Dar Al Ber to collect Dh500m annually for charity projects

dubai — The Dar Al Ber Society, run by the Dubai Government, has announced plans to collect Dh500 million on an annual basis for running an array of charity projects locally and abroad.

The construction of a school, hospital, mosques and Quran study centres are some of the projects which are to be carried out in collaboration with the philanthropists and the private sector here.

The pioneering schemes, part of the society’s new five-year strategy which is based on sustainability, tolerance, innovation and happiness, are in line with the ‘Year of Giving’ initiative launched by the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Official records show that the 37-year-old charity association had spent Dh330 million on diverse philanthropic projects and programmes last year.

The society, in collaboration with the Dubai Municipality, is all set to build six centres for memorising the Holy Quran, according to Khalfan Khalifa Al Mazrouie, chairman of Dar Al Ber.

“The funds needed for building these centres are already donated by some philanthropists here,” he said.

Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, executive director of the Dar Al Ber Society, said the society is currently developing an application for smart devices for better communication with donors and beneficiaries.

“The new app will feature all the society services and projects,” he underlined. “We have also developed the website of the society, and fed it with numerous services and a toll free number for better communication.”

Al Falasi added that the society will pay more attention to sustainable charity work and the development of new endowment over the coming five years to secure the funds needed for future charity projects and programmes. ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com