The UAE's Ramadan food drive has been hailed as a symbol of the country's generous spirit after it raised more than Dh400 million in its first 10 days.
The One Billion Meals Endowment was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ahead of the holy month.
The campaign has so far received Dh404 million through 70,000 donations from people, institutions and businesses alike.
The funds will help support a long-term, sustainable approach to helping the needy all over the world.
Instead of donations being spent directly on food parcels, the money will be placed into endowment funds from which financial returns will be spent on feeding the needy.
The aim is to ensure the principal sum steadily grows, allowing vital aid to be delivered for years to come.
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and secretary general of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, said the outpouring of support highlighted the UAE's humanitarian values.
“The remarkable response to One Billion Meals Endowment campaign is a true reflection of the generous and helping UAE community,” said Mr Al Gergawi
“The campaign has raised Dh404 million in only 10 days, contributed by more than 70,000 donators, which supports the objectives of the food aid endowment fund.
“Every year, the UAE showcases its commitment to its humanitarian role, to supporting underprivileged populations around the world, and to the global effort to fight and eradicate hunger.
“To this end, the One Billion Meals Endowment campaign is an extension of the success UAE charity efforts achieved over the past years.”
UAE gives generously once more
Last year, the One Billion Meals campaign set out to offer aid to people in 50 countries.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation said the latest effort was in response to a “growing food gap” exacerbated by the pandemic, global conflicts and climate change.
“The foundation is working on formulating a global vision to bridge the growing food gap, and its aim is to provide a food safety net for less fortunate groups around the world,” the organisation said in a statement.
Sara Al Nuaimi, director at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, previously told The National of the campaign's aim to deliver crucial assistance.
“The point behind this is to have projects that will generate income for many years to come. We hope for indefinite meals,” said Ms Al Nuaimi.
“Returns of the endowment fund will be used to support people in need around the globe, without limitations to certain countries or a specific number of meals.”
The One Billion Meals campaign website has details of several options for donors.
Pledges can be made online, either monthly or through a one-off donation. Donations can be made by SMS message through Etisalat or Du, via the DubaiNow app or through a bank transfer.
For large donations and related inquiries, contact the campaign’s team at 800 9999.
Fundraising drive
Car enthusiasts are being invited to enter the bidding for premium plates such as the single-digit P7 and 10 two-digit plates — including AA19, AA22, O71 and X36 in Dubai.
The in-person Most Noble Number event will be held at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach from 9pm on Saturday, with proceeds going to the One Billion Meals Endowment campaign.
It is being organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in partnership with Emirates Auction and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority.
Telecoms operators Du and Etisalat by e& will auction off several special mobile numbers as part of the campaign.
An online auction is being held by Abu Dhabi Police from April 4 to April 10, with 555 licence plates on offer.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LIVERPOOL SQUAD
Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
%3Cp%3E6.00pm%3A%20Heros%20de%20Lagarde%3Cbr%3E6.35pm%3A%20City%20Walk%3Cbr%3E7.10pm%3A%20Mimi%20Kakushi%3Cbr%3E7.45pm%3A%20New%20Kingdom%3Cbr%3E8.20pm%3A%20Siskany%3Cbr%3E8.55pm%3A%20Nations%20Pride%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Ever%20Given%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips%20for%20travelling%20while%20needing%20dialysis
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EInform%20your%20doctor%20about%20your%20plans.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAsk%20about%20your%20treatment%20so%20you%20know%20how%20it%20works.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPay%20attention%20to%20your%20health%20if%20you%20travel%20to%20a%20hot%20destination.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPlan%20your%20trip%20well.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
