Over 1,000 healthcare professionals create giant Onam floral carpet to pay floral tribute to Sheikh Mohamed
- Last updated: August 22, 2026 | 19:45
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
More than 1,000 healthcare professionals from 35 nationalities have come together at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi to create a giant Onam floral carpet (Pookalam) celebrating the UAE’s resilience, unity and continued progress under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Spanning 250 sqm, the traditional floral carpet took almost 20 hours to create and features a prominent portrait of Sheikh Mohamed.
It carries the message “The UAE is strong and resilient and emerging stronger,” inspired by words of reassurance from Sheikh Mohamed that offered confidence and hope to the community and became the central thought behind this year’s design.
The Pookalam interprets resilience through the UAE’s journey from heritage to the future. A visual transition from a traditional camel ride to the Etihad Rail symbolizes the country’s transformation and continued progress, reflecting how strong foundations, long-term vision and determination have enabled the UAE to keep moving forward.
Other floral elements represent unity and care, highlighting the strength of people coming together, and the importance of healing, recovery, and compassion. The permanent sand pendulum at the center of BMC’s atrium takes on special significance this year as a symbol of time, continuity and forward movement.
For the healthcare professionals involved, the installation brings together the spirit of Onam with the values they associate with life in the UAE. Onam celebrates renewal, hope, prosperity and togetherness, while this year’s Pookalam reflects how those same values resonate with the country’s ability to face challenges with confidence and emerge stronger.
Ameera Al Katheri, an Emirati national and Assistant Director of Nursing at BMC, said: “Resilience in the UAE comes from the confidence we have in our leadership and in each other. This Pookalam reflects our journey, from the values we inherited to the progress we continue to make together.”
Dr. Mujtaba Ali Khan, CEO of BMC, said: “This year’s Pookalam is a tribute to the strength and resilience that define the UAE. Bringing together more than 1,000 healthcare professionals from 35 nationalities to create it also reflects the unity and shared sense of belonging that make this country special.”
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals worked together to complete the floral carpet, reflecting the multicultural character of the UAE’s healthcare workforce and the collaborative spirit behind the annual celebration.
Dr. Malcolm Borg, a British national and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at BMC, said: “In healthcare, resilience is something we witness every day. It is the ability to recover, adapt, and continue with hope. That is why this year’s theme has a particularly meaningful connection with our work and with the spirit of Onam.”
Every year, the giant floral carpet at BMC becomes a major attraction of the UAE’s community Onam celebrations, with each edition interpreting the festival through a different national theme connected to the country’s values, priorities and aspirations.