Dubai Duty Free makes 10-year pledge

Its charity arm to donate Dh500,000 to Al Jalila Foundation every year for ten years

Dubai Duty Free’s charity arm has pledged Dh500,000 every year for ten years to a local charity.

Under the agreement, the airport retailer aims to support the Dubai-based Al Jalila Foundation’s medical research goals.

The agreement, which will run for ten years commencing this month, was signed between the heads of both parties.

“We launched the DDF Foundation back in 2004 with the objective of improving the lives of families and, in particular, women and children both in the UAE and around the world,” said Dubai Duty Free’s executive vice-chairman and chief executive Colm McLoughlin.

“Since then, we have supported 39 local and 52 overseas charities including the travel retail industry-led Hand in Hand for Haiti, Sightsavers in India and in the Philippines with Smile Train, to name a few.”

The organisation’s charity commitments were “a clear indication of Dubai Duty Free’s ongoing commitment to the community”, he added.

Al Jalila Foundation chief executive Abdul Kareem Sultan Al Olama said that his charity was “committed to transforming lives through medical research, education and treatment”.

“Our success is dependent on the support of our partners and donors. Dubai Duty Free Foundation’s long-term commitment to fund our work will enable us to continue to fulfil our mission.”

The partnership would help empower children with special needs, provide life-saving treatment to patients and invest in medical research to discover better treatment options for diseases prevalent in the region.