Dubai Cares passes target

Dubai: Donations for the Dubai Cares campaign to educate a million children topped its target of Dh200 million on Sunday, six days after the campaign was launched.

Businessmen from the UAE gave cheques worth Dh110 million, pushing the total donations to Dh240 million.

The latest donors were Sunny Varkey, Chief Executive of Verkey Educational Group, who gave Dh100 million and Dr Derek Bokhta, General Manager of ET Kerney Limited and Micky Jagtiani, Chief Executive of Landmark Group, who donated Dh5 million each.

Local donors also include etisalat, with a Dh25 million pledge, and UAE national businessman Ziyad Galadari, who offering Dh6 million to the Dubai Cares initiative.

On Thursday, businessman Mohammad Juma Al Naboodah pledged Dh10 million towards the initiative and Emaar Industries and Investments contributed Dh1 million.

Dubai-based real estate developer Damac Properties also announced the donation of ten apartments that will be auctioned.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai thanked the businessmen for their support.

He also assured them that the UAE's multi-cultural society would preserve its harmony. "All people in the UAE will enjoy security and safety."

The Dubai Cares initiative, which aims to put one million children through primary school, will run for the next six weeks. To inquire about how to donate, call 800 77 800 or log on to www.dubaicares.ae.