Dirhams pour in for Dubai Cares

Dubai: Millions of dirhams continued to pour in for the Dubai Cares initiative on Thursday, with businesspeople and corporations participating in the pledge to put 1 million children through primary school.

Dubai Cares was unveiled on Wednesday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with his children due to take the lead over the coming week.

On Thursday, businessman Mohammad Juma Al Naboodah pledged Dh10 million towards the initiative and Emaar Industries and Investments contributed Dh1 million, bringing the total raised to more than Dh60 million in the first 24 hours.

They join Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airlines and Group; Shaikh Hasher Maktoum, Director of Dubai Information, Major General Musabeh Rashid Musabeh Al Fattan, Director of Diwan of Shaikh Mohammad; and Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, among the first to contribute to the initiative.

Dubai-based real estate developer Damac Properties announced the donation of ten apartments that will be auctioned to raise funds for Dubai Cares, which aims to raise Dh200 million over the next six weeks.

Shaikh Mohammad's five sons and two daughters have also been assigned to lead the charity efforts with a range of campaigns due to launch next week.

- With inputs from Robert Ditcham, Staff Reporter