Dubai: Jamila Al Zaabi was never looking for a title, and she was no different from the rest of the girls of her generation as she ran around in the neighbourhood, dreaming of a future like everyone else’s.She was, as she described herself, “a very simple citizen,” who lived her childhood like everyone else, but she carried one dream that kept growing with her year after year: to leave a mark on people’s lives.That dream later led her to one of the most difficult and humane professions: to become the first Emirati paramedic. Her name became a title by which everyone knows her, “Mother of the Ambulance.” It was given to her by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, after many years of her working in the field, where she served humanity in a journey of giving that lasted 36 years: 21 years in the paramedic profession, and 15 years as the person in charge of the women’s prison.Behind this title lie stories unknown to many about a woman who volunteered before being assigned; who embraced a young man who caused someone’s death because she saw him as her son; who ran a women’s prison with more of a mother’s heart than a manager’s mind; and then discovered at the end of her journey that a person may retire from a job, but never retires from their mission.In this interview, Jamila Al-Zaabi opened up about her life, to tell us how her mother, and her situation, made her the ‘Mother of the Ambulance’.'The value of giving grows within me'Jamila said she was no different from any other Emirati girl of her generation, explaining: “We used to play in the neighbourhood and dream, like everyone else, of becoming something and leaving a mark on life, and thank God, Lord of the Worlds, I achieved this dream.”She added that the love of giving was part of her personality since childhood, and if she had not joined the ambulance service, she would have chosen any other field that serves humanity, stressing that she never viewed her work as a job that she had to perform for specific hours, but rather as a mission that she lives every day. She added that her love for her country has always been her greatest motivation.Jamila recalled the details of the Al Quoz fire in 2008, stressing that it was one of the most influential moments in her professional life, as she was heading to the graduation ceremony of the first batch of emergency medical technicians who studied within the country, and she was very proud of them, because they were the first batch to graduate in the Emirates - but the fire report changed everything.She explained that she did not hesitate for a moment upon receiving the report and went to the site immediately. Her role was not limited to providing first aid to the injured, but also to standing alongside her brothers in the Civil Defence, the Police, the Municipality, and all the parties that participated in extinguishing the fire, saying: “I felt that they needed their sister to stand with them, just as they have always been behind me.”She explained that she had been working for about 18 consecutive hours, and was the only woman among dozens of men, so that incident was the beginning of a different chapter in her life, as it was followed by an honour she could never forget.Jamila stressed that her pride in being the first Emirati paramedic is not only related to being the first, but also to the responsibility that this achievement carries.She said: “Of course, it is a great honour for me, but as I said, I am the first Emirati paramedic, and I feel that the value of giving grows within me, and that I must pave the way for those who come after me,” citing the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed: “My people and I love being number one.”Therefore, her presence in this position was an incentive for her to continue and not to be satisfied with what she had achieved.Jamila said that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed gave her the title of “Mother of the Ambulance”, stressing that this moment will remain one of the most precious moments of her life.She added tearfully: “Every time I watch the video of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to honour me at my home, I feel the taste of life, love, and positivity,” noting that she did not feel that he was just the Prime Minister or the Ruler of Dubai, but rather that he was a father who came to check on his daughter.She emphasised that what surprised her most during the visit was His Highness’s knowledge of the details of the incidents in which she participated, as she was surprised when he said that he had been following her name and role in the Al Quoz fire, the Al Jaddaf incident, and the Al Dhubab incident. At that time, she felt that she has a government that follows up on the smallest details.She added that the visit was not just a personal honour for her, but a message to every citizen and resident that the leadership is close to the people, follows up on its people and appreciates their efforts.She continued: “The words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, when he said, ‘We are proud of you,’ are for me, the greatest award I have received in my life.”An unforgettable incidentJamila refused to describe her current phase of life as "retirement," emphasising that she prefers to call it a "new phase." Picture credit: SuppliedJamila paused to reflect on the most difficult report she had dealt with throughout her years of working in the ambulance service, stressing that the severity of the situation was not in the accident itself, but in its human details.She said: “The report was about an accident, caused by a young man of about 18 years old, which is the same age my son was at the time. And he caused the death of a person.”She added: “As soon as I saw him, I imagined him to be my son, and at that moment I was not Jamila the paramedic, but Jamila the mother.” She noted that she hugged him and tried to calm him down and comfort him, because when a mother sees her son in a difficult situation, she does not think, but rather acts with her heart.She emphasised that the incident remained etched in her memory, because it taught her that the profession alone is not enough, and that dealing with people always requires a great deal of compassion before anything else, and in the end, the wrongdoer is held accountable.A mother in a women's prisonRegarding her move from the ambulance to managing the women's prison, Jamila said that she did not see it as a departure from a field she loved, but rather as a new opportunity to serve people in a different way.She added: "After 21 years in the ambulance service, I felt that the same message could continue in another place." She did not think that she had left the ambulance service, but rather that she had moved to a new station in the journey of giving.She emphasised that the nature of her work inside the prison significantly changed her perspective on leadership. In the ambulance service, she was a decision-maker, but in prison, she became more of a supportive figure.She noted that what pleased her most during that period was that the inmates no longer called her by her name, but rather said “Mama,” pointing out that she felt that she was not going to work but to another house, leaving her children at home, setting off every morning to her daughters in prison.She recalled an amusing incident during a visit by a delegation to the penal institution, saying: “When we arrived at the hardship ward, one of the guests asked me: ‘Where are we?’ So I told him: ‘This is the hardship ward.’”She added: “He looked in surprise at the inmates as they called me ‘Mama,’ and he asked me: ‘How can you do this?’ I told him: ‘Just as a family raises its children, every person has their key, and if you reach their heart, they will respond to you.’”Jamila confirmed that the most difficult moment in her professional journey was not during a major accident or a moving humanitarian situation, but rather on the day she left work.She said: “I couldn’t go back to my office to collect my things, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to bear the moment of saying goodbye, and I asked my colleagues to bring my belongings home.”She added that she did not know that her colleagues were preparing a surprise for her, until she later watched a video documenting her trip and the messages of love they sent her, saying: “When I watched the video, I felt that I was not just working with colleagues, but with a family with whom I lived for unforgettable years.”She explained that what affected her the most was not the farewell video, but a call she received after announcing her retirement, from one of the inmates who was crying and blaming her for retiring.She continued: “I sat for more than half an hour trying to calm her down and explain to her that everyone has a phase, and that life doesn’t stop, but that call made me realise that what remains in the end is not the work, but the impact it leaves on people’s hearts.”'My children are my guardians'Jamila confirmed that her decision to complete her studies at an advanced stage of her life was not easy, especially since she studied at university abroad and needed to balance work, family and study responsibilities at the same time.She said: “I studied emergency medicine at an older age, and I sometimes felt selfish because I was studying while also having a home, children, and responsibilities.”She noted that she was surprised by the tremendous support she received from her children, who were her biggest motivation to continue. She added: “My son always told me, ‘You’re a strong woman, and you have to keep going,’ and they always said, ‘Tomorrow we’ll follow in your footsteps.’”Regarding the values she was raised with, Jamila said that the month of Ramadan represented a complete school of giving within her family home.She added: “We grew up seeing the door never closed during Ramadan, and food was not prepared just for the family. When we were young, we used to compete to carry trays of food to the neighbours, and our joy was in serving people before the Maghrib prayer.”The Positivity ClubJamila refused to describe her current phase of life as "retirement," emphasising that she prefers to call it a "new phase." She said, "I don't know why some people associate retirement with stopping. For me, it's a different beginning, because giving never stops; one simply looks for a new field through which to serve others."She added that she named this phase “The Positivity Club,” expressing her desire to enjoy life after many years of work, without giving up her mission to serve the community.Jamila was deeply moved when the conversation turned to her mother, stressing that everything she had achieved was due, after God’s grace, to the upbringing she received from her, as she was everything to her, and was like a mother, sister, and friend.She added that her mother not only encouraged her, but also stood by her side during the most difficult stages, and raised her children when she was busy with work or studies, stressing that “without her I would not have been able to complete my journey.”The ‘Mother of the Ambulance’ recalled an incident that she considers a turning point in her life, when she had the opportunity to travel with scouts when she was 11 years old.She said: “At that time, many people considered it shameful for a girl to travel alone, but my mother had a different opinion.”She added that her mother told her that day: “The problem is not in you traveling, but in not respecting yourself, your country, and the clothes you wear. She personally drove me to the airport and told me: You represent the Emirates before you represent yourself.”She affirmed that these words accompanied her throughout her life, and were the reason for her constant feeling that she represented her country in every position she worked in.She added that her mother also instilled in her respect for men and appreciation of their role within the family, and always told her that the father, brother, and husband have their place, stressing that this conviction made her believe that the success of the family is based on integration between men and women, and not on conflict between them.
