ABU DHABI // Sultan Al Dhaheri may be quiet, but his work in philanthropy echoes loudly.
At 82, Mr Al Dhaheri is by far the oldest member sitting on the FNC.
For decades, he has been supporting nationals and expatriates through their education by paying school and university fees for deserving students.
He is not one to boast, but Mr Al Dhaheri’s work has been noticed for years by the UAE leadership and public. He won an Abu Dhabi Award for his work in 2011.
In the video introduction that accompanies nominees’ awards, the philanthropist was applauded for giving a hand to students as they tried to better their lives.
“It was my life’s dream to enrol in a university. I joined Abu Dhabi University and took a full scholarship,” Alaa Thabet, one of the beneficiaries, says on the video.
“Even if I had 1 per cent [chance] that I would finish, now I have 100 per cent chance.”
Dr Sulaiman Al Jassem, vice president of Zayed University, says Mr Al Dhaheri funds an academic chair at the school.
Last year he made a Dh10 million endowment to the university to appoint a chair in Islamic finance.
His support has also extended to other countries, where he offers yearly support to many including students in India, Africa, Jordan and Syria.
He has supported the building of the Azhari Institutes in Mokattam and Wadi Natrun, in Egypt.
Mr Al Dhaheri has supported orphans and funded the building of mosques. In 2012, he donated US$1million (Dh3.6m) to the Young Future Energy Leaders programme, organised by the Masdar Institute to help young leaders acquire special workplace skills and training.
In the FNC, Mr Al Dhaheri chairs the council’s financial, economic and industrial affairs committee.
Although quiet in FNC public sessions over the past three years, he made a stand this year calling for an increase in pensions after receiving complaints from nationals.
“The pensions are not enough,” Mr Al Dhaheri said in May.
“Everyone has expenses and those who receive Dh10,000 are not like those who receive Dh20,000. We have received many complaints from pensioners, especially those in the police and military.
“Many of the pensioners worked in the federal Government and they deserve a raise. The pensioners have served the country and the Government, and the current employees are now working on jobs that the pensioners have helped to build years ago.”
He suggested that the Government look into an increase or provide certain privileges, such as discounts in supermarkets.
“Go to a supermarket, you will see how expensive it gets. Employees in the supermarket don’t know who is receiving a low pension.
“There should be privileges. At least providing discounts for pensioners in supermarkets will make their lives easier.”
Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs and deputy head of the pension authority, assured Mr Al Dhaheri of positive results in the coming year.
osalem@thenational.ae
