President creates Awqaf and Minors’ Affairs Authority

ABU DHABI: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has issued a law establishing the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Authority (AMAA) in Abu Dhabi.

The AMAA will assume the responsibilities of the Social Care and Minors Affairs Foundation (SCMAF), with the transfer of all the SCMAF’S assets, properties, rights and liabilities to the new entity. The AMAA will also be the competent authority to manage all endowment affairs in the emirate.

In coordination with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and concerned authorities, AMAA will take all necessary measures to assume the management of endowment affairs in the emirate, including endowment registration, supervision, regulation and control, and the issuing of permits for endowment institutions in the emirate.

The AMAA will manage, invest, grow and safeguard endowment and minors’ wealth to ensure a sustainable quality of life by optimally managing these assets.

Authorised to do business in the UAE and abroad in accordance with safe investment practices, the AMAA can also establish and buy shares in companies and funds in order to invest wealth in the UAE and abroad in line with Sharia and applicable laws.

An investment commitee, whose members are NON-AMAA employees, will be established at AMAA to make decisions on the investment of minors’ and endowment assets and the optimisation of yields in accordance with best financial investment practices and applicable laws.

The AMAA will organise and participate in events, conferences and seminars on the management of endowment and minors’ wealth in order to promote endowment culture, the values of giving, and social solidarity among community members in the emirate.

On the other hand, His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has issued a resolution appointing Abdulhamid Mohammed Saeed as Chairman of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Authority.

In an unrelated development, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) has signed a joint cooperation agreement with Alhudhud Publishing and Distribution for converting print publications into electronic versions suitable for visually impaired people.

The two sides agreed to produce 35 of Alhudhud’s publications in Braille for the visually impaired to provide the reading opportunity for children and adolescents with visual impairment. Of the 43 copies of each publication to be printed, 20 copies each will be shared between the two sides. The remaining three copies will be sent to the authorities concerned to obtain the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).