Dubai: The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) has launched a new high-tech initiative to mark the Year of Giving 2017 to promote charity.
The SDO customers who pay for their purchases using the Dubai Now app will receive a message allowing them to enter whatever sum they choose to donate.
The system then processes the donations and directs them to the relevant UAE-based charities, under the supervision of the Government of Dubai.
“Institutions at all echelons of the Dubai government draw inspiration from our wise leaders who have directed us all to be charitable,” said Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director-general of SDO.
“They inspire us to work for the greater good of the UAE, and to always put people and their happiness first when we set our policies and launch our initiatives. We are all working to spread happiness in the UAE, which has become a prime destination for young professionals from all around the Arab world and beyond.”
She added: “At Smart Dubai, we draw inspiration from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum [Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] who once said: ‘True charity is making a difference.’ With that in mind, we strive to always make a difference not only with what we give, but also how we give it, which reflects our passion for smart technology and our commitment to making Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.”
Shaikh Mohammad had called for establishing a framework for individuals and organisations in the UAE to streamline activities that seek to realise the objectives of the Year of Giving, which reflect the UAE’s values of generosity and charity.
“Our initiatives not only encourage our users to donate, but also keep them up to date with the advancements taking place all around them as Dubai’s smart transformation carries on. It is a unique approach whereby technology is tailored to meet the needs of individuals from all segments of society.”
Smart Dubai said its agenda is full of initiatives and plans to mark the Year of Giving. Some have already been implemented, such as the recent ‘Suhour Ramadan’ initiative, while other are in the pipeline for a roll-out later this year.
