April 2026 Emirates Edition

G
reetings Dear Reader,

This April, I had a planned business trip from Dubai to Montreal, but I decided to change my tickets to late-summer dates. I want to stay here during these extraordinary days of Conflict. I want to witness the challenges and discover the new perspectives this tense season may bring to all of us.

To manage my booking, I came to the Emirates Airlines office and was deeply surprised. I expected to meet a noisy crowd; instead, I found the office calm, with only a few visitors and complete order.

“Yes, we had two quite stressful weeks in a row. We almost did not sleep; we went home only to take a shower,  but we managed,” shared one of the administrators.

I changed my tickets in five minutes and felt relieved. “We managed” is, I am sure, a fair expression for all that is happening in the UAE right now.

A titanic challenge for the UAE’s leaders, defence heroes, all services, and all people testifies that our  country is a world-class manager of crisis. The characters of our April edition teach us how to manage under pressure, and how to level up because of it. 

An exclusive story of HH Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of the core architects of Dubai’s enduring connectivity. For decades, His Highness has dedicated himself to the harmonious development of the UAE’s vital transport and finance systems. From two leased planes to a worldwide logistics empire , one able not only to withstand crisis but to emerge from it stronger.  

Professor Nancy Ip, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, shares her latest research on the early detection of Alzheimer’s-related changes, a serious and growing threat in our ageing world.

Medical researcher Fay Ghani goes beyond gravity. She unveils the cosmic secrets of human health, studying the effects of spaceflight on stem cells, the immune system, and the aging process. Join us on this trip into the future.

Pilot Nikita Tomar teaches us persistence and patience: even after receiving her commercial license, she worked at a hotel reception years because she could not find a job as a pilot. Her incredible diligence helped her achieve her dream of the sky.

Songs can heal, I am sure. Listen to George Nehme’s story and you will understand why his songs conquer millions of hearts all over the world.

The talented director Mounir Al Serawan reveals the emotional soul of Arab cinema. His numerous awards, from festivals in Paris to New York, demonstrate that people of all cultures respond to the artist’s questions: how does it feel to face yourself? How does it feel to be human? How does it feel to lose something you love? How does it feel to heal?

And about healing. Improving general physical well-being through beneficial food: this is the motto of the brave Mrs. Hadil Alkhatib. I have admired her business achievements for more than four years. She generously shares her own experience of overcoming health problems thanks to recipes inherited from our ancestors.

Finally, the author of dream burgers and much more, chef Hala Ayash brings warmth, beauty, and identity to these pages. She turns daily work into something that nourishes both people and culture.

Dear readers, along with these exceptional stories, we offer you analysis and expert data on our economic future. The questions important to all of us: What is the future of the Strait of Hormuz? Will the GCC countries find an alternative way to transport critically important oil, gas, and fertilizers and how fast? How is the supply chain being reshuffled, and what is best to invest in right now?

From everything I see around me, I believe, I dare to say: we will manage. How? Our April edition of MAGNAV Emirates offers  some of many answers.

Yours sincerely,
Ekaterina Vasina
Editor-in-Chief