2018 marks 100 years since the birth of Shaikh Zayed — the founding father who united the 7 Emirates and took his nation to new heights of progress and prosperity.
The UAE is widely recognized today as a successful modern state that, starting from scratch just five decades ago, has managed to establish the foundations of a prosperous and advanced society.
At the heart of its spectacular achievements that allowed the country to assume a position of pre-eminence regionally and internationally lies the vision of one man — Shaikh Zayed.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said declaring 2018 as the Year of Zayed reflects the unique standing that the late leader holds with every Emirati as the founding leader of the Union.
An Emirati woman made the first donation of Dhs 5 million towards Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) marking the beginning of the ‘Year of Zayed’, which is dedicated to the vision and values of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE
Dawlat Mahmoud Al Mahmoud, who was so keen to be the first donor to the Amaf, made the donation on behalf of her late husband Abdulghafoor Ali Gargash and herself. The contribution complements her previous donation of Dhs 20 million in October 2017 towards the establishment of the AMAF’s first-ever education endowment that seeks to finance higher education of minors and orphans. In a gesture of appreciation to the first contribution, the AMAF named the library at the Family Village after the donation from Al Mahmoud and her late husband.
Applauding Al Mahmoud’s generous gesture, Tayeb Al Rais, secretary-general of AMAF, said: “This timely contribution is an outstanding example of the importance of giving and patriotism. We could not have asked for a better start to the ‘Year of Zayed’. The benevolence of the Emirati woman is a testament to the UAE’s sustained emphasis on giving and charity that has been embedded in us by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”
Meanwhile, Al Mahmoud said: “I was pleased to invest in AMAF’s education endowment that will make an enduring impact rather than use the donation for a purpose that offers short-term benefits. In earmarking the sum for student scholarships, AMAF has ensured that this contribution translates into an everlasting act of charity. I am confident of the foundation’s ability to fulfill this wish to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Annual revenues from the education endowment will be dedicated to offering university scholarships to outstanding orphans for further studies at the University of Dubai, University of Sharjah, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and other national and international universities based in the UAE. Furthermore, beneficiary students will be encouraged to pursue specializations that are in demand in the labor market and support the UAE’s strategy to continue enhancing its global competitiveness.
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