Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) in Dubai has received a generous donation from Emirati businessman Salem Ahmed Almoosa, worth AED3 million towards its humanitarian Family Village project, the first such facility for the care of orphans and underprivileged children in the emirate of Dubai.

Al Rais pointed out that the donation will cover the total cost of constructing a residential building in the village that will be named after Salem Ahmed Almoosa.

His Excellency Tayeb Al Rais, Secretary General of Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation in Dubai, said: “We thank his Excellency Salem Ahmed Almoosa for the trust reposed in AMAF and for his support to the Family Village project. The humane gesture reflects his enthusiasm to help achieve greater integration and empower orphans and less privileged children to become productive and active members in our society. The donation also coincides with Zayed Humanitarian Day that is annually commemorated by the UAE on the nineteenth day of Ramadan in memory of our founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

Al-Rais added: “The UAE is one of the leading countries globally in supporting children’s rights through legislation. We call upon the affluent people of UAE to help the needy as part of efforts to repay the generosity of the nation and in compliance with the surah from the Holy Quran that extols ‘virtue, righteousness and piety’.”

The Foundation has introduced new online services to facilitate the process of communication with donors. All interested contributors can choose to donate via SMS to the Family Village Project. Subscribers of Etisalat and du who wish to donate can send a text message to the number 7710 to donate AED10, or to 7750 to donate AED50 or to the number 3100 to donate AED100.

Salem Ahmed Almoosa urged the community at large to support such unique endowment projects and said: “The contribution during the holy month to the Family Village Project arises from the conviction in Islam and its social and humanitarian values. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always taught us to support and care for orphans and respond to the needy in our community.”

The Family Village is an initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The village is located in Warqa’a 3 area, and will include about 16 villas, residential villas and ancillary services including the administration building, clinics and medical facilities for emergencies, nursery, and kindergarten, playground and garden (integrated recreational area).

Through this project, AMAF will provide a real home for orphans with family stability and a balanced atmosphere, with full-time mothers to give them much-needed love and care. Each house offers a bonded family unit comprising of ‘siblings’ and a ‘mother’ as well as all necessary amenities. Additionally, ‘aunts’ or helpers will be a part of the children’s daily lives as will a ‘grandmother’ to oversee the day-to-day running of the village.

The Awqaf and Minors Affairs foundation is the first approved beneficiary of endowments and is mandated to oversee the care of minors and orphans in the emirate of Dubai. The Foundation operates according to international guidelines and conditions of governance and transparency and is characterized by its high credibility among the community, endowers, the government and private institutions.