ABU DHABI // In three days, the country’s philanthropists have donated Dh40.8 million for the devastated families of Yemen.
On Sunday the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) launched its Yemen: We Care, or Relief for Yemen, fund-raising appeal to help millions of Yemenis suffering in the conflict.
The campaign is a part of the UAE’s pledge to help nearly 10 million people affected by the crisis in Yemen.
“This is a very small amount of money we have collected so far, but we hope to receive more,” said Emirati Salem Al Qubaisi, a businessman in Abu Dhabi who donated to the fund-raising drive.
“The nature of the UAE is to give and reach out to all people across the world. It’s not only the Yemenis, we give help to all communities of people in the world.
“The UAE never looks for caste, colour or creed of the person, but if it finds them in distress, it helps them.”
Helping those in need was part of the basic teachings of Islam, he said.
“Our culture and religion teach us that if you do good to others from your right hand so do in a way that your left hand shouldn’t sense about it,” Mr Al Qubaisi said.
Another Emirati businessman who donated, Hazim Abdullah, said: “Yemenis are our brothers and we love to help them as much as we can.”
This is a small effort from the community, whereas the UAE government has been helping them generously, said Mr Abdullah, who is also based in Abu Dhabi. “I donated for this campaign and urge people to take part in this noble effort,” Mr Abdullah said.
Donations can be made at 200 sites, including malls, banks and offices, or via SMS at Etisalat 4010 for Dh10, 7050 for Dh50, 7100 for Dh100 and 7200 for Dh200. Du users can donate via 7110 for Dh10, 7150 for Dh50, 7100 for Dh100 and 7200 for Dh200.
The campaign was launched under the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
UAE aid to Yemen reached Dh744 million, the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development announced last month in a report on the country’s humanitarian response to the crisis in Yemen.
anwar@thenational.ae
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
