Ahmed bin Saeed honours 214 orphans of Dar Al Ber

H.H. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, late on Friday honoured 214 local, Arab and foreign orphans of Dar Al Ber Society.

The honouring, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, was part of the 11th ‘Mother of Giving’ festival sponsored by the wife of H.H. Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Shaikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.

Present were Shaikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum and Abdulqader Al Rais, Director General of Dar Al Ber Society, Abdullah Ali bin Zayed, Executive Director of Dar Al Ber, senior officials, dignitaries, the public.

H.H. Shaikh Ahmed has also honoured Shaikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma, and Ibrahim Ahmed Al Hammadi, in appreciation to their tireless support to the charity projects of Dar Al Ber Society.

Meanwhile, Abdulqader Al Rais has been named the ‘Charity Personality of the Year’ in obligation to his exceptional achievements with the charity sector in the UAE and abroad.

Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Police and General Security, Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim and Mrs. Fadhila Saif bin Khadem Al Rumaithi were awarded the same title last year.

H.H. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed further honoured the 214 local and foreign orphans present, along with the ones with excellent academic performance, and perfect memorisation of the holy Quran.

The ‘Kafr Al Kurdi charity association’, Egypt, was also honoured for being the best foreign society whereas the sponsors of the event were commended for their support as well.

The ceremony, golden-sponsored by the Dubai Islamic Humanitarian Foundation, Emirates Concorde Hotel, DEWA, DAMAC Properties, and Fooqa Company, was silver-sponsored by the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

The list of ‘Bronze Sponsors’ included the Dubai Courts, Al Wasl Properties, Qaiwan Group, Retail Arabia Company whereas the Zabeel Studio and Al Barjeel Establishment were the media sponsors of the festivity.

In his speech, Abdullah bin Zayed said Dar Al Ber started its shinny procession by sponsoring only 20 orphans in the UAE who were provided with sufficient support under their guardians. “The number has grown to currently 33,316 orphans, including 983 in the UAE, and 32,333 worldwide.”

Dar Al Ber Society is so grateful to the wife of H.H. Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Shaikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum for her thorough support of the event on an annual basis.

Official records show that Dar Al Ber has sponsored over 100,000 male and female orphans against more than Dh63 million over its 37-year-old shinny procession since inception in 1979.

“Bearing in mind the pivotal role of mosques, which are safe havens of peace and tranquility, the Society has built about 25,000 mosques worldwide against almost Dh1 billion.”

Considering the significance of pure drinking water, the Society has run 74,000 water aid projects against Dh152 million, he added. “Dar Al Ber has also printed out and distributed 6.6 million copies of the ‘Al Ber’ version of the Holy Quran against over Dh64 million.”

However, Al Aqsa Mosque has always been a priority for Dar Al Ber which has maintained all the facilities of the holy mosque based in Jerusalem, and is currently developing new facilities there, worth over Dh1 million, he stated.

“These pioneering projects and programs are added to thousands of mass Iftar meals contributed for free at the same mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, let alone many other charity projects.”

The ceremony started with the National anthem, followed by a recitation of some verses from the holy Quran by a little child. A documentary was then played on Dar Al Ber tireless support to the orphans locally and abroad.

A video clip, prepared by brothers in Kuwait, spotlighted the UAE achievements in all walks of life. The footage reflected the Kuwaiti nationals’ love to the UAE and their admiration and respect of its progress in every nook and corner, and ended with Duaa to the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE.

Shaikh Khalid Al Anbari then gave a speech on the virtue of sponsoring orphans, and hopeful reward in life and the Hereafter. He also focused on the orphans of the UAE heroes martyred in Yemen.

Emirati Anchors Ahmed Al Yamahi and Mohammed Al Khatib then gave two separate presentations on the heroic acts of the UAE martyrs and soldiers in Yemen and everywhere.

Renowned poet Ali Al Muhairi the chanted a poem on the boundless generosity of H.H. Shaikh Hind bint Maktoum and her diligent maintenance of local and foreign orphans, during which some videos of Shaikh Zayed wise speeches on the process of development were played.

Finally, a number of local and foreign orphans expressed their profound gratitude to the UAE in general and H.H. Shaikh Hind bint Maktoum in particular for their commitment and care for the orphans worldwide.