Dubai ruler donates Dh60m to ‘Dress one million campaign’

July 31, 2013
dubai
Dubai: Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has donated Dh60 million to the ‘Dress one million needy children campaign’, providing clothing to an additional one and a half million needy children and totalling the number of beneficiaries to three million.

The campaign ended on Ramadan 19 in order to coincide with the ninth death anniversary of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Zayed Humanitarian Day, an annual event in memory of Shaikh Zayed.

Speaking on the end of the campaign Shaikh Mohammad said: “What made me happy the most was the spirit of giving that was spread throughout this holy month in our beloved country which came in light of Shaikh Zayed’s memory as well as people’s interaction to the campaign. This resulted in making three million children happy with the coming of Eid.”

He added that the campaign and the hundreds of other UAE initiatives that benefit millions of people around the world have succeeded in making the UAE the capital of giving and a charitable hand extending its assistance to all who are in need.

“The UAE will continue in fulfilling its Islamic and humanitarian duty in supporting deprived people. It is a path that was set by out founding fathers and God willing we will continue on this path. We will instil the spirit of giving in the coming generations so that the path of giving will continue being a key part of our future,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

The campaign which was launched on July 11 initially aimed to dress one million needy children around the world however after it succeeded in receiving the donations needed to achieve this target in just 10 days, Shaikh Mohammad ordered that the number of beneficiaries to increase.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Haj Zarouni, manager of Emirates Red Crescent’s Dubai branch which is implementing the campaign told Gulf News they have already provided clothing to one million children.

“The donation made by Shaikh Mohammad is no surprise as he is known for being a generous and kind leader. We have already dressed one million children and are currently working on reaching children in 46 countries,” said Zarouni.

Haj said that the countries and children reached so far by the campaign are: Bosnia 8,000 children, Senegal 20,000 children, Yemen 100,000 children and India where they started distributing clothing to the 200,000 children. In Albania they started distributing the clothes to 5,000 children, Egypt 100,000 children, Lebanon 50,000 children, Jordan 5,000 families and Tanzania 10,000 children. They also finished distributing clothing in Malawi, Uganda and 15,000 of the 100,000 children target in Pakistan.

“Tomorrow we have a delegation going to Indonesia where we distribute clothes in phases of 10,000 children. As for future countries that we will visit soon they will include the West Bank, Gaza, Mexico, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Thailand, Ethiopia and Malaysia.”

Shaikh Mohammad praised the effort of the Emirates Red Crescent and the other parties tat contributed in the success of the campaign.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 29,2020

Dubai, Jun 29: Saeed bin Ahmed Al Lootah, a pioneering Emirati businessman and the founder of the world's first Islamic bank, is no more. He breathed his last on June 28.

Born in 1923, Saeed was instrumental in setting up the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) in 1975 to provide the community with a Sharia-compliant alternative to conventional banking.

He established several companies, organisations and societies, including the Dubai Consumer Cooperative. He also established the Islamic Education School in 1983 and the Dubai Medical College for Girls in 1986.

In 1992, Haj Saeed established the first College of Pharmacology in Dubai. Later he launched the Dubai Centre for Environmental Research, the Dubai Specialised Medical Centre, and the Medical Research Labs for health control and research into medicinal herbs and Islamic (Nabawi) medicine. He also set up an orphanage.

Saeed bin Ahmed Al Lootah was a self-made businessman who progressed from being a seafarer and trader to an accomplished tutor, author, economist, banker, entrepreneur, businessman and visionary community leader.

According to details available on the S.S. Lootah Group website, his "fervent adherence to the core values of education, cooperation and economy" helped empower "people to excel at everything they do".

"He realised the need to build permanent houses and ventured into construction. His 'capital' at that time were his skills, knowledge and hard work," the website said.

He laid the foundation of S.S.Lootah Contracting Company as a joint venture with his brother Sultan in 1956. "With the enduring values of education, cooperation and economy set as the foundations of his work, Haj Saeed started a number of businesses as well as not-for-profit education and research ventures, with an aim to serve the people of the UAE.

"Thanks to his vision and leadership, our home grown ventures continue to demonstrate unique values that extend well beyond its functional benefits - creating greater economic, social and environmental benefits for people in UAE and beyond."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took to Twitter on Sunday to offer his respects.

Sheikh Mohammed said: "He was a trader who started with nothing. His touch is visible in several aspects of the Dubai economy."

Calling the deceased a "wise and smart man", Sheikh Mohammed said: "May Allah bless his soul and grant his family the strength to endure and persevere."

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, also paid his respects. "He combined economic leadership with charitable work. He launched charitable educational institutions and sponsored many orphans. His memory will live on. May Allah have mercy on him and grant his family patience."

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News Network
March 23,2020

Dubai, Mar 23: The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday it will temporarily suspend all passenger and transit flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Emirati authorities "have decided to suspend all inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE for two weeks as part of the precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19", reported the official state news agency, WAM.

It said the decision -- which is subject to review in two weeks -- will take effect in 48 hours, adding: "Cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt."

The UAE, whose international airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are major hubs, announced on Friday its first two deaths from the COVID-19 disease, having reported more than 150 cases so far.

Monday's announcement came hours after Dubai carrier Emirates announced it would suspend all passenger flights by March 25.

But the aviation giant then reversed its decision, saying it "received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers" and will continue to operate passenger flights to 13 destinations.

Emirates had said it will continue to fly to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Canada.

"We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services," said the airline's chairman and CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.

Gulf countries have imposed various restrictions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the air transport sector.

The UAE has stopped granting visas on arrival and forbidden foreigners who are legal residents but are outside the country from returning.

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News Network
April 23,2020

Riyadh, Apr 22: In an extraordinary initiative, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to facilitate the travel of expatriates who have an exit and reentry visa or final exit visa to return to their countries.

This is in line with the order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

According to the initiative, called “Auda” (return), expatriates can apply seeking permission for travel to their countries through the Absher portal of the ministry.

Announcing this, Saudi's Ministry of Interior said that the initiative will be implemented in cooperation with a number of relevant government agencies.

Requests for travel from expatriates will be received and approved in coordination with the relevant authorities to complete their travel procedures on board international flights.

As per the initiative, a text message will be sent to the beneficiary stating the travel date, ticket number and reservation details, and by which the beneficiary can obtain his travel ticket and complete the travel procedures.

Clarifying the procedures for the travel, the ministry said that the applicant shall select the icon (Auda) after visiting the Absher portal and fill the following fields: iqama (residency permit) number, date of birth, mobile number, departure city and airport of arrival.

It is not mandatory for the expatriate to have his own Absher account for availing of the service, the ministry said, adding that this facility is to enable expatriates to benefit from this initiative.

The departure will be through the following airports: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

Those expatriates who are outside these cities can benefit from the service through entering airport of departure after completion of their travel procedures in sufficient period of time.

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