The mother of two who has made Dubai her home for many years
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I am a brain-obsessed, human behavior expert. I was a headhunter for 20 years and am now the CEO of my own business called Neo Noor. Neo Noor is a business that trains others on how to use their brain, individually and in a corporate group setting, and we are also brain hunters and recruit the best brain for each particular role we work on.
I am a mother of two kids, a wife, daughter, and sister, and love my life. It’s taken me a long time to be able to look in the mirror and love my reflection, and what I have found is the more I love who I am, all aspects of myself, the more I own it all, the more I love being the person I am in all the different hats I wear.
How and when did you move here, and what inspired the move?
I moved here for love. I met my husband on holiday here. I had no intention to move to Dubai. My Dad had a CEO role here, and we would visit him and my mum often. I had a job I loved in London in a flat I loved. When I met my husband, I initially thought I’d never move. He is 9 years younger than me, and I thought he was joking when he said he knew we’d end up married with kids after four days of meeting. Twelve years together and two kids later, turns out he was right.
How has living in Dubai shaped your sense of belonging and community?
I love living here. I am originally Iraqi but grew up in the UK. To live in a country that embraces all cultures really makes everyone feel they belong here. I love that Dubai has kept its essence and beauty of the Arabic culture yet still it feels so western and open. Everyone here has a really can-do attitude. It feels like the land of the limitless, which I guess it really is when you look at what it has achieved in such a short space of time.
Can you tell us about a particular person in Dubai who has had a significant impact on your life and why?
It has to be my husband. Without him, I would not be living in this beautiful city. He has taught me what unconditional love really is. He is a wonderful man, and I am so blessed to be sharing this crazy, wonderful thing called life with him.
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What is your favourite thing about the emirate and why?
I just love how there is a real can-do attitude here. People’s dreams are encouraged, and people are so friendly. Nearly everyone was an expat once, so people are so much more willing to bring you into their group of friends. I find the Emiratis to be so warm and friendly as well. I also love how safe it is to bring children up here. As a woman, I have never felt so respected and feel safer walking the streets here than anywhere else in the world.
A myth about Dubai that you would like to bust
That women are not respected here. We get our own queues, we are not harassed or bothered here. I’ve never felt unsafe in a taxi (other than the driving) or felt threatened in any way here. It’s honestly such a breath of fresh air to not feel that you might be followed at night or to be stared at or harassed. It’s funny how people think oppositely.
Could you share a memorable moment when you felt the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Dubai community in your own life?
My daughter, when she was four, had taken a little camel keychain from one of those tourist shops in Souk Al Bahar. When I found out, I took her back to the shop to give it back and apologise. My daughter started crying, and I explained to her that we cannot take things without paying. As we left, an Emirati man tapped me on the back and had seen it all happen and had bought her the camel keychain.
He said he was very touched by the lesson I was teaching and wanted her to have it. I got goosebumps from the kindness he showed us. Things like that have happened so many times where people’s kindness really does come through in this place. I love it.
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