Dubai: The Dar Al Ber Society, run by the Dubai government, has announced that it will spend over Dh6.4 million on a variety of charity programmes and projects across the country during Ramadan this year.

Khalfan Khalifa Al Mazroui, Chairman of Dar Al Ber Society, said that the planned projects under the nationwide seasonal campaign, under this year’s theme of ‘Delight them, make a change’, include free iftar meals, Eid clothing, Zakat Al Fitr, and general alms.

“The campaign, valued at Dh6.4 million will start at all branches of the society in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, and Ras Al Khaimah, along with the Dar Al Ber Quran study centres for boys and girls.”

Some 80 of the Society’s staff representatives have been assigned to all cooperative societies and shopping centres to collect public contributions for the benefit of poor and low-income people, he added.

“The Dar Al Ber Ramadan campaign will also be promoted on all mass media and social websites and the society is to run various courses to train its staff on the best ways to deal with philanthropists and urge the public to give charity to needy people and make them happy.”

Al Mazroui said the 36-year-old charity association has earmarked over Dh374,000 for the Dawa, or preaching project, which involves diverse programmes, activities, events, meetings, and lectures in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Baluchi at mosques, the Dar Al Ber headquarters, Islamic information centres, and labour accommodations.

“The main targeted sectors are new Muslims, foreign communities and blue-collar workers who can enjoy a variety of edutainment programmes, as well as over 170,000 free religious books, brochures, and CDs on the provisions of the month of Ramadan and frequently asked questions,” he said.

The Dar Al Ber Society is also to distribute thousands of copies of the Quran, of which more than 6,500,000 have been given so far to Muslims around the world, he added.

Al Mazroui noted that the society has also initiated a nationwide campaign to collect mandatory zakat to distribute to eligible beneficiaries through zakat departments at all branches of the Dar Al Ber Society.

“Up to Dh71 million was distributed to 16,186 families in need across the country in 2014, added to thousands of free iftar meals donated in 34 countries in collaboration with 56 accredited charity associations and UAE embassies.”

These are apart from the daily free iftar banquets held every year at the Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, along with the Eid clothing project, Zakat Al Fitr, and free iftar meals run at a number of mosques and labour accommodations during the month.

Urging donations, Al Mazroui said it is highly advisable for Muslims to take the chance to get closer to Allah, and give charity to the most needy.