When nine-year-old Adele Shestovskaya was asked where in the world she most wanted to visit, her answer never changed: Dubai. The Finnish girl, battling kidney cancer, had spent hours scrolling through the city's gleaming skyline and sun-soaked beaches on social media — and her dream caught the attention of Dubai's leadership.
Sheikh Hamdan Steps In
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, officials organised an extraordinary visit for Adele and her family. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, led the planning effort to ensure every moment of the trip was joyful and comfortable.
A Warm Welcome at the Airport
Adele's arrival at Dubai International Airport was anything but ordinary. Dubai's beloved travel mascots, Salem and Salama, were on hand to greet her, and she was given the rare honour of passport stamping at the dedicated children's control counter — a small but memorable gesture that set the tone for the visit.
A Dream Itinerary Across Dubai
The family settled near Jumeirah Beach Residence before embarking on a packed itinerary. Adele visited a natural reserve where she met wild animals, marvelled at the futuristic exhibits inside the Museum of the Future, and explored the glass tunnels and marine life displays at The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm.
Throughout her stay, Dubai's authorities worked closely with Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital to ensure Adele's medical needs were fully supported — a detail that gave her family enormous peace of mind.
"A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience"
At the end of the week, Lieutenant General Al Marri joined the family to bid them farewell. Adele's father, Vitaly Shestovsky, was visibly moved.
"We have never experienced such warmth and generosity before," he said. "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."
He added: "Our visit to Dubai has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We spent an incredible week here, and even now, my children keep saying, 'We don't want to leave Dubai.'"
The family is returning to Finland to continue Adele's treatment, but Vitaly made clear the chapter is not closed: "We will definitely come back to this beautiful and welcoming city."
