UAE’s Reading Nation campaign raises Dh10m on first day

The campaign had been announced on Sunday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

DUBAI // The Reading Nation campaign for Ramadan launched on Sunday raised Dh10 million on its first day.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the campaign to provide five million books to refugee and other underprivileged children around the world.

Telecoms companies Etisalat and du each donated Dh3 million, while Kanoo Group and Al Ansari Exchange each donated Dh1 million. The heirs of Obaid Mohammed Al Helou donated Dh300,000 and 1.9 million donations were collected through SMS messages, reported Wam, the state news agency.

The campaign is offering three corporate donation bundles: a “silver” bundle of Dh1 million to Dh3 million, which would provide 100,000 to 300,000 books; a “golden” bundle of Dh3 million to Dh4 million, providing 300,000 to 400,000 books; and a “platinum” bundle for donations above Dh5 million, which would provide at least 500,000 books.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the campaign aims to distribute two million books directly to children and students in refugee camps, and provide 2,000 libraries in the Muslim world and support Emirati aid organisations’ educational programmes abroad.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, is heading the committee managing the campaign.

Etisalat and du will dedicate toll-free numbers through which people can make donations during Ramadan. Each book costs Dh10.

Emirates Red Crescent and Dubai Cares will also receive donations through bank accounts, branch locations and donation kiosks.