Latest news with #Dh38
Al Etihad
08-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Biobank offers a life-saving opportunity at half the cost
8 May 2025 23:34 KIRSTIN BERNABE (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi resident Felize Flores-Navarro, a mother of three, wishes she had been able to bank her children's cord blood. As a cancer survivor, she was well aware of the life-saving potential that stored stem cells could hold. But, because the service was too expensive for her growing family, she and her husband had to let the opportunity battled cancer twice, the expat wanted to do everything possible to give her kids the best fighting chance if they ever need personalised treatment for a life-threatening disease."I know that not all cancers and conditions can be treated with stem cells from cord blood, but who knows when they may come in handy? Who knows what can be possible through the next scientific discoveries?" Navarro told blood, collected from a newborn's umbilical cord at birth, contains stem cells that can treat diseases such as leukaemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anaemia and certain immune disorders. It has been used in over 60,000 transplants worldwide, with ongoing research exploring its potential in new life-saving the UAE, private cord blood banking can cost anywhere from Dh20,000 to Dh38,000 - prices that are too steep for many expecting Dhabi Biobank, which is operated by global health champion M42, comes in as a game-changer as it offers the service at half the current market rates. Through the facility, families can get their newborns' cord blood stored for as low as Dh7,500."The pricing is offered as bronze (Dh7,500), silver (Dh10,000) and gold (Dh12,500) packages with different benefits, making it accessible and affordable for most families," Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, told lower rates, he added that the centre offers flexible payment plans, "including minimal upfront payments and customers can convert the payments to easy monthly instalments through participating banks."Since launching the new, affordable pricing in March, Downey said they've seen an encouraging response from the public. Life-Saving Treatments There is growing interest in cord blood banking, said Dr. Mai Mohammed Elsayed, an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi."As more families hear about its potential benefits - whether through discussions or emerging information - they're increasingly inclined to explore this option," she told Elsayed encourages families to consider the blood banking option, especially those "with a history of genetic disorders or medical conditions that could potentially be treated with stem cells" - as was the case with cord blood can be used to treat more than 80 disorders, said Downey of Abu Dhabi Biobank. "The cord blood stem cells can combat life-threatening and highly prevalent diseases like beta thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders."UAE-based oncologist Dr. Arwa El Dhuwaib enumerated other conditions that can be cured through stem cell transplants. These include malignancies like leukaemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and neuroblastoma, some bone marrow failure and other types of hereditary anaemia. They can also be beneficial in treating metabolic diseases like Gaucher's disease, Hurler syndrome, and Niemann Pick syndrome; and immune deficiency diseases like severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Saving the Life of a Loved One Besides its powerful therapeutic potential, cord blood offers an advantage in genetic matching."The newborn's cord blood can be a perfect genetic match for family members requiring stem cell transplants or therapies. The 25% chance of siblings being a perfect match can help save the life of a loved one in a family," Downey El Dhuwaib, however, noted certain limitations, including "a risk that cord blood stem cells already contain premalignant cells and cannot be used to treat the child; the same is applied when there is a known genetic defect in a family."Nevertheless, the potential of cord blood in regenerative medicine remains significant."The development of stem cell-based therapies has a big potential to revolutionise the field of regenerative medicine and to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide," said Dr. El Dhuwaib, a paediatric haematology oncology specialist at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah."There are plenty of ongoing research and clinical trials on using cord-blood-derived cells to regenerate or promote the repair of damaged organs, especially in cases when medical needs to prevent or reduce degenerative disease are still unmet with current practice. Examples of these trials are in type 1 diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord damage," the specialist added. World-class Facility Abu Dhabi Biobank is the region's largest multi-modal cord blood collection and storage facility. Its centre in the capital's Masdar City can store up to 100,000 cord blood units and more than 5 million pan-human samples."We firmly believe that these capabilities, complemented by our scientific expertise, make us the partner of choice for families, entities and governments," Downey said. Families can register by visiting Abu Dhabi Biobank's website at The centre's hotline 800 213 can also connect families to an adviser, who can explain the banking options.
Khaleej Times
29-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Kerala rapper Vedan arrested after narcotics seized from his flat
Popular Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, better known as Vedan, was arrested after nearly six grams of narcotics was seized from his apartment at Vyttila in Tripunithura in Kerala on Monday, police said. "Narcotics was found in the flat and Rs 900,000 (Dh38,792) were also recovered," Circle Inspector AL Yesudas said. "Vedan said this money was the booking amount for an event. The Forest Department has also started an inquiry into his chain, (in which) leopard teeth has been used." Vedan allegedly admitted to using drugs, police said, adding there were a total of nine people in his flat. Vedan first gained prominence in June 2020 with the release of his first music video, Voice of the Voiceless, on YouTube.
Hi Dubai
11-02-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Dining Costs Surpass Paris, London, and Tokyo: What's Driving the Price Surge?
The cost of dining out in Dubai has surged due to a combination of global economic factors, including rising commercial rents and supply chain disruptions, industry leaders revealed on Monday. Stefano Mihalitisianos, Managing Director for the Middle East at Tashas Group, attributed the price hikes to the broader political and economic climate, particularly the impacts of the Ukraine-Russia war. "The cost of goods has gone up globally, and rents have increased significantly in recent years," he noted during a panel discussion organized by the UAE Restaurant Group at the Dubai Chamber. A recent study by UK-based Holidu ranked Dubai 98th among 150 cities for dining costs. Inexpensive meals in the city average 10 euros (Dh38), while mid-range meals for two cost around 62 euros (Dh197). Surprisingly, Dubai outperforms cities like Paris, London, and Tokyo in terms of dining affordability. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi ranked 75th globally, with an inexpensive meal costing 6.2 euros (Dh23.5) and a mid-range meal priced at 49.5 euros (Dh187). Despite the price increases, Mihalitisianos emphasized that restaurants are not exploiting the situation. 'Restaurants are navigating through rising labor costs, rents, and inflation while staying competitive,' he explained. Naveed Nasir, founder of Khadak restaurant chain, urged transparency in pricing, stressing that compromising on quality for short-term gains can harm a business in the long run. Maha Al Gargawi, Vice President of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chamber, highlighted the growth potential in the restaurant sector, noting that the UAE's food services industry is projected to surpass $23.2 billion this year and reach $52.7 billion by 2030. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
11-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Why is dining out in the city more expensive than Paris, London, Tokyo?
The cost of dining out at restaurants has increased due to multiple factors including supply chain disruption and rising commercial rents among others, industry executives said on Monday. Stefano Mihalitisianos, managing director for Middle East, Tashas Group, said the pricing is a reflection of inputs that the world sees in terms of the political and economic situation. Commercial rents have increased substantially in the past few years while the cost of goods has also gone up globally due to geopolitical tensions around the world, especially after the Ukraine-Russia war. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Dubai has been ranked 98th among 150 cities for dining out by the UK-based Holidu with inexpensive meals costing nearly 10 euros (Dh38) and mid-range meals costing nearly 62 euros (Dh197). The city has been ranked higher than Paris, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and other countries by Holidu. The study is based on comparative costs of imported beer (0.33-litre draught), cappuccino (regular), wine (mid-range), bread (500g) and cheese (1kg). In the meal category, it analysed inexpensive restaurants. For mid-range meals, it measures the cost of food for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant containing a three-course meal. In Abu Dhabi, an inexpensive meal costs 6.2 euros (Dh23.5) and a mid-range meal costs 49.5 euros (Dh187), ranking the emirate 75th globally. Not taking undue advantage Mihalitisianos stressed that restaurants and F&B outlets are not taking advantage of undue situations. 'There is very little we are doing in terms of taking advantage and doing a lot more to stay competitive. The price of what you see is a factor of many inputs that include labour cost, rising rents, supply chain impact and rising inflation. The cost of goods is spiralling and rents are going up. For the most part, restaurants are not taking advantage of consumers and trying to navigate the storm,' Mihalitisianos said during a panel discussion at the forum organized by the UAE Restaurant Group at the Dubai Chamber office on Monday. Naveed Nasir, founder of Indian restaurant chain Khadak, said restaurants should be honest and transparent with customers when it comes to prices. He warned that restaurants may get a short-term boost by compromising on quality and services, but it is a 'death' in the long run for the company. Maha Al Gargawi, vice president of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chamber, said the restaurant industry is continuing to evolve and there are a lot of exciting opportunities to scale and grow. 'We are evolving to position Dubai as one of the global dining destinations on the world map. The UAE's food services sector is forecast to surpass $23.2 billion this year and is expected to reach around $52.7 billion by 2030. These numbers show impressive growth in the restaurant sector,' she said. More than 4,050 restaurants registered as active members with the Dubai Chamber last year, an increase of over 1,000 new members.
