Latest news with #Emiratis
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE healthcare sector tackles rising childhood myopia as screen use soars
30 May 2025 00:03 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)As young people spend more time glued to screens and confined indoors, doctors are warning of a growing, yet often overlooked, health risk. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is no longer just a minor inconvenience requiring glasses — it's becoming a long-term eye condition that, if left unmanaged, can lead to complications later in week's World Myopia Awareness Week served as a timely reminder of the critical need to prioritise eye health, especially in children. In the UAE, the issue is gaining more attention, an Abu Dhabi-based specialist told Aletihad.'We're seeing a noticeable increase in the number of children affected by myopia,' said Dr. Arif O. Khan, Staff Physician in Ophthalmology at the Integrated Surgical Institute of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.'It's likely linked to lifestyle shifts and greater screen time.'Dr. Khan said post-pandemic changes in routine — especially online learning and increased recreational screen use — meant children were spending more time than ever in front of devices and less time outdoors. This behavioural trend, he noted, is a key contributor to the rise in early-onset myopia across the UAE. 'Children's developing eyes are especially sensitive to environmental influences,' he said. 'Extended periods of close-up screen use, especially in dim lighting, can contribute significantly to the onset of myopia.'This is more than just an inconvenience or a temporary condition. According to Dr. Khan, the risks of myopia go far beyond needing corrective lenses. Early-onset myopia, if unmanaged, can lead to pathological myopia, a severe form that increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and even irreversible vision loss in adulthood.'Another significant concern in the UAE is keratoconus — a condition involving changes in the shape of the cornea — which appears to be more prevalent here than in many other parts of the world,' he said. A 2022 study published by Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology highlighted the prevalence of myopia among adults in Dubai: 27.4% among Emiratis and 19.5% in non-Emiratis. The research stressed that these figures highlight not only the widespread nature of the condition but also the urgent need for interventions focused on prevention and early treatment. Proactive Measures Recognising the urgency of the situation, the UAE's healthcare sector is proactively addressing the issue, with Dr. Khan expressing confidence that the country will successfully preserve the vision of future generations.'Vision care in the UAE has made remarkable strides,' he said. 'We now offer a range of treatments — from optical and pharmacological solutions to advanced surgical interventions for adults.'One of the most promising areas in myopia control is early intervention, particularly through newly developed optical and pharmaceutical technologies, Dr. Khan said, adding that these methods are particularly impactful on children. 'One of the most exciting developments in eye care today is the progress being made in preventing and managing childhood myopia,' he said. 'We now have pharmacological treatments available that can slow the progression of myopia in children, along with innovative optical solutions, such as specially designed peripheral defocus spectacle lenses and contact lenses.'Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has launched a dedicated Myopia Clinic, which is part of a growing trend worldwide to treat myopia not just as a condition but as a chronic disease that requires ongoing the promising technology, Dr. Khan is quick to emphasise that prevention is better than cure. 'It's equally important to emphasise the role of behavioural changes as the first line of defence,' he said. 'Reducing screen time, increasing outdoor activity, avoiding prolonged close-up work, and ensuring well-lit environments are all essential strategies for preventing myopia in children.'
Axios
2 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Gulf leaders told Trump they oppose strikes on Iran's nuclear program
The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates all argued against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during President Trump's recent visit and encouraged him to continue pushing for a new nuclear deal, three sources with knowledge of the talks tell Axios. Why it matters: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states opposed a nuclear deal in 2015. Now they're among the most enthusiastic supporters of diplomacy. Flashback: At the time, the Saudis and Emiratis quietly backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public fight against then-President Obama on the Iran deal and his threats to attack Iran. Now, they're worried Netanyahu will pull the trigger, or that Trump will give up on talks and opt for a military option himself. Behind the scenes: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani all told Trump they worry that if Iran's nuclear sites are attacked, their countries will be targeted for Iranian retaliation. All three host U.S. military bases. A source with direct knowledge said al-Thani told Trump the Gulf states will be affected more than anybody else in such a scenario. The Saudis and Qataris expressed concerns specifically about an Israeli military strike on Iran. The UAE also said it would prefer a diplomatic solution. All three leaders expressed support for Trump's negotiations, U.S. officials say. Saudi, Qatari and Emirati officials declined to comment. State of play: Trump confirmed Wednesday that he cautioned Netanyahu during a call last Thursday against ordering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as Axios first reported. Trump said he believes the Iranian nuclear crisis can be solved with "a very strong document," which could be signed within the next two weeks. The intrigue: Trump considered announcing during his trip that the U.S. would start referring to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf, but said before taking off that he didn't want "to hurt anybody's feelings." Ultimately, Trump took a pass. Two Arab officials say the reason was a lack of consensus among the Gulf countries, with some feeling it would create unnecessary tensions with Iran. The big picture: The Saudis and Emiratis are less concerned about Iran's regional activity than they were during Obama's 2015 talks, which they opposed in part because they were not consulted in advance. Their priority now is to maintain regional stability and focus on economic growth. Saudi Arabia has been gradually normalizing relations with Iran over the last two years. The UAE has also been reengaging Iran to reduce tensions. An unusual visit to Tehran last month by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to Tehran, during which he met Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was meant to signal that the kingdom opposes a military strike against Iran's nuclear program, a former U.S. official said.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
‘A moment of pride': MBZUAI graduates represent new crop of global AI talent
29 May 2025 01:05 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Year after year, the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) continues to reach major milestones, reflecting the UAE's expanding AI footprint. This year, the university celebrated its largest and most diverse graduating class, with 104 students earning future-ready degrees.'We had our first UAE national PhD graduate, who is also a member of Dubai Police. We also had our first three female PhD graduates. So, it was quite the milestone for the university,' Prof. Timothy Baldwin, Provost of MBZUAI, told Aletihad on the sidelines of Wednesday's graduation university awarded PhD degrees to 13 graduates and master's degrees to 91 students. Among them were 20 Emiratis — the highest number of UAE nationals to graduate since the university's year's graduates represent a new generation of AI talent, specialising in three core areas: Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing.'Next year, we will also have our first robotics graduates,' Baldwin said. 'Every year is the largest because we're growing and growing.'Although more than 80% of MBZUAI's students hail from around the world, 80% of graduates choose to remain in the UAE—a testament to the university's global appeal and national impact, Baldwin students are 'gaining high-end AI skills and generating intellectual capital'—creating innovations ranging from Arabic language models to breakthroughs in healthcare, the university's provost said.'Our Jais large language models are now the most popular for Arabic. These are open-weight and aligned with our region's values—something foreign models do not offer,' he explained.'From Alzheimer's and brain tumour detection to low-cost ultrasound tools—we are improving both hospital outcomes and access for underserved communities.'The MBZUAI students are not just learning AI, Baldwin said, they 'help build the safeguards the world urgently needs.' The Work of MBZUAI GraduatesSalem Almarri, the MBZUAI's first Emirati PhD graduate in computer vision, conducted a study on real-time anomaly detection. He developed three methods to identify criminal activity in video. 'Being the first Emirati PhD graduate (in this field) carries weight—I must keep going. We are blessed with leadership that had this vision, and now it's our turn to do our part,' Almarri said. Asif Hanif, who researched AI trust and model vulnerabilities, vowed to pursue higher studies after earning his PhD in computer vision. Mohamed Ridzwan, a PhD graduate in machine learning, focused on AI for cancer prediction. "MBZUAI is a hub of knowledge and a catalyst for AI in the region. It is a privilege to be part of this ecosystem,' he said. Maryam Arjemandi, who completed her master's in computer vision, studied fetal ultrasound imaging using diffusion models. 'There is a big data gap in medical imaging, so I partnered with Corniche Hospital to create a private dataset and trained a model to generate realistic ultrasound images,' she told Aletihad. Her aunt, Munira, beamed with pride just listening to the new graduate explain her work. 'She is the first in our family to earn a master's degree. She told me it was her dream—and thank God, I saw that dream come true."Arjemandi urged those thinking about pursuing AI studies to 'just go for it'. 'The UAE is the third strongest country in AI. If you want to do AI, come here,' she said. Hassan Almarzooqi was a proud father of graduates Abdullah and Abdelrahman. "It is truly a moment of joy. They are our sons, but also sons of the nation."Abdelrahman said it was 'a moment of pride to graduate from the top AI university', while Abdullah highlighted the university's steadfast support. 'Everything you need is provided — you just have to work hard,' Abdullah said.
Sharjah 24
4 days ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
SFRA hosts entrepreneurship workshop with RUWAD
Workshop Objectives Explained The workshop targeted employees of the Authority and aimed to introduce them to the services and initiatives offered by RUWAD to support entrepreneurs in the Emirate of Sharjah. It also highlighted the specialised programs available to UAE nationals seeking to launch their own businesses. Support Services Presented During the workshop, the team explained the main benefits that Emirati citizens can get through "Ruwad", such as financial and technical assistance, fee exemptions, advisory and training services, and inspiring success stories of local projects initiated with the foundation's backing. Interactive Session Conducted The workshop was delivered by a specialised team from RUWAD, with employees actively engaging through open discussions and questions about registration processes and how to benefit from available programs. Leadership Commends Efforts Ali Ahmed Abu Ghazin, Chairman of the Sharjah Fish Resources Authority, emphasised the importance of the workshop in enhancing entrepreneurial awareness among employees. He pointed out that giving employees entrepreneurship-related information and abilities fosters initiative, innovation, and helps create a knowledge-based national economy. Strategic Collaboration Appreciated Additionally, His Excellency commended the collaboration with RUWAD and its ongoing efforts to assist Emiratis and facilitate their successful and self-assured integration into the commercial sector. Positive Comments from Staff Employees who took part in the program expressed gratitude, praising the depth of the information and the perspective it provided on the future of entrepreneurship in the country. They emphasised the importance of these seminars in raising awareness and improving preparedness to gain from development and assistance initiatives across the nation and the emirate.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Accidents during daily job commute classified as work-related injuries for some employees
Accidents that occur during daily commute to and from work are considered work-related injuries, according to General Pension and Social Security Authority. This means, insured Emiratis and/or their beneficiaries can get compensation from the GPSSA if proven they have suffered from a work-related injury while commuting to and from work or if proven to be exposed to a work-related injury, it was announced on Tuesday. A compensation of Dh75,000 is distributed to the insured's beneficiaries as per the Sharia Islamic law if the insured's death has been proven to lead to total disability due to a work-related matter. If the injury has resulted in a partial disability, the insured is entitled to a compensation equal to the percentage of the disability, multiplied by Dh75,000. However, if the insured has been proven to inflict injury on his/herself or if the injury was found to be the result of consuming prohibited substances, he/she is denied a compensation. A compensation is also denied if found that the insured individual has violated security and safety procedures or workplace instructions, as submitted official proof by a competent authority.
