Dubai makes dream come true for nine-year-old cancer patient

UAE officials gathered to make a dream trip to Dubai come true for nine-year-old Adele Shestovskaya, from Finland, who is battling kidney cancer.

Under the directives and of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the emirate’s officials organised a visit for Shestovskaya and her family.

The trip was overseen by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, who mobilised a dedicated team to welcome the family and ensure their stay was thoughtfully arranged.

The family were greeted by GDRFA officers and Dubai’s travel mascots, ‘Salem’ and ‘Salama’, figures designed to make immigration processes smoother and more engaging for young travellers, before being escorted to their accommodation at Jumeirah Beach Residence.

The trip included visits to a natural reserve the Museum of the Future and The Lost Chambers Aquarium in Atlantis, The Palm, where the family were surrounded by thousands of marine creatures.

Beyond the entertainment, officials ensured Adele’s healthcare needs were prioritised in collaboration with Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital. 

On the final evening of their visit, Al Marri and his team gathered to bid farewell to Adele and her family. The effort had been a collective one, bringing together partners such as Dubai Airports, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the Museum of the Future, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, and Sky VIP Limousine.

Al Marri expressed his gratitude to all the entities that collaborated with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs to ensure an outstanding experience for the family. 

Adele’s father, Vitaly Shestovsky, expressed his family's gratitude for the exceptional hospitality and care they received. "We have never experienced such warmth and generosity before. The attention and support from Sheikh Hamdan and Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Marri had a profoundly positive impact on Adele’s well-being and our family’s emotional state."