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19 March 2024

Special UAE National Day tribute from cancer-battling couple celebrating 41st wedding anniversary

Published
By VM Sathish

There is a special arrangement of the UAE national flag in a villa on Algeria Street, Mirdiff.

It is not merely special because of the size of it, making it visible to planes landing and taking off from the Dubai International Airport.

What is special about the 25-metre long flag is that it is made by a senior Emirati couple - who are both fighting for their lives against cancer with the help of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Fathima Al Hashmi, 62, said she and her husband Mohammed Faraj Al Tamimi (65), spent a lot of time to make the special flag because National Day, December 2, is also their wedding anniversary.

“We are celebrating the 41st UAE National Day and our 41st wedding anniversary. All six children have joined our effort to celebrate the occasion.”
 
Fathima has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer for the last five years.

Her husband has been diagnosed with cancer since 1989 and has survived several surgeries and treatment, not only in the UAE, but in Germany and London, thanks to the generosity and kindness of the UAE Government.

“Thanks to the generosity of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s office, we could successfully treat our father in foreign hospitals.

“He has survived for 23 years after being diagnosed with cancer because of the continued support of the UAE Rulers.

“Our family owes a lot to the generous rulers, who continue to support us,” says Samiha Al Tamimi, their daughter.

The family used to live in Karama, but shifted to Mirdiff five years ago.

Their villa in Mirdiff has been spectacularly decorated with flags.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Mohammed Faraj Al Tamimi said they have been celebrating the UAE National Day every year and for the couple it also a special occasion –their 41st wedding anniversary.

The family members is planning to take the parents to the Burj Al Arab for dinner.

“This flag is an expression of our admiration and loyalty to the generous rulers who have helped us in such critical times,” he said.

“We have specially stitched this flag for the 41st UAE National Day. We are happy that the flag is getting positive feedback as people wanted to come and take pictures.

“Even at night, we put special lighting so that even the airline passengers and crew can view the UAE Flag,” said Ansar Al Tamimi, an advocate son of the parents.

“They are both suffering from cancer and their treatment would have been difficult without the help of the UAE Rulers. It is very expensive treatment and we owe a lot to them.”

The flag carries the pictures of Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum – with the caption: "Here was the beginning".