Ordinary Faces: On Our Final "Virtual Route 66" For April 2024: Uplifting #RandomThoughts

Friends, sisters, teammates

The US has the Williams sisters, the UK has the Brownlee brothers – and the UAE has the Qubaisi sisters.

The talented siblings have just signed with Formula 1 giants Red Bull for their academy programme and it is little surprise they have been snapped up when you consider their career achievements so far.

Amna, 24, was the first Emirati and female racer to compete in the Formula 4 UAE Championship, and in 2019 became the first female Arab to win a single-seater race. Hamda, 21, made history by becoming the first woman to claim a podium in the Italian F4 Championship in 2021 and finished fourth in F4 UAE.

“In karting, growing up, we were a bit too aggressive,” said Hamda. “I would say too competitive, and we would fight a lot. But now, being in the same team, I think we have matured a lot from then, and in Formulas it's a bit different so we help each other.”

Read our exclusive interview with the pair here.

QUOTED

“My coach gives me a lot of confidence and reminds me, ‘We came from nothing, we were alone, we helped each other to get to this point’”

Egyptian tennis star Mayar Sherif reacts to her first victory in a difficult year at the Madrid Open this week – and listen to her interview alongside Ons Jabeur in our Abtal podcast here

Support crew

Russ Cook’s epic feat running across the entire length of Africa hit the headlines the world over. Called Project Africa, the gruelling challenge took Cook – also known as the Hardest Geezer – through 16 different countries, from the continent's southern coast to its northern tip.

And while it was, indeed, Cook doing the literal legwork, it was his team that made sure the endeavour was a success.

We spoke to Jarred Karp, a director, cinematographer, and photographer from South Africa who documented the trip, and he told us about the amazing experiences – from bush camping and passing through the jungle and warzones to the kindness of strangers. It’s a delightful read.

SNAPSHOT

He made it!

This pic of Ochirvaani Batbold, 26, marks the end of an almost 7,000km bike ride and depicts the epitome of team support.

The Manchester United fan set off from his home in Mongolia 11 months ago to get to Wembley Stadium in the UK in time to cheer on his favourite football team.

“For me, United is about dramatic comebacks, The Theatre of Dreams, great players, Sir Alex Ferguson, a great story and a never-give-up mentality,” he told Andy Mitten.

But it wasn’t an easy feat and not just physically – read about his battles with borders, punctures, visa issues and the gruelling route and schedule here.

And explore the stories behind more captivating photos that were captured this week, here.

IMPACT ON INSTAGRAM

HIGHLIGHTS

	Meet Arab Americans honoured at 2024 Takreem America awards
	UAE President lauds eight people honoured at Abu Dhabi Awards
	Cop28 President honoured for leadership during climate talks

Look, maybe if things were different. Maybe then you could afford to get in pointless arguments with strangers. Maybe then you could spend years chasing the wrong things. Maybe then you could afford to think that things would always go your way. Maybe then you could follow every urge and impulse. Maybe you could put off getting better, making better choices until tomorrow.

But the thing is, things are the way they are. Life is short. Fortune is unpredictable. Consequences are real. If you had the world enough and time, perhaps you could afford to be irresponsible, you could be lazy, you could be entitled, you could give yourself over to your passions.

You do not. Death hangs over you, Marcus Aurelius said. Fortune behaves exactly as she pleases, Seneca said. Tomorrow is not promised. Nothing is certain. Nothing can be taken for granted.

Nothing is worth choosing more than the right thing…not later but now.

Ordinary Faces

4/30/2024

On Our Final "Virtual Route 66" For April 2024: Uplifting #RandomThoughts