Latest news with #seniorcitizens


Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Police used to chase me': Seniors in UAE recount early days in book titled 'story lines'
A boy who helped run Abu Dhabi's first cinema at age 12. A civil servant who once crossed a desert road with passport control between Dubai and the capital. A man who's worked under a single UAE employer for more than 50 years. These are just a few of the voices featured in Story Lines. The new book captures the memories and milestones of 27 senior citizens and long-time residents who helped shape the UAE's early decades, long before it became the global nation it is today. Launched last week at an event by AmCham Abu Dhabi in partnership with Uhibbook Publishing, the collection is the result of a two-year community storytelling initiative aimed at combating senior isolation and preserving the nation's oral history. 'The idea began as a volunteering programme to engage retired professionals who were facing social isolation, even though many had family and friends,' said Mehnaz Anshah, co-founder of Uhibbook. The seniors from UAE, India, Jordan, the UK, and other countries shared their recollections through handwritten notes, voice recordings and in-person interviews. Volunteers, many of them youth recruited via helped collect and transcribe their narratives. 'There was no template. Some stories arrived as voice notes; others were scribbled in Arabic. It was a mosaic of formats and languages,' said Uhibbook co-founder Sadia Anwar. Among the storytellers is Dr Ahmed Al Khoori, who recalls a barefoot boyhood in Abu Dhabi in the 1950s, when fresh water was drawn from shallow wells and school involved sharing textbooks between five children. By the age of 12, he was helping run the emirate's first cinema with his uncle. By 14, he was working in what would become Adnoc. 'I used to wear shoes only during class,' he recalled. 'During break I'd take them off — the sand was softer.' He remembers helping dig wells for water and learning to shoot pigeons with an air rifle; a gift from his father. 'The police used to chase me,' he laughed, 'but they never caught me. Their guns were too heavy, and I was faster.' Encouraged by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to prioritise education, Al Khoori went on to study in the UK, earn a doctorate, and train generations of young Emiratis as an engineer and mentor. At 75, he continues to collect artefacts and has amassed more than 10,000 items, with plans to open a private museum. For Rashad Bukhash, another featured storyteller and chairman of the UAE Architectural Heritage Society, the book is a call to preserve more than just buildings. 'Writing down our stories is very important,' said Bukhash, who began journaling his life as a schoolboy in the 1960s and has since published more than 40 books. 'It's not just about individuals, it's the story of the country, of the human being, of how far we've come.' He reminisces about playing football with neighbourhood children, collecting stamps from market trash bins, and catching hundreds of bats with istikanas and an air gun in a local abandoned house. 'I think that was a Guinness world record,' he joked. One of his most vivid memories dates back to his first visit to Abu Dhabi in 1968: 'When we reached Seih Shuaib, the border between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there was passport control. It was Eid Al Fitr, and the journey felt endless.' Another contributor, Farooq Musba, 76, left India for Dubai in 1973 before being transferred to Abu Dhabi, where he has remained under the same company ever since. 'I've been with Abdullah Hussain & Sons for over 50 years,' said Musba. 'My children were born and raised here, and now they work here too. Abu Dhabi is my home.' Musba raised nine children in the capital, all of whom completed their studies here. 'No one has gone back to India,' he said. 'We are settled. My daughters married engineers and accountants. My boys are working in government departments and private companies. One of them even opened his own business.' Though nearing 80, he still walks to work daily. 'In summer, winter — same no problem,' he said. 'I don't feel old. If I go with the children, I still play sports. My hair is grey, but my heart is young.' The project also underscores how cultural documentation can foster intergenerational understanding. 'You read the story of the people, and on another hand, the story of the country,' said Bukhash. 'There are lessons to teach your children, your friends.' For AmCham Abu Dhabi, which helped facilitate connections and amplify the project through its Arts, Culture and Education Committee, the initiative reflects its broader mission of community cohesion. 'We are proud to support initiatives that celebrate the diverse voices that contribute to the fabric of our community,' said chair Lina El Labban Lampkin. 'The stories reflect the spirit of unity, respect and shared progress that defines Abu Dhabi.' The publication is available for purchase on Uhibbook's website for Dh250, with plans to distribute it to local bookstores and institutions in the coming months. Anwar said they've already seen interest from corporates seeking meaningful gifts and from educational and cultural institutions. 'This was a huge experiment,' Anshah concluded, 'we didn't know how to do this — no one had. But we need these voices. And we hope this is just the beginning.'


South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
HKMC explores Greater Bay Area retirement home tie-ups for senior residents
The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC), which has seen a surge in popularity for its retirement-related products, is exploring tie-ups with retirement homes in the Greater Bay Area to support residents planning to retire in the region. Advertisement Executives of HKMC, which is owned by the Hong Kong government, visited the Greater Bay Area cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou recently to study retirement home operations, said Daniel Leong Ling-chi, CEO of HKMC Annuity, on Thursday. 'We are exploring cooperation opportunities with our retirement home partners so that the senior citizens who have bought our public annuity policies can use their monthly payments to use the facilities,' Leong said. No concrete deals have been made yet, he added. HKMC CEO Colin Pou Hak-wan said they were also looking into whether the retirement homes would accept monthly payments from its annuity scheme holders as well as special deals. 03:31 Ageing Japan turns to AI robots to care for the elderly Ageing Japan turns to AI robots to care for the elderly 'The public annuity scheme is very popular and some annuity-scheme holders have expressed an interest in living in the Greater Bay Area due to its cheaper cost of living,' Pou said. 'We are thinking of the next step on how to help senior citizens better use their annuity payments to support their lives after retirement.' Advertisement


Gulf Business
16-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
New initiative: How UAE is enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens, expats
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure ( The initiative introduces a suite of innovative and integrated services designed to enhance the well-being, dignity, and independence of elderly citizens and long-time residents. Key components include the National Housing Specifications Guide for Senior Citizens, free housing design options via the 'Darak' platform, and voluntary engineering consultations in energy, electricity, and construction through the 'Aounkom' initiative. Dedicated advisors with experience in social services and fluency in local dialects have been appointed at MoEI service centres in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. They are tasked with delivering tailored assistance and managing exceptional cases with sensitivity. Gender-specific services The initiative also introduces gender-specific enhancements. For elderly women, the 'Leen Babek' service enables home-based transaction processing to ensure privacy and comfort. For men, increased mobility support includes reserved parking, smart service desks, and personalised assistance through to the completion of services. A 'Golden Counter' has also been launched at service centres to prioritise senior citizens' transactions, alongside workshops aimed at increasing digital literacy among the elderly and offering direct support with digital services when needed. We Are Your Support to empower senior citizens and residents Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, said the initiative aligns with the leadership's commitment to providing personalised, human-centred public services. 'We believe that serving the elderly is not just a duty, but a privilege and a gesture of gratitude toward a generation that contributed to building the nation,' Al Olama said. 'The 'We Are Your Support' initiative was designed to be a model of empowerment and care, delivering an exceptional service experience that reflects the appreciation they deserve.' He added that the initiative is part of a broader government strategy to eliminate bureaucracy and deliver proactive, seamless, and smart services that reflect the values of inclusion and respect for all community segments.


CTV News
12-06-2025
- CTV News
Replica guns, $18K in drugs and cash seized in Guelph bust
A 65-year-old man is facing charges after Guelph Police received complaints about possible drug trafficking at a residential complex for seniors. Officers executed a search warrant Wednesday morning in the city's north end. Police said they found about $18,000 worth of suspected fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine, three replica guns, drug packaging and more than $1,200 in cash. A Guelph man has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and breaching a probation order. 'We are committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens and will not allow the trafficking of these illegal substances to be normalized,' Police Chief Gord Cobey said in a media release. 'We will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable those who seek to profit from these dangerous drugs.'


Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
JN.1 Covid-19 subvariant poses no significant health threat, says ministry
The health ministry said a total of 6,523 Covid-19 cases were reported throughout May 2025, averaging approximately 228 new cases per day. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The health ministry has moved to reassure the public that the recently detected JN.1 Covid-19 subvariant poses no significant health threats, despite the rising infection numbers in recent weeks. According to the ministry's latest data, a total of 6,523 Covid-19 cases were reported throughout May 2025, averaging approximately 228 new cases per day. 'Although there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases recently, the weekly average remains below the national warning level and no deaths have been reported so far,' the ministry said in a statement today. It added that with no fatalities recorded and the number of new cases being below the weekly average, the data corresponded with the country's 'living with Covid-19' phase. The ministry went on to encourage high-risk groups, namely senior citizens, those with underlying health conditions, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, and frontline medical staff, to receive additional Covid-19 booster shots to reduce the risk of infection. It said free vaccinations remain available at selected government clinics across all states, with appointments bookable through the MySejahtera application. The public is also advised to keep wearing masks at crowded places and when experiencing symptoms, as well as to wash their hands frequently.