Jameela Al Zaabi recalls Sheikh Mohammed’s surprise visit after Al Quoz fire

Jameela Al Zaabi, the UAE’s first female paramedic and former director of Dubai Police’s women’s prison, recounted how a surprise visit from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum after a major fire left her with a lasting memory of his words: “We are proud of you.”

Speaking on the Arab Cast podcast, Al Zaabi described her exhaustion after helping emergency teams at the Al Quoz warehouse fire in March 2008. When she returned home in Al Warqa, she received a call saying a committee would inspect her house. Too tired to question it, she agreed and went back to sleep.

Fire response and commitment

On the morning of 30 March 2008, Al Zaabi had planned to attend a paramedic graduation ceremony. A student, an only child with an elderly mother, had asked her to be present. She got ready, but a fire call came at around 7:00 GST, two hours before the ceremony was due to start.

Already at work, she asked a colleague to accompany her to assess the situation. At the scene, she was struck by the scale of the flames, far beyond her expectations. Emergency personnel worked according to their specialisms, and Al Zaabi focused on the injured and the responders near the danger. “My fear for the people working was greater than thinking about where I was or even what I was wearing,” she said.

She lost track of time while responding, and colleagues urged her to rest when the situation eased. After a brief return home, she went back to the blaze and worked until the following morning. Al Bayan newspaper reported that she spent about 17 hours at the fire, helping the injured and assisting people away from danger. Dubai Protocol also documented her work with the Dubai Unified Ambulance Centre during the emergency.

Unexpected visitor

Back at home, Al Zaabi received a second call confirming the committee’s visit. Recalling the moment, she said she was too tired to connect it to her work. Only when she opened the door did she discover that the visitor was Sheikh Mohammed, the Ruler of Dubai, there to recognise her efforts.

His words of appreciation made her feel that her duty had been noticed. “I felt that I was the happiest person in the world,” she said.

Recognition and legacy

Dubai Protocol’s report on the visit stated that Sheikh Mohammed praised Al Zaabi’s efforts, ordered her promotion, and gave her the title “Mother of Ambulance.” For Al Zaabi, the encounter was more than a public acknowledgment of one emergency response. She said it renewed her motivation and made her feel her contribution was valued.

The memory of that day—the fire, the unexpected visitor at her door, and his message that her work mattered—remained with her long after the blaze.