4 November 20260411 ShareHuman Interest|Education|TechnologyA Dubai teenager has turned her younger brother's reluctance to read into a bilingual reading app. Gulf News profiles 17-year-old Maya Lofty, who created IKRAA to help children build reading habits through goals, credits and rewards. She built it using a no-code platform despite having little app-development experience. The website is available, while its App Store launch is still being worked on.
4 November 20260411 ShareHuman Interest|Education|CommunityThere's a free little library outside a home in Dubai's Arabian Ranches, and the neighbourhood has made it its own. The National profiles Angela Hundal, whose book-sharing shelves are open around the clock. Take a book, share one if you can. Teenagers are particularly welcome to contribute books because titles for their age group are in short supply.
4 November 20260411 ShareHuman Interest|LeisureA cancer diagnosis and heart scare made UAE resident Mauro Cirelli rethink what success meant. He swapped long corporate hours for mountain trails and founded The Lost Hikers, an outdoor community bringing people together through hiking and camping. Gulf News reports that Wadi Shawka became part of his new chapter. Sometimes a change of scenery leads to a change of life.
3 November 20260311 ShareHuman Interest|HealthDiagnosed with stage-three breast cancer while five months pregnant, UAE resident Samar faced chemotherapy and childbirth at the same time. She gave birth to a baby boy, Elias, and continued treatment afterwards. Khaleej Times reports that her husband shaved his head in solidarity when she lost her hair. She's now back home with her four children after completing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
3 November 20260311 ShareHuman Interest|CommunityDubai volunteer Ayesha Ismail marked UAE Flag Day by delivering thank-you hampers to 55 frontline workers. The 35-year-old Indian resident has volunteered in the UAE for 17 years and enlisted family and friends to help. Each hamper included a UAE flag and chocolates, Emirates 24|7 reports. A small gesture for people whose everyday work often goes unnoticed.
3 November 20260311 ShareHuman Interest|Community|LeisureAt seven, Tatum Lafuente dreamed of becoming a CEO. Now 14, the UAE-born student, who is on the autism spectrum, has had his artwork selected for exhibitions in Peru this December and Ras Al Khaimah in January. Gulf News reports that his drawings reflect a love of cities, buildings and everyday life. His mother hopes the milestone encourages families to nurture every child's talents.
2 November 20260211 ShareHealth|Human InterestA Dubai baby suffering around 110 epileptic seizures a day became seizure-free after an experimental treatment stopped the episodes within 30 minutes. WAM reports that seven earlier treatments had failed. The result is remarkable, but the medicine is still experimental and its wider effectiveness remains unproven.
2 November 20260211 ShareHuman Interest|Health|BusinessDubai baker Maryam Al Sadiq has built a cake business while undergoing treatment for cancer, including several relapses. She started Unknown Treats after leaving her corporate job, faced repeated setbacks and eventually launched her mini Bundt cakes on delivery platforms this year. Her family and friends helped keep the dream alive through hospital stays and treatment. It's a story about finding something to look forward to, even on difficult days.
30 October 20263010 ShareHuman Interest|Community|LeisureDubai artist Sharan Budhrani has spent years living with muscular dystrophy, but his condition has not stopped him from creating art and writing poetry. Now 36, he is sharing his experience in a book called Chasing Kites, due to launch on 6 November. His message is about determination, creativity and refusing to let disability define a person's ambitions.
29 October 20262910 ShareEducation|Human InterestAn 11-year-old Egyptian girl has won Dh500,000 at the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai after reading more than 60 books. Mayar Mohammed says she wants to use the money to help build a library at her school. With more than 40 million students participating in this year's competition, her winning idea is to help other children discover books too.