The Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Foundation and UAE-based global philanthropic organisation Dubai Cares have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) renewing its partnership for a further three years.

As part of the partnership which started in 2017, DDF will continue supporting the philanthropic efforts of Dubai Cares’ programmes, which support the empowerment of children and youth in developing countries through quality education.

DDF will donate AED 1.5m to Dubai Cares for three years. The contribution will help education programmes implemented by Dubai Cares in developing countries. This will also help the organisation achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4). This aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for children and youth and promote lifelong learning by 2030.

The agreement was signed by Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Duty Free and H.E. Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares at Dubai Duty Free’s Head Office.

Ramesh Cidambi, COO, Dubai Duty Free,  Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, Dubai Duty Free, Bernard Creed, Senior Vice President, Finance, Dubai Duty Free, Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Dubai Duty Free,  Olympia Pineda, Manager, Corporate Responsibility Department, Dubai Duty Free and Zainab Faraidooni, Deputy Director, Fundraising Department of Dubai Cares, were also present at the signing.

‘EXCITING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES’

McLoughlin said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Dubai Cares through this MoU. We believe this will further enhance and develop exciting educational programmes that will benefit children and young people in underprivileged communities around the world.  We are also excited to work closely with Dubai Cares to identify specific initiatives that tie in with our own Foundation’s objectives.”

Al Gurg commented: “It is a true privilege for us at Dubai Cares to renew our partnership with the Dubai Duty Free Foundation. We are grateful to the shoppers and travellers of Dubai Duty Free who continue to make generous donations in support of thousands of children and young people around the world who currently don’t have access to quality education.

“This commitment truly fosters the spirit of global citizenship among passengers and customers who show empathy that reaches beyond one’s immediate surroundings and extends to those who need help in distant places.”

The Dubai Duty Free Foundation was established in October 2004 and is under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free. It has supported a number of Dubai Cares initiatives since 2009.

Over the past 13 years, Dubai Cares has worked towards providing children and young people in developing countries with access to quality education through the design and funding of programmes, which aim to be integrated, impactful, sustainable and scalable. As a result, the philanthropic organisation has successfully launched education programmes reaching over 20 million beneficiaries in 59 developing countries.