Beshara | The National

Welcome to The National's weekly newsletter Beshara, where we share the most positive stories of the week.

Everyday life and trading carries on in the old town of Dubai despite the regional war. Antonie Robertson / The National

Hello,

This is Nicola, The National’s Head of Audience, stepping in again today while Fatima turns her full focus to covering events unfolding in Lebanon. For her the task is personal – her family are there, while she, like me and many of our colleagues and dear friends, is based in the UAE.

You’ll no doubt know our neighbourhoods and neighbouring countries have been caught up in the conflict between US-Israel and Iran. Here in the Emirates, we’re all relatively safe, thankfully protected by top missile defence and emergency alert systems.

In this instance, I’m not here to bring you the latest news updates or the geopolitics – you can bookmark our live reporting page for those.

But I wanted to share the context so you can understand the deep sense of support, reassurance and resilience we’re seeing and feeling from our literal neighbours, networks and community leaders.

As I type this, I can hear the sound of my son’s schoolteacher guiding him through his remote lesson, instructing him to draw a picture of himself. It is a much-needed sense of structure, distraction and normality, after a weekend of strange noises and sheltering.

Nicola Leech's son draws a self-portrait at home as part of an online school lesson held in Abu Dhabi amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Nicola Leech / The National

This level of normality and the infrastructure to achieve it is both a major privilege and a lesson in preparedness – and, above all else, a reminder that we know how to collectively adapt, overcome and even achieve the seemingly impossible.

His smiling self-portrait says it best.

For that reason, I will share with you stories of people coming together in a time of need.

Every cloud has a beshara lining.

Stay safe,

Nicola

Airports around the UAE were forced to close on Saturday afternoon after air strikes were launched. Reuters

Tourists and passengers stranded in the UAE as airports close will have their accommodation costs covered by the state, the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi has confirmed.

In a circular issued to hotels, DCT Abu Dhabi says: “In light of current circumstances and given that some guests have reached their checkout date but are unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, we kindly requested to extend their stay until they are able to depart.

“The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi.”

- Nitin Kumar, a Dubai-based dart player who became the first Indian to win a match at the World Darts Championship, on how he handles the stress of competing

Palestinians evacuated from Gaza break their fast during iftar in Emirates Humanitarian City. Victor Besa / The National

More than 3,000 Gazans gathered for a group iftar at Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) last week, with many arriving in wheelchairs or bearing amputated limbs and burn injuries.

Those who attended said the gathering offered brief relief from the pain of being separated from their families in Gaza, while they receive medical treatment in the UAE. Many are still waiting for Gaza's borders to open so they can return home.

"We know there is nothing we can do to replace the families they left behind or the loved ones they lost,” said EHC spokesman Mubarak Al Qahtani. “But the least we can do is offer support and be there for them. We didn’t want anyone breaking their fast alone – being together, surrounded by others, can offer some comfort.”