Corporate Responsibility Our Community Initiatives
Extending our wellness and social responsibility commitment to the wider community
We are committed to supporting the wider community, contributing and leading in initiatives to help create a healthy and happy society in Dubai and beyond.
'Be the Hero. Save Lives' Blood Donation Initiative
Dubai Holding and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched "Be the Hero. Save Lives" blood donation joint initiative aiming to support DHA's Dubai Blood Donation Centre (DBDC).
Under this Initiative, Dubai Holding provided a state-of-the-art blood donation bus to DBDC to complement the yearlong joint campaign which will enhance blood donations; in addition to, providing donors with added convenience.
The campaign will reach out to the wider community of Dubai including Dubai Holding's business districts, commercial and residential communities, and key retail destinations where currently more than 300,000 people live and work.
The 24,000 employees of Dubai Holding will also participate in the campaign through several activations across the year leading to help save the life of someone in need.
DBDC receives blood donations from more than 150 nationalities and the centre provides around 50 per cent of the total blood collected throughout the country, ensuring that those in need in both public and private hospitals have access to safe and timely supply of regular blood and platelet donors.
'Yak Al Awn' Ramadan Initiative
Dubai Holding is proud to have been a key contributor to this year's 'Yak Al Awn' Ramadan initiative, launched by the Arabic newspaper Emarat Al Youm, Dubai Courts, and Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department. 'Yak Al Awn', which translates to "you've got the support", aimed to raise almost AED 21.5 million to release Emirati financial prisoners.
Under this initiative, Dubai Holding donated AED 2 million, in the spirit of the holy month. The Group was one of the very first corporates to contribute to the cause, to which many other large-scale organisations followed suit. Dubai Holding's contribution came in line with its commitment towards enhancing social cohesion and ensuring a prosperous future for the Emirati society and the wider UAE community.
At the end of Ramadan 2019, the founding entities succeeded at raising the money and released the 107 intended financial prisoners.
Enhancing Access to Education in Nepal
Dubai Holding marks the latest step in its strategic partnership with Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, to improve children's access to quality education in underprivileged communities around the world. As sponsors of the schools, Dubai Holding's donation provided the engineering, building materials and skilled labour force to work on the land provided by the villages.
Since the initiatives inception, two new schools have been completed, one in Dhakka, Nepal and the other in Kaffrine 2 Sud in Senegal; both of which are operational and enrolling over 550 local children aged between 6 – 14 years old, with 20 teachers responsible for the classes.
Nationally, the total adult literacy rate in Nepal is just over 50% and in Senegal only 62% of men and 39% of women can read and write. The continued intiatives seeks to improve education access across these rural communities to increase literacy rates, ignight a virtuous cycle of literacy, opportunity and prosperity across the regions.
Ramadan Initiatives
Dubai Holding achieved new milestones in philanthropic giving and social contribution during the Holy Month of Ramadan. To celebrate the spirit of generosity and togetherness in the Holy Month, the Group organised a number of initiatives which benefitted over 125,000 people from various communities across Dubai.
The 2018 Ramadan Drive has been Dubai Holding's largest ever social campaign to date, a hugely positive collective effort of companies across the Group to make a big impact on our wider community. Collaborations with Ministry of Community Development, Emirates Red Crescent, Dubai Police, Unilever and Better Life, have contributed to our ambition to support the Government's efforts to boost the happiness and welfare of UAE's citizens and residents.
Dubai Holding also organised special volunteering days for its employees and the wider community in collaboration with UAE volunteers, inviting them to come and participate.
Masaai Al Khair
Dubai Holding has partnered with the Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) and Dubai Municipality to launch the 'Masaai Al Khair' initative, Dubai Holding's main contribution to the Year of Zayed.
The initiative aims to provide home maintenance and renovation support for social security beneficiaries and low-income families in Dubai; with 10 million AED being dedicated to finance the projects in several parts of the Emirate. The launch of the initiative serves to promote family stability among the nation's low-income population and to strengthen community responsibility.
Government Summit
Dubai Holding is the strategic partner for the 'Edge of Government Innovation Experience' at the 2018 edition of the World Government Summit.
An interactive exhibit features case studies on select global innovations, offering visitors an immersive journey in high-impact solutions aimed at improving people's lives around the world. These innovations will undergo a public vote, and the winner will be recognised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, with the Edge of Government Award.
Innovation is our guiding principle at Dubai Holding, we are committed to working with governments and global partners to promote innovation to solve the complex challenges of our time.
Books For All
The "Books For All" initiative provides every resident of the UAE with greater access to books in an effort to spread the gift of knowledge and encourage the community to read more.
In partnership with Amal Education, Dubai Holding aims to create a sustainable culture of reading among the staff, residents and the wider community.
Book shelves with books on various topics are placed across some prominent public spaces within communities in Jumeirah Group, TECOM Group and Dubai Properties Group.
The Boulevard at Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Bay Avenue, South Entrance
Al Salam Community Center at Mudon
Rimal Sector at Jumeirah Beach Residence
Building 3 at Dubai Internet City
Jumeirah Theatre at Souq Madinat – Madinat Jumeirah
Visitors to the "Book for All" shelf can select any book of choice to read by the shelf, at a favourite bench or any other place that ignites their imagination. Book borrowers who have enjoyed reading a book from this shelf are encouraged to pay it forward and donate a book that someone else can also cherish.
Dubai Holding urges readers to keep this cycle of good karma going and contribute by offering their own books that may be looking for new readers. After all, reading is dreaming with open eyes.
Al Jalila Foundation
The Al Jalila Foundation is a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research. Sharing Dubai Holding's vision of promoting health and wellness, the Foundation is the Strategic Wellness Partner for all of our wellness activities and initiatives.
With obesity recognised as one of the region's priority health challenges, Dubai Holding has committed AED 5 million to the Foundation's Obesity Research Fund. As the official beneficiary of Dubai Holding's wellness initiatives, the Foundation receives funding raised from high profile events including the annual Dubai Holding SkyRun and the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.
Dubai Autism Centre
The Dubai Autism Center is a centre of excellence working to encourage a better understanding of autism and providing specialist support to individuals with autism and their families.
As part its social commitment to the UAE's wider community, Dubai Holding donated AED 1 million to the Dubai Autism Centre campaign launched in 2013 in collaboration with Emarat Al Youm newspaper. The funds raised were used to resume development of Dubai Autism Centre's new facilities to increase the centre's capacity to 250, and help increase special-needs education in the UAE. The new facility is located on land in Al Garhoud area within the Deira district gifted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai.
UAE Water Aid
The UAE Water Aid campaign was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to ensure that five million people around the world have access to a regular supply of safe water.
Dubai Holding's contribution of AED 5 million helps support 200,000 people in developing countries, to build wells, install pumps, and provide water purification equipment where it is needed most.
UAE National Football Team
Dubai Holding partnered with the UAE Football Association and sponsored the UAE national football team from 2005 to 2008 where we focused on promoting education, fan spirit and culture. As part of this initiative, Dubai Holding invited French football coach Guy Lacombe to share his vision with more than 100 UAE coaches from across the country.
Dubai Holding also symbolised support for the UAE football team during the 18th Gulf Cup in 2007, with the largest football jersey in the region signed by more than 20,000 people. It became one of the symbols of the Gulf Cup's victory in the hearts of UAE fans.
Adopt a School - Gaza
TECOM Group works with Dubai Cares in supporting the development of Karameesh Kindergarten, a charitable pre-school established in Rafah, southern Gaza serving disadvantaged children in the community. Like many schools in the region, Karameesh suffered from neglected interior and exterior building structure, a lack of educational materials and play equipment, and inadequate teaching quality.
Through continued financial support, the Adopt a School programme has worked to provide a safe and stimulating environment, teacher training programmes, learning and play equipment, as well as out-of-school activities for the children and their caregivers.
Global Women's Forum Dubai
In line with Dubai Holding's vision of nurturing homegrown talent, we formed a strategic partnership with the Global Women's Forum Dubai 2016, the first international Women's Forum meeting in the MENA region. The event was organised by Dubai Women Establishment and Women's Forum for the Economy & Society.
A truly innovative event, over 2,000 participants and 200 highly noteworthy speakers male and female, from all over the world attended to network and discuss women in business and society in the region.
Dubai Holding showed support to women in corporate and managerial positions, particularly in the eminent topic of Women on Boards.