As uncertainty persists in the region, supporting regional businesses and finding strength and solace within our community remains paramount. In Lebanon, UNICEF calls for donations to provide essential supplies to children facing displacement and life-changing injuries. In Dubai, a UAE-based fine-jewellery brand partners with the Al Jalila Foundation to support women navigating breast cancer, and a homegrown restaurant encourages gathering with loved ones over a traditional meal.
Where To Donate
Since the onset of attacks in Lebanon on 2 March, over one million people have been displaced and thousands have been injured. It is estimated that 390,000 of the displaced are children. Schools are closed and have been converted into emergency shelters, organisations are under immense pressure and children are left without basic necessities. UNICEF Lebanon is calling for donations to provide hygiene kits, comfort items like mattresses and blankets, hot meals and access to safe drinking water, as well as to support mobile healthcare services, provide psychosocial care and continue education programmes. Donate here
What To Listen To
Tune into More Muslim, a journalistic documentary podcast that trades unrealistic tropes for the messiness of lived faith. Hosted by Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui, professor at Georgetown University in Qatar and Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah, the series moves beyond the standard talk-show format, utilising cinematic field reporting and original music to explore the evolving Muslim experience. The debut season specifically centres on women’s voices, navigating everything from the quiet tensions of mosque’s ‘side entrances’ to the laws of nikkah. The ‘more’ in the title isn’t a metric of piety, but rather an invitation to curiosity. With a production team that is almost exclusively female, the show captures the ambient sounds of life and the weight of silence, offering an honest look at how faith is truly practiced. Listen Now
Where To Eat
Gerbou, the homegrown Emirati restaurant in Nad Al Sheba, has unveiled the Gerbou Emirati Experience in honour of the UAE’s heritage, community and spirit of togetherness. The experience includes an impressive sharing platter of signature dishes, including Chicken Machboos and Lamb Harees, as well as the Aseeda Cake and Hibiscus Macaron. Available at a discounted price for a limited time, the offer invites guests to explore traditional recipes while making memories with loved ones. Dhs249, Gerbou, Nad Al Sheba. Book now
What To Shop
Lana Al Kamal jewellery has partnered with the Al Jalila Foundation for a meaningful initiative to support women navigating cancer. The collaboration is titled Amal, which translates to hope, and aligns with the female-founded brand’s ethos of community and female empowerment. The heart-shaped Amal necklace is crafted from 18-karat gold and features a mother-of-pearl centre punctuated by a cabochon ruby and surrounded by pave diamonds. 50% of proceeds from each piece sold will be donated to the Al Jalila Foundation to directly support its programmes. Shop now
Featured image created by Lina Jaradat
