Dubai charity spent Dh114m across world last year

One of the free mass Iftars organised by Dar Al Ber at the Aqsa mosque, Palestine.

Dar Al Ber Society (Dabs), one of the oldest charity organisations in the UAE, had spent Dh114.39 million for 14,387 charity projects across the world last year.
Official delegations from the 37-year-old charity further paid field visits to 380 charity projects being carried out in 15 countries in collaboration with four UAE embassies and 23 accredited entities.
Khalfan Khalifa Al Mazrouie, chairman of Dabs, said that the society based in Dubai had organised three major relief campaigns in brotherly Arab countries last year.
"These spanned Syrian and Yemeni refugees and flood-hit Sudanese, along with other relief drives initiated around the globe, particularly at the areas where people were suffering drought, bitter winter, and floods."
Adding, he said Dabs spent Dh1million on Yemen relief project against Dh500,000 for the Syrian refugees, and Dh2.4 million for the Sudanese last year. "Other relief campaigns were run as well against Dh1.21million."
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed, executive director of Dabs, said the society collected Dh114.47 million in contributions last year. "These included Dh30.42million in the first quarter, Dh43.3million in the second, Dh24.68 in the third, and Dh16.07 in the fourth."
The Dubai-based charity also ran its pioneering Mass Iftar project during Ramadan in 32 counties against Dh2 million in 2016. "Up to 133,333 people have benefited from this project, while 50,000 families benefited from the Zakat Al Fitr project that was carried out in 32 countries against Dh2 million."
Up to 10,500 people benefited from the 'Eid Al Fitr Clothes' project which was done in 32 countries against Dh210,000, while the 'Eid Al Adha Clothes' project, worth Dh180,00, was carried out in 24 countries for the benefit of 3,600 families, Bin Zayed added.
"As many as 40,630 low-income families, however, benefited from the Adahi project operated in 13 countries around the globe against a total value of Dh2.4million."
Dar Al Ber, committed to the holy Aqsa mosque in Palestine, ran a Mass Iftar project there last Ramadan. "Up to 93,000 free meals, valued at Dh989,678 were contributed to low-income people there, while Dh630,300 were spent on other Iftar projects at listed mosques in 13 countries as wished by the philanthropists."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com