In 2019, husband and father Ali Kakaire began feeling unwell and daily life was becoming more and more of a struggle. In 2020, after many doctor appointments and tests Ali was diagnosed with ‘refractory Hodgkin lymphoma of nodular sclerosis subtype’. This meant that Ali needed to under...
Approximately one in five women develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, which has serious complications for both baby and mother, but fortunately reverses after delivery. Women with this condition are at seven-fold higher risk of developing adult diabetes within 7-10 yea...
The Ta’alouf program has had a transformative effect on many families in the UAE who have become empowered to guide and support their children of determination to flourish and live to their full potential. Mohammad Abdulla Alshehhi is a 16-year-old boy with autism whose mother, Alya, ...
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is a leading financial institution in the UAE driving innovation and service excellence in the industry that also spearheads impactful locally relevant CSR initiatives. Every October for the past 12 years ADCB has dedicated the Pink Month initiative to supp...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women affecting 1 in 8 women and studies show the average age of diagnosis in the UAE is 10 years younger than elsewhere in the world. In efforts to fight breast cancer, Al Jalila Foundation invested in an important study with Dr Farah Benye...
Dr Houriya Kazim, the UAE’s first female surgeon, has spent more than 20 years campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of early detection in saving lives. Dr Houriya was inspired to become a breast surgeon as a young doctor in her hometown of Dubai after seeing many patients ...
When baby Khaled was born his parents were overjoyed for the wonderful blessing in their life. Unfortunately, shortly after his birth it was discovered that he had a congenital heart defect that was life-threatening. However, thanks to advances in medicine hope was not lost for baby Khaled...
Al Jalila Foundation is invested in nurturing the next generation of medical talent in the UAE through providing scholarships to promising young medical students. One shining student was 2016 high school graduate Thannon Aysar Thannon who excelled in his studies and was looking to get i...
Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of non-infectious disease deaths worldwide. Globally, and in the Middle East, cigarette smoking and alternative forms of tobacco smoking such as shisha and dokha has attracted serious public health concern. Professor Sausan Al Kawas from Universi...
Since establishment, EWINGS managing operator of Mahzooz has been a champion for Al Jalila Foundation and our patient treatment program. In 2020 EWINGS made a donation, on behalf of Mahzooz, to support patients in need and added their name on Bassmat Rashid Bin Saeed donor wall in recognit...
According to the World Heart Federation over 17 million people die from cardiovascular disease annually making it the leading causes of death globally. It is also the primary cause of death in the UAE contributing to 30% of fatalities. To tackle this problem, Al Jalila Foundation funds ...
Salama was born with a congenital heart defect that could be potentially life-threatening as she grew older. The doctors continuously monitored to assess her condition and decide on the best course of treatment. By the age of three and a half years old it was recommended that she needed to...
Al Jalila Foundation’s Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program, in partnership with Zayed University, equips teachers from public and private schools with skills to broaden inclusivity in their classrooms and empower children of determination. The program was born out of the principle that ...
Emirates NBD, a long-term partner of Al Jalila Foundation, is driven by their passion to give back to the community and have engaged in several employee-lead campaigns to support our healthcare programs over the years. In 2021, the leading UAE banking group wanted to share the true spir...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and by funding breast cancer research, Al Jalila Foundation is enabling UAE-based scientist Dr Mawieh Hamad from University of Sharjah to ‘evaluate the anti-carcinogenic potential of biologically-driven intracellular iron depletion’ a...
12-year-old Kerolos Mina Albert was born with Autism into a loving family who have always looked for ways to help him live a full life. Unfortunately, children with Autism often have difficulty expressing themselves which in turn makes it very challenging for parents to support them. Ke...
In November 2018 one-year-old Youssef was diagnosed with a right retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer that had grown to a become a mass lesion in the right eye globe. The following month he underwent enucleation to remove the eye and the surgery was followed by chemotherapy treatment ...
Kiehl’s, a leading cosmetics brand under L’Oréal, has been supporting Al Jalila Foundation every Ramadan since 2016 through their exclusive limited-edition collections featuring artwork from regionally celebrated artists and designers. Launched in the Middle East less than a decade...
Like many other adjustments that have been made in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Al Jalila Foundation’s Ta’alouf Teachers Training program to empower students of determination has been conducted virtually since March 2020. The school Principal, Mariyam Nizar Ahamed, and fe...
As a young mother, Mariam moved to the UAE with her husband and children to begin a new life. Three decades later and now retired, the couple love watching their grandchildren grow up close to them in the Emirates. The COVID-19 pandemic had been difficult for many and particularly the e...
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the UAE. To tackle the issue, Al Jalila Foundation awarded a research grant to Dr Maha Saber-Ayad, a medical Pharmacologist from the College of Medicine at University of Sharjah, to...
According to the World Health Organization epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting people of all ages globally. It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. Al Jalila Foundation resear...
From a young age Mariam Elsaban had felt a strong desire to become a doctor because she wanted to help people and save lives. Her passion and dedication were only heightened throughout her school years and she took every opportunity to improve her knowledge and grades to give her the best ...
8-year-old Ali was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler however the condition has not stopped him from being a superhero for other children of determination and an Ambassador of Hope for Al Jalila Foundation. Ali’s mother heard about Heroes of Hope and the work they do to empowe...
9-year-old Noor Afzaal was born into a silent world as she suffered from profound hearing loss, but thanks to receiving a cochlear implant at the age of 6, with the help of Al Jalila Foundation, her communication developed remarkably and today she can hear and talk like other children her ...
Golf is a key driver of charitable giving around the world with large philanthropic contributions, including those from professional tournaments, that make giving to charity a huge part of the sport. Many of the golf clubs in the UAE and globally recognised tournaments have dedicated proce...
According to the World Health Organization an estimated one in 160 children worldwide has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Based on these statistics, there is a need to better understand the unique genetic causes of Autism as well as the pattern of treatment sought by parents of child...
Al Jalila Foundation is committed to supporting deserving Emirati medical professionals, who pursue education with respected international institutions with the aim to transfer global best practices to the UAE. Nour Alloghani had graduated from Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and Al ...
10-year-old Hamza was born with a congenital abnormality that affected his limbs. The condition also interfered with his motor skills and hampered his independence as he grew. Throughout Hamza’s life, the only treatment accessible to him to improve his condition was plastic ankle foot or...
With an increasing global population and greater life expectancy, the diagnosis of neurological disorders, like Parkinson's disease is on the rise. Al Jalila Foundation awarded a research grant to renowned scientist Dr M Emdadul Haque from UAE University to study ‘Parkin in cancer and...
Since inception, Al Jalila Foundation has encouraged thousands of motivated individuals and teams to raise funds by taking part in sports challenges. These endurance runs, triathlons, marathons and more have been instrumental to raising awareness and providing hope to patients suffering fr...
Through the Ta’alouf Parents Training Program, Al Jalila Foundation works to empower parents to bring out the greatest potential in their children of determination. Although 2020 was a challenging year and parents training was held virtually, parents like Rola were only too eager to j...
In our mission to transform lives, Al Jalila Foundation connects with community partners to support our work and fulfill our collective goals. In 2020, we are proud to have partnered with Heroes of Hope, a not-for-profit group founded by Hollie Murphy to develop and support the sporting, s...
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally with about 1 in 6 deaths due to cancer. Each year, approximately 300,000 children alone are diagnosed with cancer. However, there is hope, as with access to quality treatment, more than 80% of ...
The world fell into the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic and Ms Rehad had to continue the Ta'alouf Teachers Training program online and translate her newly honed skills working from home and conducting classes remotely to assist all the children of determination in her classroom. A testam...
Having been diagnosed with acute blood cancer (leukemia) in 2017, 5-year-old Naya had undergone a full round of chemotherapy and was receiving maintenance treatment in Syria although she and her family were living in the UAE. As her condition was stable, she would regularly travel back and...
In May 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic and to strengthen the national capabilities to deal with viral diseases, Al Jalila Foundation offered an exclusive international postgraduate scholarship to UAE nationals to undertake studies at world class international universities in ...
In June 2020, the story of young kidney patient Pritvik touched the hearts of the nation as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum offered to support the family through this difficult time. Pritvik was born with small, partially functioning kidneys and in early 2020 suffered ki...
11-year-old Emirati Shamsa AlMheiri recently lost her beloved grandfather to cancer and wanted to find a way to pay tribute to him. She decided a fitting tribute would be to raise awareness and funds for cancer research to improve the lives of patients suffering with the disease that cuts ...
As a bright young student, Saad Syed was drawn to medicine and was overjoyed to learn he had been awarded a scholarship from Al Jalila Foundation to continue his studies at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). By attaining this scholarship, Saad can fol...
Nahid Al-Naqbi, a celebrated journalist for Al Bayan Newspaper and a recipient of the 2018 Al Jalila Foundation Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism, is recovering from breast cancer thanks to receiving quality medical care and support. Nahid’s journey has not been ...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a growing health concern around the world and is estimated that it impacts 1 in every 58 children globally. Research indicates that the disease manifests very early in development which requires early diagnosis and intervention. Dr Mohammed Uddin from M...
At 4-years-old Bismah, a highly talented child, began to develop serious health problems and deteriorated to the point that she could no longer walk or play like other children. After admission to the hospital she was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune connective tissue disease, juvenil...
Despite the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE, approximately 1 in 5 of the population suffers from the disease, epidemiological data about diabetes incidence and subgroups in the UAE in general, and particularly the Northern Emirates (Sharjah/Ajman), is very limited. Al Jali...
Among many of the challenges faced this year, education and distance learning has been one of the hardest. Hundreds of thousands of students in the UAE embarked on online learning for the first time, many of whom were children of determination who require a little extra care and support. T...
Pink Ribbon Crafters is a group of passionate volunteers and artisans who create handmade items from knitted toys, candles to jewellery sold in exchange for donations to support breast cancer research and patient treatment in the UAE. 100% of proceeds are donated to Al Jalila Foundation in...
When Melany (39) discovered she had breast cancer, like many others, she was completely overwhelmed by the diagnosis. As she sought the appropriate medical treatment she discovered she was pregnant and despite the disease she was overjoyed to welcome a new baby. Even as a strong young w...
According to the World Health Organization depression, a mental disorder accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest and low energy, continues to be on the rise globally. Unfortunately, current treatment methods are only effective on 50% of patients and even for those who do respon...
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the world today. According to the World Heart Federation 17.5 million people globally die every year from cardiovascular disease and studies have identified it is a one of the primary reasons of death in th...
11-year-old Raghav Krishna and 8-year-old Madhav Krishna are two inspirational brothers living in Dubai who have a passion to make a difference in the lives of children of determination so they too can live life to the fullest and reach their full potential. These extraordinary siblings...
At birth, baby Antheia was diagnosed with a cleft lip but regardless of the abnormality, her parents were grateful that their daughter was otherwise in good health and did not require any medication. The doctor who handled the delivery had recommended that baby Antheia receive surgery a...
Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, was a strong advocate for women and believed that “the woman is half of the society” and should be empowered, respected and developed to contribute equally to the country’s success. Every year, Al Jalila Foundation joins the nation in ...
Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are very proud that the end of the 2020 academic year saw the graduation of the 6th cohort of Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program comprising of 73 teachers from 23 schools. Through Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program, in partnership w...
By mid-January 2020, 3-year-old Wed had already been to what felt like hundreds of doctor’s appointments. She suffered from severe knee pain as a result of worsening genu varum (bilateral leg deformities or ‘bow legs’). After visiting Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, it ...
Data shows that 1 in 5 people in the UAE has diabetes making it one of the most pressing healthcare challenges today. Fasting as part of religious practice is keenly observed in the region and many people with diabetes fast throughout Ramadan with no negative impact on their health while s...
Around the globe sport has proven to be one of the greatest charitable avenues with running holding a strong lead in charitable fundraising and participation. Although the global pandemic meant many running events were canceled, Dubai resident Ahmed Ali was not about to let that stop hi...
When HedaietAllah Ghanem discovered she was selected to be one of the first to receive a full 6-year scholarship from Al Jalila Foundation to attend Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) she was speechless. Throughout high school she had explored many profes...
UAE breast cancer statistics emphasise the need for local research as it is the most common cancer affecting women with incidences steadily increasing and constituting 38% of all female cancers in the country. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Dr Ghaleb Husseini from Americ...
Stefano Iorini is no ordinary businessman but rather an entrepreneur passionate about philanthropy. With decades of commercial experience behind him, in 2015, Stefano launched MonViso Italian Mineral Water with a mission to develop a product that would give back every day. With a good c...
A month after her birth it was apparent that baby Sarah had severe developmental delays and the doctors discovered that she was suffering with nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease. Sarah’s parents were heartbroken when their daughter had to be admitted to hospital and it could ta...
Since inception, Al Jalila Foundation has encouraged thousands of motivated individuals and teams to raise funds by taking part in sports challenges. These endurance runs, triathlons, marathons and more have been instrumental to raising awareness and providing hope to patients suffering fr...
Salim was born with a ventricular septal deformity, a hole in his heart, which caused developmental delays, fatigue when feeding, coughing and shortness of breath. Although, his parents faithfully followed his condition with the doctors in the hope that there would be an improvement, by th...
When 9-month-old Hanah contracted life threatening meningitis it left her with irreversible hearing loss. Hope was close by when her parents learned that the cutting edge cochlear implant would restore her hearing. However, at a large cost the transforming solution was out of their reach. ...
12-year-old Muayad Al Arjani was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as ‘brittle bones disease’, and was unable to stand or walk without breaking bones in his legs. He was confined to a wheelchair throughout his childhood, unable to play with his friends or lead a normal li...
Roderick had always been an active healthy man when he uncharacteristically began to develop a persistent fever, sore throat and nausea that he wasn’t recovering from. Once he checked in to Dubai Hospital in July 2019 results revealed that he was suffering from acute myeloid leukemia ...
Kareema, an Emirati mother, recently joined 100 parents of children with intellectual disabilities to graduate from the 19th cohort of Ta’alouf Parents Training Program, the biggest cohort to date held in Dubai. Her 18-year-old daughter, Huda, was born with physical and mental disabiliti...
During these uncertain times, mental health support has never been more vital and Al Jalila Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of pioneering research in the UAE by supporting scientists addressing the issue. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Leontios Ha...
Dr Habiba Alsafar, a two-time Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, was a curious youngster who dreamed of becoming a scientist. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued her scientific aspirations gaining her PhD in Forensics and Medical Sciences and fulfilled her dream to ‘build ...
7-year-old Mohammed suffered from headaches and vomiting for three months and after careful observation the MRI scans showed a large cystic mass in his brain and he was at risk of losing his vision. He underwent immediate surgery with success and the biopsy results revealed that it was a r...
Our Own English High School Fujairah took part in the 6th cohort of Al Jalila Foundation Ta’alouf Teachers Training program in partnership with Zayed University. The program trains educators to champion inclusivity within classrooms so students of determination can learn to their full po...
Adam was diagnosed with renal dysplasia after birth which led to atrophy in both kidneys and severe deficiency in renal functions. He underwent dialysis for five years at his home in Ras Al Khaimah, before his condition deteriorated. At this point, his family took him to Al Jalila Children...
According to World Health Organization depression affects 350 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability, affecting more women than men. In the Arab world, it is estimated that 17.7 percent of the population suffers from depression. With these alarming statistics, men...
Growing up in an underprivileged community, Farah Ennab was inspired to pursue medicine as a profession to make a difference in people’s lives. In 2016, based on excellent academic achievements, Farah was awarded an Al Jalila Foundation scholarship to follow her dream. Through the sch...
Mohammed was diagnosed with Blount’s disease at a young age, a growth disorder characterised by lower limb deformity that slowly worsens over time. By the age of 11, the pain and deformity had become so severe that Mohammed was no longer able to stand, much less walk or play with his sib...
Worldwide, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and women and in the UAE it is ranked the second deadliest disease among UAE nationals. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Dr Saba Al Heialy, Assistant Professor of Immunology at Mohammed Bin Rashid Un...
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 4.8 million people in the UAE suffer from obesity. These numbers underscore the need for long-term funding into scientific research to develop discoveries in the field of obesity. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, ...
Mohammed Alraidi and his wife have long been the greatest supporters of their son who was born with Down syndrome. Always on the lookout for ways to improve their son’s reality and life experiences, they came across Ta’alouf, Al Jalila Foundation’s flagship program that equips parent...
It was the beginning of summer 2019 when 6-year-old Vinit Vasandani was devastatingly diagnosed with acute blood cancer (leukemia). The specialists at Dubai Hospital began treatment immediately. However, the family’s medical insurance had reached its annual limit by August. More funds we...
Dr Bashair Mussa from University of Sharjah (College of Medicine) is a cutting-edge researcher leading a study, with the support of Al Jalila Foundation seed grant, investigating the role of FOS and BECLIN1-inducing autophagy in pathogenesis of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HA...
Callum was born with an abnormality of his left leg that requires an ortho-prosthesis to enable him to walk and move around independently which must be consistently refitted as he grows. Callum’s parents have always endeavoured to do everything they can to make sure their son is compl...
As a promising Emirati student, Dr Mohamed Jamal dreamt of becoming a dentist and leading ground-breaking research to improve lives. His journey began at Ajman University where he gained a Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 2005; he then continued to Boston University Institute for Dental R...
It had been less than a year since Dubai resident, Sirine Fadoul, had done her annual wellness check which included a breast ultrasound when she detected a very small lump. As a young, healthy and fit woman with no history of the disease in her family, nothing suggested cancer but she t...
Still in his mother’s womb doctors detected a serious problem with Zain’s growing heart. Zain’s parents anticipated his welcome with a mixture of joy and anxiety unsure of what lay ahead as there was no choice but to wait until his arrival to discover how severe the situation was. ...
Celebrated scientist and Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Rabah Iratni from United Arab Emirates University, is studying a naturally occurring polyphenol, carnosol, and its effect on breast cancer. Breast cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer death in women...
Aya Akhras’ lifelong dream was to help people and while excelling at biology in high school she set her sights on becoming a doctor. Thanks to her exceptional academic record, in 2016, Aya gained admission to the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Healthcare Sciences (MBRU) C...
Khalid Al Ali is a young Emirati man with an enchanting smile and a strong will. The 26-year-old athlete – an international swimmer and a member of the UAE National Swim Team – has a long list of hobbies that include horseback riding, sailing and kayaking. He has also participated i...
The first smile of Bana Nizar Hassan, a nine-year-old Sudanese girl, after her surgery at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, is a moment her father will never forget. Since birth, Bana has suffered from a complete failure of her left kidney and atrophy of her right kidney – a co...
Dr Anas Al Salami is 1 of 4 outstanding Al Jalila Foundation Scholarship recipients to graduate as part of the 'Class of 2018' from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Healthcare Sciences (MBRU). In addition to earning a Masters of Paediatric Dentistry from MBRU, Dr Anas receive...
Marwa, 21, had undergone a heart transplant in Germany where she stayed for more than 3 years after surgery to receive essential post-operative care. Upon returning to the UAE it was vital, as part of the treatment plan for a post heart transplant, she continue to do regular follow-ups,...
Mohammed Ayoub was one of our first A’awen patients, he was the face of 7EmiratesRun and the inspiration for Al Jalila Foundation's iMcan program which provides prothesis to those in need. 6-year-old Mohammed was born with severe congenital limb deformities and over the years we have ...
According to the World Health Organization cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and researches around the world continue to search for a cure. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Amr Amin from United Arab Emirates University, has been conducting a study...
According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally and it is estimated that 30% of fatalities in the UAE are attributed to cardiovascular disease. While improvements in lifestyle can support successful treatment there is much rese...
