The Dubai Duty Free Foundation has donated AED7m ($1.9m) to “The Fund of the UAE: Homeland of Humanity” campaign to support United Arab Emirates’ efforts in combatting the Covid-19 crisis.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and through the Emirates Red Crescent, the donation will be used to purchase medical supplies to safeguard the health and safety of United Arab Emirates’ citizens, residents and visitors against Covid-19.

Dubai Duty Free, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin commented: “At a recent board meeting of the Dubai Duty Free Foundation we agreed to make an “in kind” donation of Dhs7m to support medical supplies needed as the result of the Covid-19 situation.

“This donation has been made with the approval of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.”

SUPPORTING THE UAE GOVERNMENT

He added: “We are very keen to support the huge effort that the UAE government is making to ensure that everyone is kept safe and well. Through our Foundation, we want to support this effort in any way we can during this challenging time.”

The Dubai Duty Free Foundation has worked with Emirates Red Crescent on several of its campaigns in recent years including the Ramadan Campaign (2013). This aimed to provide clothing to one million needy children worldwide.

It also worked with Emirates Red Crescent on the UAE Water Aid Campaign (2014). The aim of this campaign was to provide clean drinking water for 5 million people in 61 countries. A further Emirates Red Crescent partnership was for the United Arab Emirates Compassion Campaign (2015), which aimed to provide winter aid for one million refugees and people in the Levant countries.

The Dubai Duty Free Foundation was established in 2004 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free. To date, the foundation has supported 44 local and 55 overseas charities.