The UAE has named a street in Abu Dhabi in honour of a long-serving doctor from India. The road near Sheikh Shakbooth Medical City in Al Mafraq region will now be known as George Matthew Street, after the 84-year-old doctor from Kerala.

Dr George Matthew has lived the country for 60 years, and the honour was in recognition of his services to the development of the UAE’s healthcare sector.

The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) said this is part of “Honouring UAE’s Visionaries: Commemorative Streets” project.

“When I first arrived in the UAE, the infrastructure was still evolving. Inspired by the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Father of the Nation, I dedicated myself to helping the people. I am deeply grateful that my efforts have been recognised,” said Dr Matthew, reflecting on his long years of service in the UAE.

Dr Matthew said, “I am ready to do whatever I can for the country and its citizens as long as I live. I pray that God will give me more time to serve.”

The doctor arrived in the country in 1967 at the age of 26, before the formation of the UAE. He planned on moving to the US, but decided to stay in Al Ain.

He soon became Al Ain’s first government doctor, and opened the first clinic in the city. Dr Matthew is affectionately called Matyous (Emirati pronunciation of Matthew).

Dr Matthew later became Medical Director of Al Ain Region in 1972 and Health Authority Consultant in 2001. He was sent by the late founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, to England to learn the management of tropical diseases. He also specialised in hospital management from Harvard in the US.

Dr Matthew continues to work in the Private Health department in Abu Dhabi. – editor@nrifocus.com