Dubai: The Reading Nation Ramadan campaign on Tuesday exceeded its target to provide five million books to refugee children and underprivileged students around the world, surpassing the goal during a charity auction.
The Reading Nation auction was held under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who launched the campaign on the first day of Ramadan this year. It will continue till Ramadan 19.
The official tally was being compiled on Tuesday night, but the auction reportedly raised a total of around Dh40 million from the sale of around two dozen rare items. By the start of the auction, the campaign had raised enough funds for around 3.5 million books since the start of Ramadan. By Tuesday night, the auction helped raised enough funds to provide for more than seven million books.
Present at the auction was Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, senior officials, corporate leaders and art collectors.
The auction included items from the collection of Shaikh Mohammad, including a 106-year-old section from the Kiswa (cover) of the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba is Islam’s holiest site to which Muslims around the world face towards while praying.
The Kiswa, whose current price was listed as Dh2 million, was sold for Dh2.1 million.
The auction, which was held in Jawaher Hall at Madinat Jumeirah, also included paintings from the collection of Shaikh Mohammad. Items at the auction, sold to the highest bidder, had never been offered for direct sale to the public previously.
There was a calligraphy painting of a poem of Shaikh Mohammad, which was signed by him. It went for Dh1.1m.
Also on offer were special car plate numbers and mobile phone numbers. The car number plate 10 was sold for Dh9.7 million, the highest price fetched in the auction. Bidders, most of whom were Emiratis, said the auction was a “win-win” situation as on offer were valuable items as well as an opportunity to participate in a humanitarian drive.
Emirati bidder Saif Ahmad Bin Suroor Al Hamadi put in the winning bids for the Kiswa, Dubai car plate number T 13, and a purebred Arabian horse.
Al Hamadi, 22, said it was a proud day for Emiratis and the UAE community as they achieved yet another humanitarian milestone.
“I came here today as one among many Emiratis in support of a good cause. Knowledge is power and books through the campaign will empower children around the world to learn and go to school,” Al Hamadi added.
“The Kiswa I will gift to my mother as she means everything to me. She raised me with kindness and wisdom in the right way. I owe everything to her. The mother is the one who keeps the family together; the role of women cannot be under-estimated.
“I don’t know yet what I’ll do with the car number plate. The point was to contribute to the cause, and not focus on the item itself.
“The horse will stay in the UAE and never leave as it is a beautiful Arabian horse, part of the UAE heritage. It won’t be for racing, it’s for beauty.”
Algerian businessman Tarek Fetouhi added he had come with a budget of Dh500,000-Dh1 million to spend on special mobile numbers.
“I have nine numbers and I’m passionate about special numbers. They have value and are transferable within 24 hours. So they are liquid assets. They also have free minutes and stat bundles. Besides the business orientation of bidders, the event is for a good cause so it’s a win-win situation,” Fetouhi added.
During the course of the auction, it was also announced that Shaikh Walid Al Ebrahim made a donation of Dh3 million towards the campaign.
Reading Nation Ramadan campaign
The campaign was launched on the first day of Ramadan (June 6) by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide five million books to refugee children and underprivileged students around the world. It aimed to provide two million books to children in refugee camps, two million books to equip 2,000 libraries in needy schools, and one million in support of education initiatives around the world undertaken by UAE humanitarian groups. It witnessed a strong response from the UAE community, from residents, businessmen and corporations.
On June 21, it met and exceeded its target, thanks to a charity auction, which included items from the collection of Shaikh Mohammad.
The auction raised around Dh37.4m from the sale of some two dozen rare items. The donations will provide for over 7.4 million books and the campaign will continue till the 19th of Ramadan.
