London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Egyptian teacher in Sharjah fears for children’s future after losing sight and job

Egyptian teacher in Sharjah fears for children’s future after losing sight and job

Once an English teacher, Hussein Abdelaal cannot afford overdue varsity and school fees

A long-time Egyptian teacher in Sharjah fears for his children’s education after losing his sight and job.

Hussein Abdelaal, 49, was an English teacher in public schools in the UAE from 1999 to 2017. He could no longer teach after going blind because of retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease.

Abdelaal’s gratuity of around Dh116,000 ran out about three months ago and the family has been surviving on loans from well-wishers, which have piled up to around Dh20,000.

The father of three is now extremely worried because his children’s education is at risk over unpaid fees.

Fees beyond means


His son Noor recently secured admission to a university in Sharjah but owes a balance of around Dh36,000 for the semester. Meanwhile, his daughters Yara and Farah, in grades nine and seven, respectively, need around Dh54,000 in total to clear the annual fees at their Sharjah school. Yara needs an additional Dh4,500 towards starting her three British IGCSE subjects for which she will be appearing for her board exams.


Hussein Abdelaal, who is suffering from eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa and legally blind. He lost his teaching job three years ago and since then spent all his gratuity and savings, needs money for his children's education.


Fearing eviction


Abdelaal, from Cairo, has also been unable to settle around Dh10,000 in overdue rent from his previous tenancy contract for his two-bedroom flat in Sharjah’s Bu Tina area. Over and above that, he cannot afford to pay the Dh30,000 annual rent for his current contract, which began in April.

With zero income, Abdelaal has not been able to afford a surgery or medical insurance for his wife who is suffering from painful gall bladder stones. She only takes painkillers whenever the colic flares up and worsens her condition.


‘Dream in danger’


“My daughters are struggling with their online classes because I haven’t even been able to buy them the prescribed school books, let alone the tuition fees. My son’s dream has been to study business at a university, but that dream is in danger now because I cannot pay the overdue fees,” Abdelaal said.

Abdelaal said he tried to work from home as an Arabic-English translator, but only got small projects whose payments were miniscule compared to his dues.


What about charities?


A Dubai charity paid Dh8,000 for Noor’s university fees and Abdelaal managed to borrow another Dh5,000 but an outstanding amount of Dh36,000 is still unpaid - the deadline for which has been overshot already.

Abdelaal has reached out to other charities, but said the process will take too long for his immediate needs.

“One Sharjah charity had previously given me Dh2,000 for my three children; I’m very thankful to them. After all, this is not our right we’re asking for, it’s charity. However, time is not on our side and these amounts are not enough to solve our problems,” he rued.

Another charity told him it will take two months for an appointment, after which it will take another three months for whatever amount is approved to be released.

‘How long will they wait for me?’


“The educational fees are due immediately and so is the rent. If fact, they are all overdue. How long will the school wait for me? I’m under pressure to settle these expenses, apart from providing living expenses for my family. If we get evicted, we have nowhere to go. Our relatives in Cairo are poor themselves, they cannot take us in. I cannot find a regular job because I’m blind and my children are too young to work,” Abdelaal said.


Visual impairment


He used to make around Dh10,200 a month as a high school teacher in 2017 until his eyesight worsened rapidly.

“In just two months, I nearly went blind. My condition was very aggressive and it was incurable. I was relieved of my duties. I briefly tried working at a private school, but they said, ‘we’re so sorry, but you cannot work like this’. I could barely see my students.

“There was a time when I used to provide well for my family and even those back home. It’s Allah’s will what has happened to me and I accept my fate. I’ve tried to make ends meet, but I cannot do it by myself. I just want my children to be happy and get an education,” Abdelaal said.

His residence visa will expire next month and Abdelaal is worried he will start incurring fines, besides no longer being able to sponsor his family.

Abdelaal said he didn’t owe any bank any money as he had never borrowed from them or took any credit card.

Hussein Abdelaal, who is suffering from eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa and legally blind. He lost his teaching job three years ago and since then spent all his gratuity and savings, needs money for his children's education.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
×