Wish fulfilled: UAE teen's dream vacation on exotic island resort

Dubai - Goodwill gesture underscores the importance of making critically-ill children happy

Published: Thu 24 Dec 2020, 11:25 AM

By
Afkar Ali Ahmed

The Make a Wish UAE brought bountiful joy and happiness to an Emirati teenager Roudha (15) by granting her wish to stay with her family on a virgin island away from the humdrum of everyday life.

Her wish came true, thanks to the generous support of a resort on Zaya Nurai island and Nirvana Travel and Tourism.

They fulfiled her desire by organising a 15-minute boat ride off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf waters, much to her tender heart’s content.

The staff at the breathtaking resort welcomed her with flowers, music and balloons while complying with social distancing norms and other precautionary measures in a bid to keep the raging novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak at bay.

Roudha and her six family members soaked in the sights and sounds of Zaya Nurai island, a paradise on earth, if ever there is one.

The island is an idyllic haven far from the madding crowd. The turquoise waters, soft white sands, exquisite Arabic period architecture and verdant landscape made Roudha’s stay on the island an unforgettable experience.

The resort’s luxurious villa was a treasure trove for the impressionable teenager, who was pampered with pleasant surprises such as gifts and her favourite sweets.

Hani Al-Zubaidi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Make a Wish UAE, was overcome with joy, as the foundation’s ardent bid to make her happy came to fruition.

"Seeing the feelings of happiness and joy on the child's face when her wish was granted was a great achievement for the foundation," he said.

Al-Zubaidi thanked the Zaya Nurai island resort and Nirvana Travel and Tourism authorities for their generous contributions to fulfil Roudha’s wish.

Their goodwill gesture underscored the importance of a concerted bid to spread the foundation’s humanitarian message such as inculcating generosity, tolerance, love, goodness that led to happiness and joy in the hearts and minds of critically-ill children and give them and their families the strength to bear the scourge of terminal illness.