal”. We all possess resilient souls but will never tap into those reserves unless tested by chasing our dreams and perhaps falling short. Falling has been one of life’s greatest gifts since it has shown me time and again just how capable I am of getting up and dusting myself off. I wouldn’t trade a thousand legs for the wisdom I have gained on this journey.
Above all, I’ve learned the only thing that can restrict me on life’s journey is me – and only me.
Noura Alblooki is a Zayed University student
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
.
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Brief scoreline:
Wolves 3
Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2
Arsenal 1
Papastathopoulos 80'
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
NBA Finals results
Game 1: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114
Game 2: Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103
Game 3: Cavaliers 102, Warriors 110
Game 4: In Cleveland, Sunday (Monday morning UAE)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
