Ramadan 2021: UAE sends tonnes of food aid to Senegal, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh


Haneen Dajani
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  • Arabic

The UAE has sent planes carrying 50 tonnes of food to Senegal, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh as part of its Ramadan charity programme.

These circumstances require solidarity and international cooperation, especially during the holy month of Ramadan

This year’s initiative replicates efforts to combat Covid-19 during the holy month last year, when the Emirates sent medical equipment to more than 100 countries.

The UAE has provided 2,000 metric tonnes of medical supplies to 135 countries, supporting two million medical professionals in the process.

It is keen to assist families in need during Ramadan, said Sultan Ali Al Harbi, UAE Ambassador to Senegal and non-resident Ambassador to Sierra Leone.

“The UAE and Senegal are linked by distinguished bilateral relations, based on the principle of friendship, solidarity and common interest,” he said.

“The arrival of the plane today is an additional sign of the fruitful co-operation and the growing partnership between the two countries.”

A helping hand

UAE dispatches three planes each carrying 50 metric tonnes of food supplies to Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Courtesy: WAM.
UAE dispatches three planes each carrying 50 metric tonnes of food supplies to Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Courtesy: WAM.

An aid plane also flew from the UAE to Sierra Leone on Friday.

“This plane is part of the tireless efforts of the UAE and its wise leadership to demonstrate solidarity during this holy month,” Ambassador Al Harbi said.

The third plane, sent to Bangladesh on Thursday, will help the country to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, said Abdullah Ali Al Hammoudi, charge d’affaires to the UAE Embassy in Dhaka.

“These circumstances require solidarity and international co-operation, especially during the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

Last year, the UAE sent seven metric tonnes of medical supplies to Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, helping 7,000 medical workers in each country.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

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Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
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School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
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Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
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Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

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Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

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Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

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- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.