The Dubai Duty Free Foundation has generously donated Dhms.5m ($1.361m) to the humanitarian and relief campaign people in the Levant countries.

The donation has been made to the ‘UAE Compassion’ under the directives of the UAE President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The leading airport retailer says the donation is part its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility policy and it is joining forces with several UAE entities to support the humanitarian and relief campaign to provide winter aid for one million refugees and people who live in the Levant countries.

DDF’s Executive Vice Chairman, Colm McLoughlin presented the Dhms.5m ($1.361m) cheque to Emirates Red Crescent (Dubai Chapter) Manager, Mohammed Abdulla Al-Zarooni, during a ceremony at the retailer’s headquarters in Ramoul.

Commenting, he said: “This great initiative, launched by our nation’s leaders, provides organizations such as ourselves the opportunity to support a major humanitarian effort that will directly benefit those in need.”

 

DDF HAS DONATED MILLIONS TO NEEDY CAUSES
The Dubai Duty Free Foundation, which was established in 2004 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free and with Colm McLoughlin as Chairman, has made an immeasurable difference to people’s lives, contributing directly to hundreds of causes that directly benefit women and children.

The many charitable initiatives the operation has supported over the years include the rebuilding of the Palliyawatta Village in Sri Lanka, following the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami. The village was funded entirely by the duty free industry with houses named after its sponsors, including the ‘Dubai Duty Free’ house and Dubai Duty Free Medical Clinic.

In 2014, the operation also supported the industry-based charity, Hand in Hand for Haiti, which saw the opening of a US$1.5m Dubai Duty Free Sports Complex. Following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan which hit the Philippines in November 2013, Dubai Duty Free also funded the construction of 32 houses to support the Gawad Kalinga housing project in Leyte.

The Foundation has also provided significant financial support to various Ramadan campaigns by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

These include its Dhms.3m ($816,737) donation to provide clothing to one million needy children around the world in 2013 and its Dhms.3m donation towards the UAE Water Aid Campaign to provide safe drinking water for an estimated five million people who suffer from a shortage of potable water worldwide.

To date, DDF says it has supported 34 local and 51 overseas charities since 2004, which it rightly says underlines its on-going and strong commitment to the community.