For Muslims, fasting during Ramadan is as much an exercise of self-discipline and sacrifice as it is a reminder to be generous and compassionate to the less fortunate.
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The term signifies payments made annually for charitable and religious purposes.
From the UAE’s One Billion Meals campaign to a zakat fund set up by the UNHCR, here are five charity initiatives to donate to this Ramadan.
One Billion Meals
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched a campaign that aims to donate one billion meals to the poor and hungry around the world.
The campaign began on Saturday, the first day of Ramadan, and will run until the goal of raising enough money to fund one billion meals has been achieved.
“During Ramadan, we will be able to feel the suffering of 800 million people going to sleep hungry every day,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter. “We have one billion humane and noble messages to send out from the UAE to the world.”
To donate, visit www.1billionmeals.ae.
Emirates Red Crescent
The Emirates Red Crescent has a number of charity funds related to Ramadan, including Zakat Al-Fitr and providing food to those fasting.
There are also charities dedicated to providing food, clothing, education or medical attention to the needy around the world.
You can donate to Emirates Red Crescent through their website www.emiratesrc.ae.
UNHCR Zakat Fund
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has a dedicated charity for Ramadan called the Zakat Fund.
The charity aims to help eligible families in 14 countries with their immediate needs, such as food, water, shelter and medicine.
According to the UNHCR website, the fund ensures transparency at every step, “from donation to distribution of zakat funds to eligible families”.
The organisation said they have adopted a “100 per cent zakat distribution policy”, and will ensure that monetary contributions are delivered in full directly to eligible families.
Information on how to donate to the fund is at zakat.unhcr.org.
UAE Suqia
The UAE Water Aid Foundation, or UAE Suqia, was founded in 2015 as an organisation under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation.
The non-profit organisation is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and helping communities around the world who have trouble accessing clean water.
According to its website, the foundation has influenced the lives of more than 13 million people in 36 countries.
The foundation’s mission is to not only provide potable water to those in need. “We also work to identify how innovative and sustainable technologies can be part of the solution to the global water crisis,” the website reads.
To donate, visit suqia.ae.
International Charity Organisation
The International Charity Organisation was established in 1984 in Ajman by Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman.
The organisation has created several charity initiatives for the holy month.
A Ramadan 2022 section on its website shows the list of its funds — dedicated to helping people locally and internationally. Initiatives within the UAE include paying for Eid gifts or clothes for a child, helping those imprisoned for minor financial issues, donating a meal or providing support to cancer patients.
Funds dedicated to helping those abroad include providing clothing to a family of refugees, building mosques and distributing drinking water.
You can browse through the full list of funds at ico.org.ae.
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
South Africa World Cup squad
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
