Cancer survivor Sarah Agha knows it might sound strange to say she is grateful for all she has endured.
The 38-year-old was forced to have her breasts, uterus and ovaries removed last year as an unforgiving disease spread through her body and an Abu Dhabi clinic became her second home.
But she firmly believes she has triumphed over adversity and now loves herself more than before.
She recalls a time shortly before cancer entered her life when, unhappy with her appearance, she scheduled cosmetic surgery.
“Right before I discovered I had breast cancer, I had scheduled an appointment with a plastic surgeon because I wasn’t happy with how my breasts looked and now I lost them,” said Ms Agha, who is from Syria and has two children.
'I started loving myself'
“I wasn’t happy with my hair and I became bald. I wanted to be thinner and now I gained weight because of all the chemotherapy and treatment.
“I was never happy with what I had and I lost everything that I wasn’t happy with.
“But now because of cancer, I started loving myself.”
Ms Agha is eager to share a message of hope with others as the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
She speaks of the crucial importance of early screening, but also emphasises the need to be mentally ready for all challenges that may lie ahead.
She discovered she had cancer after noticing a lump on the top of her right breast in 2021.
“I thought it was some fat tissues and didn’t think anything of it. I had no symptoms and only went for an ultrasound because the lump was getting bigger and for peace of mind but it ended up becoming that phone call where they tell you it is cancer,” she said.
Tests at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi also showed that she had a genetic mutation and the chances of the cancer reoccurring was high.
This convinced her that having a double mastectomy and her uterus and ovaries removed was the right move.
“I removed everything to get over with it. I was left bald and fatter and with a lot of losses. I felt that I was developing anxiety attacks but I got over it and I know that this is strange for me to say, but I am now actually grateful for it.
“I am in a very good place right now. I learnt to love myself more.
“I started feeling good about myself and inadvertently taught my children valuable lessons, too. I taught them that everything will pass no matter how bad it is and told them to love themselves.
“I put myself first now and my family.”
Stay strong in face of adversity
Ms Agha had all her surgeries at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and is grateful for the steadfast support of medical staff.
She is also an advocate for cancer patients and regularly gives awareness talks to patients and survivors through her social media.
“I learnt that you are never too young to get cancer so you need to get checked. If you can’t get a mammogram then an ultrasound is good enough.”
Breast cancer remains the most common form of the disease in the UAE, a recent study conducted by the Emirates Oncology Society showed a 3.1 per cent decline in cases of advanced stage breast cancer, with awareness of the importance of early detection believed to be key.
If you do get a cancer diagnosis, much of the battle lying ahead is fought in the mind, Ms Agha said.
“I think everything is in your head. I believe that if you feel safe and confident in your head then it will be reflected on your body. It was bad, don’t get me wrong, but not as bad as I expected it to be.”
“This year, I want to tell every woman who is going through this, that it will pass. I know you feel like you are in an endless black hole but it will end and you will come out a new and changed person.”
Genetic tests such as the BRCA which provides information about inherited genetic mutations and the Oncotype DX test which analyses the genetics of the tumour itself are especially useful in helping to make a decision in treatment options.
Support of loved ones is vital
Breast cancer patients have told of how family and friends rallied round at their moment of need.
Mother of two Marsha Nembhard, 47, said her husband rose to the challenge.
She was treated at Tawam Hospital, where she said doctors told her that cancer was no longer a death sentence.
“I saw a side to my husband at the stage of my life that I had never seen before. He was my rock,” she said.
Niloufer Abdul Hameed, 49, from India said that her biggest fear was how cancer would affect her family.
The mother of four felt a lump on her left breast two years ago and required a mastectomy.
“That feeling when you are first told you are positive for cancer is very scary. I remember that I stood up suddenly and the whole world felt like it was spinning.
“My husband was there for me at each and every appointment. Then my children, my neighbours, my friends, my siblings — everyone was so supportive.
“As you know, early detection is key to survival — this cancer doesn't discriminate and doesn't know nationality or status but having that support and a positive outlook is equally important.
“I was a third stage cancer patient and now I am cured.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
