Exploring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Fayeza Alrais
Trailblazing Emirati Doctor Dr. Fayeza Alrais finds her healing inspiration from an unexpected source—her grandmother’s traditional remedies. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the global population uses traditional medicine. A consultant maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Fayeza has managed more than 20,000 cases of complicated obstetrical and problematic fetal conditions in the last decades. Her distinguished career reflects both life’s fragility and resilience. She has comforted cancer patients in their final moments and celebrated newborns’ arrivals, which shows the profound duality that defines medical practice. Dr. Fayeza’s transformation from a doctor influenced by her grandmother’s traditional healing to a leading specialist creates a remarkable bridge between ancestral wisdom and modern medicine.
Roots in Traditional Healing
Dr. Fayeza Alrais’s family has deep roots in traditional Emirati healing. Her grandmother, a respected local healer, created a lasting impact that would shape the future doctor’s path. Young Fayeza spent her early years in Dubai and helped prepare herbal remedies under her grandmother’s guidance. This hands-on work with indigenous plants and natural treatments sparked her interest in medicine.
Emirati culture and traditional medicine share a rich history. Herbalism stands as the oldest form of healthcare and has thrived in the Arabian Gulf since ancient times. The Attareen, skilled herbalists, hold deep knowledge of local and regional medicinal plants. Their expertise passes naturally from generation to generation.
“The confidence with which my grandmother practiced traditional healing left a mark on my young mind,” Dr. Fayeza recalled while celebrating Emirati Doctor’s Day. “Whether her remedies were effective or merely a placebo, seeing our sick neighbors recover and smile again influenced my desire to imitate her compassionate care”.
Traditional Emirati healing extends beyond herbs to include techniques like Hijamah (cupping), cauterization, and Tajbeer (Arabian splinting). These ancient practices date back to Prophet Mohammad’s time and complement modern medicine effectively. Dr. Fayeza’s path shows this seamless blend of ancestral wisdom and scientific expertise in contemporary healthcare.
From Dubai to Global Medicine
Dr. Fayeza Alrais started her medical education at UAE University and graduated with an MBBS from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1997. This achievement was just the first step in her remarkable medical career worldwide.
She went on to study obstetrics and gynecology at McGill University in Montreal and got her FRCSC in 2008. Her passion for maternal care led her to complete a fellowship in maternal and fetal medicine at the University of Ottawa in 2010. This advanced training sharpened her expertise in high-risk pregnancies and fetal complications.
Dr. Fayeza’s international training came with its share of challenges. In spite of that, these experiences gave her the exceptional skills to handle complex cases of fetal malformations and complicated pregnancies. She developed a caring approach while delivering difficult news to expectant parents. Her personal motto became a source of comfort: “This storm shall also pass”.
Her success story mirrors the UAE healthcare system’s growth. Dubai Health’s Academic Mentorship Program now aids 38 Emirati scholars who study in North American residency programs. This creates opportunities for future doctors to gain global experience.
Dr. Fayeza tells aspiring Emirati doctors to believe in themselves and stay strong. She wants them to stay true to their healing mission, even when other career paths look more appealing.
Moments That Defined Her Career
Dr. Fayeza Alrais’s medical philosophy took shape during her residency at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital. She spent time with cancer patients in their final moments, particularly those without family at their side. These powerful moments helped her understand that “it shall all pass at the end”.
Her medical career showed two distinct sides. “I found solace in returning to the labor and delivery floor… I oscillated between the sorrow of death and the joy of new life,” she reflected. This balance between life’s start and end taught her valuable lessons about human existence.
Dr. Fayeza faced difficult cases of fetal malformations and complex pregnancies as her career progressed. She helped worried parents find peace with her comforting words: “This storm shall also pass”.
Resilience became the cornerstone of her work. Research shows that resilient healthcare professionals can better handle workplace stress, adapt to changes, and work effectively. They also make positive contributions to their communities, which helps both colleagues and patients.
She tells aspiring Emirati doctors to believe in themselves, persevere, and stay dedicated—the same qualities that shaped her unmatched medical career.
Dr. Fayeza Alrais shows how traditional wisdom and modern medicine can work together. Her experience from learning herbal remedies at her grandmother’s side to becoming a specialist who has managed over 20,000 complex obstetrical cases builds a powerful bridge between generations of healing practices. She has seen both the deep sorrow of death and the pure joy of new life, so she’s developed a unique view on human existence.
Her resilience and compassion define her approach to medicine. The mantra “This storm shall also pass” guides her patients through tough times and shapes her own philosophy during challenges. This approach works well in maternal and fetal medicine, where difficult diagnoses need both technical expertise and emotional intelligence.
Her medical training spans from the UAE to Canada and has enriched her practice with different views and techniques. Her work shows how Emirati healthcare professionals can shine on the world stage while staying true to their cultural heritage. Young Emirati doctors will learn from her example of perseverance, dedication, and steadfast belief in herself.
Dr. Alrais’s legacy goes beyond her impressive medical achievements. Her life story teaches us that healing takes many forms—sometimes through innovative medical interventions, other times through being there during life’s most vulnerable moments. Her career shows how traditional knowledge and scientific advancement can work together, creating a powerful model for healthcare development worldwide.
