Pathway to greater achievements

UAE National Day is an exceptionally momentous occasion for Emirati achievers to honour their great nation. As it continues to take great strides on the path to a brighter and enriching future, Khaleej Times traces how these five talented Emiratis from the new generation have set a course to impress upon the pride of their nation.

Ghaith Al Falasi
Passion for testing the limits

As a FiA driver Ghaith delights in representing his country at every world-class auto race track around the planet, be it the circuits in Slovenia or Germany to the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit closer to home. Much like his name, which in Arabic means 'rain', Ghaith realises how precious his talent is to him, much like the gift of rain is to his homeland in the desert.
"My FiA Competition Licence is revered as an important milestone in racing which I've achieved as an Emirati who is passionate about cars and racing. It bears testament to those who believe that it runs in my blood. If I am visiting any country and discover that there is a race taking place there, I find it irresistible not to participate.
"This determination from my boyhood days has brought us 22 trophies, several medals and accolades; it's an overwhelming joy which I spread across social media. I put up videos of being a friendly host to Hollywood legends like Will Smith when they visit the UAE. I do it as my energy inspires others, especially younger minds who seek my advice.
"It lives up to the thrills of being a drift enthusiast and a racer, something that flows through my veins much before they whispered of their intense powers to me. My friends and well-wishers know me as safe, secure, gutsy, daring, courageous - the jargon reserved for superheroes - yet when the engine in my Lamborghini, Ferrari, Jeep, Porsche, Koenigsegg, Pagani Zonda, Bugatti or McLaren is revving to a level where I can feel my guts shake, the flight or fright instincts merge, and I resign to this mighty wave of crest by speeding past 300 km per hour.
"It is then when my intuition kicks into high gear, a gift I believe has come from my father, and from our lineage of those wise leaders who have sprung from the majestic sands of the vast Arabian desert.
"As a FiA driver, I make it a point to test the boundaries of my skill. I drove at 27 kms per hour on the Ice Rink at The Dubai Mall - a first-ever - given the barring limits of traction for wheels on ice. With my hand over my heart, I am thankful for my great nation, and especially on UAE National Day, for being a fantastic bedrock from which to steady our future."
Amna Salman Al Haddad
Fitness to empower life

Everyone's journey starts by taking one step. Amna Salman Al Haddad's journey into Olympic Weightlifting began after a simple walk around Safa park back in 2009. The walk resembled the start of a new chapter in her life to serve her inner strength and battle her depression.
"That walk in the park led to my participation as the First GCC national in the Reebok Crossfit Games Asia Regionals in 2012 and then focusing on the Rio Games in the sport of Weightlifting. I went from being a full-time journalist to a full-time athlete within a year, and fast forward four years later, I joined the UAE national team where we competed at the Asian Championships, Olympic Qualifier. Despite severe injuries during the same period, I decided to persevere due to our high chance of having the UAE qualify for Rio. And that we did - and had sent a female athlete to the 2016 Olympics. 
"Since then, I have been focusing on spreading awareness of mental health and physical activity, which also led to being awarded the prestigious Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health in Journalism as the first Emirati woman. My story has also made it to the international bestseller Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Additionally, I also have consulted with Nike on the needs required by Muslim athletes, and since then the Nike Pro Hijab was born to serve women globally by offering them a solution.
"There have been many firsts under my name, but that's not what I am proud of, but the impact my actions have left in the world, giving youth and women all over the world hope in being able to pursue uncharted paths and one which they can achieve greatly in if they put in the work and dedication. You never know where your journey will take you and how it can change the world! So, keep going. Keep moving forward!"

Alia Ahmad Mohammed Sultan
A face is my canvas

Alia Ahmad Mohammed Sultan believes that beauty exists in each soul and as a woman, she sees it in each and every woman from around the world. And for those times when women choose to enhance their outer beauty, then emerges the role of makeup.
"Makeup skills always require the best sense of artistry and tools, and I am fortunate to be extremely blessed with a unique sense of artistry. I draw inspiration from this magnificent country, and the city that I live in - Dubai. It has transformed itself from a desert oasis into a multitude of colourful and artistic expressions. As a makeup artist, I take it all in and apply it to my craft.
"The skin of the desert, in sandy tones, resembles the skin tones of the faces I articulate, which to me is the ultimate canvas. I delight in enhancing its natural beauty by varying colours, textures and glows, using the best of materials and ideas for impact under Alaly makeup.
"I lift my techniques of using light and colour from terrific gardens and manmade lakes, elegant waterfronts and world-renowned buildings like the Burj Khalifa and the Louvre Abu Dhabi - a great tribute to modern and magnificently arabesque structures.
"As an Emirati, I am inspired by this captivating allure of beauty, as seen in the Grand Mosque. I notice the cleanliness of spaces, exquisite lines and arches, and transcend those elements into highlighting curves of a woman's forehead, arches of her eyelids, and crevices of her cheekbones, and apply them into the act of beautifying her unique face. On this special occasion of the UAE National Day, I am deeply honoured to absorb my country's great and omnipresent vision into my passion as a makeup artist from the 21st century."

Faisal Alnaqbi
Know us through our food

As an Emirati, Faisal Alnaqbi feels mighty proud of what his country and people have achieved under their wise leaders. While the UAE has succeeded in many aspects, Alnaqbi feels that there is one thing missing - 'that we need to push more for it, which is Emirati cuisine'.
"The easiest way to reach people is through food, everyone loves food, and each dish and cuisine can tell us so much about the country and culture. I hope to one day reach more people with our food and culture.
"As a restaurant owner, I tried introducing several Emirati dishes with a twist, to non-Emiratis and non-Arabs. And because people won't order something they are not familiar with, I started giving samples of the food, and people loved it. The flavours are rich and delicious, and people would order it the next time they visited.
"The beauty of cooking is considered a form of art and engineering at the same time. Once you show passion in it you are not cooking anymore, you are engineering a dish with science and art. That's the beauty of cooking.  "I've recently started my Instagram and YouTube channel Emirati.Nomad, where I post about my travels to each country I visit. I intend to post cooking tips, and some of my recipes for I have around 50 of my own dishes which were created by me since the age of nine when I embarked upon a passion for all things culinary."

Abdulla Saleh Al Hammadi
Perfume is my elixir

Abdulla Saleh Al Hammadi bestows credit upon his grandmother who has played an unforgettable role in imparting her precious knowledge of fragrances - a fascination which led to the birth of his own Emirati niche brand. Abdullah's innate creativity and passion for perfumes have enabled him to cast the fragrant repertoire of his Arabian heritage to the trade capitals of the world.
"The manner in which we swathe ourselves in rapturous scents had led me to bottle precious notes such as neroli, sandalwood, musk, amber, patchouli, Juniper berries, Tonka bean, tobacco and chocolate, into bouquets of delightful greeting and cheer.
"I envisage that the unison of alchemy, olfactory and the precision of honing a 'nose' for the most tender nuances of scents is to me a gift that keeps on giving.
"Moreover, it brings me immense joy to be a part of this grand and sacred institution of scents that have for centuries, espoused the greatest palaces, architectural domes and magnificent structures crafted by mankind throughout history.
"Today, my hobby has become a reality called The Code Voyage. It was founded while embarking on a mission to capture the very essence of the desert mists, mystical mirages and sensuous oudhs of my Arabian heritage.
"My personal affection for perfumes has progressively cultivated an instinctive sense of our Emirati culture, its vision for the future, and how we represent our core values to the world.
"On this 47th UAE National Day, I endeavour to align more people on to this fragrant, memorable and successful path for our great nation."

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Melissa Randhawa is a UAE-based journalist with over 20 years of experience. Born and raised in Dubai, she enjoys research writing about its multicultural community, and the people who shape the nation.

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