The decision by the Ministry of Health to list organ donor status on Emirates ID cards under the National Programme for Organ Transplantation is indicative of the UAE's rapid progress in the field. Just six months ago, organ donation in this country was somewhat inadequate, forcing residents and Emiratis to travel abroad for treatment. As The National reported in 2014, many risked illegal transplants in Egypt and China; some returned with life-threatening infections, open wounds or rejected organs. Since last September, the ongoing transformation has been profound. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed the country's first lung, liver and heart transplants from deceased donors, unthinkable just two years ago. Today, three other medical facilities, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Dubai's Mediclinic City Hospital and Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital are all licensed to conduct transplants. The life of an Emirati father of six was saved this month when he received a liver transplant. Just two weeks later he was happy and healthy at home, extolling the virtues of this country's transplant drive.
However, as these pages detailed last week, operation numbers have not reflected the UAE's advanced capabilities. While survey data shows openness to the practice, transplants have generally been dependent on hospital staff asking permission from grieving relatives. With a nascent donation culture and no comprehensive database, prospective donors were telephoning hospitals to express their interest. Efficiency is crucial in organ transplantation, where doctors must act within hours. It is for this reason that the Ministry of Health's latest announcement is so important. Now, anyone wishing to be a donor can register with their Emirates ID. In addition, Friday sermons and school curriculums will raise the issue of donation. The Zayed Charity Marathon this year will be held in support of organ donation.
Underpinning the decision is a recognition that we carry too many cards – from driving licences to health insurance cards to our Emirates IDs. Integrating different services onto a single card is safer and more efficient. In the case of organ donation, it will allow hospitals to quickly ascertain a patient’s donor status, boosting their ability to save lives. The UAE has acted quickly, building a database from scratch that will relieve all those in need of a transplant.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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)
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
