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MBRGI’s spending in 2022 reached AED1.4 billion on projects impacting 102 million lives in 100 countries

DUBAI, 11th April, 2023 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced the annual results of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives’ Year In Review report for 2022, during a special ceremony hosted at the Dubai Opera today.

MBRGI, the largest foundation of its kind in the regional field of charity, humanitarian and aid work, spent a total of AED 1.4 billion during 2022, positively impacting the lives of 102 million people in 100 countries around the world. These figures reflect an increase in the number of beneficiaries by 11 million compared to 2021, while the Foundation’s reach extended to cover 100 countries; 3 more than those covered in 2021, further highlighting its leading position as the largest regional network of humanitarian, aid and development efforts.

The special ceremony was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Crown Prince of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MBRGI, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi; Crown Prince of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman & Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi, alongside ministers and senior officials.

The ceremony included a summary of MBRGI’s achievements over the past year, as well as updates regarding the “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign and the honouring of major contributors to the campaign.

The ceremony was preceded by a meeting for MBRGI’s Board of Trustees at the Dubai Opera, presided over by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-General of MBRGI; Reem Al Hashimy; Chairperson of Dubai Cares; Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Dubai; Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Award’; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Foundation (Suqia UAE); Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation; Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Noor Dubai Foundation; Dawoud Al Hajri, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the UAE Food Bank; Mona Ghanem Al Merri, President of the Dubai Press Club and Secretary-General of the Arab Journalism Award; and Saeed AlEter; Assistant Secretary-General of MBRGI.

Ongoing Generosity

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “The UAE continues to establish its humanitarian role, actively contributing to creating a better life for millions of people. The UAE has opted for creating hope and building lives.

“Alleviating the suffering of fellow humans, regardless of their origin, ethnicity comes first and foremost, and is part of our moral duty. Our initiatives and projects made a tangible difference in the lives of 102 million people across 100 countries, who have become a part of the UAE story, of which we are all proud. We continue to be devoted to humanitarian work, and to upholding our Emirati values."

A Beacon for Humanity

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed stressed that MBRGI plays a vital role in establishing the culture of giving and generosity, promoting and expanding its reach locally, regionally and globally. “MBRGI's achievements are the result of an institutional framework and group efforts throughout the year, thanks to the dedication of its teams and tens of thousands of volunteers, all implementing the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid."

“The humanitarian drive led by Mohammed bin Rashid is part of his vision for leadership through highlighting the importance of humanitarian efforts in the UAE community for generations to come. The UAE will continue to extend help for those in need, and be a beacon for humanity,” he added.

Qualitative Projects

For his part, Al Gergawi said, “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives set a new record achievement by reaching 102 million people in 100 countries, in a true reflection of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s philosophy for humanitarian work based on qualitative, sustainable projects."

“Despite global challenges, MBRGI continues to expand its scope and increase spending, which is evident as the Foundation increased its spending by AED 300 million in 2022 compared to 2021, enabling us to improve the lives of millions in the fields of education, work and healthcare,” he added.

The ceremony included a brief summary of the “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign, which launched the largest Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund and mobilised local, regional and international efforts to help implement sustainable measures to fight and eradicate hunger within an institutional framework.

In 2022, MBRGI managed to improve operational efficiency and optimise its resources, increasing the number of beneficiaries as well as the countries it reached in just one year.

In addition to its team of 847 employees, MBRGI attracted 150,266 volunteers, a record number in MBRGI’s history and an increase of 5,330 volunteers compared to 2021. Their contributions played a vital role in implementing several of the Foundation’s projects and campaigns across its five main pillars: Humanitarian Aid and Relief, Healthcare and Disease Control, Spreading Education and Knowledge, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Empowering Communities.

Humanitarian Aid and Relief

30.2 million people benefited from MBRGI’s initiatives and projects under this pillar during 2022, representing a 7.3 million people increase compared to 2021. Spending on these programs rose by AED493 million compared to 2021, to reach AED910 million in 2022.

Operating under this pillar are the International Humanitarian City, UAE Food Bank, Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Foundation, Suqia and Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy.

Together, these institutions implemented food aid campaigns, winter clothes support drive, urgent relief aid for victims of wars and natural disasters, school building projects, student support campaigns, housing projects for the poor, clean water projects and an endowment initiative.

Healthcare and Disease Control

As the cornerstone in its vision of fighting infectious diseases and building healthy communities as the basis for healthy, productive humans able to advance their communities, MBRGI’s healthcare and disease control projects spent AED 42.5 million to benefit 9.4 million people during 2022.

Institutions operating under this pillar are Noor Dubai and Al Jalila Foundation, both working to improve healthcare, medical sciences and scientific research.

Among their achievements in 2022 was Al Jalila Foundation’s launch of the first robotic biobank in the UAE set to open in 2023 and a crucial resource for local research into genetic disorders, cancer, epidemics and other chronic diseases.

On the other hand, Noor Dubai continued to make a sustainable impact through preventive and educational campaigns aimed at eradicating the causes of blindness and vision impairment in underprivileged communities. Other projects by Noor Dubai included a national outreach program aimed to help treat UAE residents with limited financial capability and who are suffering from critical eye diseases, mobile eye clinics to facilitate serving patients across the UAE. Through its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme, Noor Dubai provided the antibiotic Zithromax to 9,142,612 people and trained 15,000 public health workers on treatment regimens to combat trachoma.

Spreading Education and Knowledge

Reflecting the importance MBRGI places on education as a key to advancing societies, Spreading Education and Knowledge projects saw a record increase in the number of beneficiaries reaching 55.1 million people, up 6.7 million from numbers recorded in 2021. Total spending on knowledge and education programs reached AED 213 million.

To this end, MBRGI designs and implements a variety of education and knowledge initiatives regionally and globally to build capacities of everyone involved in the education journey, from students to teachers and administrators. The Foundation aims to establish innovative e-learning platforms that keep up with modern educational curricula and global technological developments.

Achievement in this area during 2022 included Dubai Cares report on “Rewiring Education for People and Planet” during UN’s Transforming Education Summit, the launch of Madrasa educational centers in 7 countries, fully equipped to serve communities with economic and social challenges, the opening of Mohammed bin Rashid Library, a new cultural beacon that triggers a passion for knowledge. The library welcomed more than 300,000 visitors in 6 months.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

This pillar, key to moving towards a knowledge-based economy and paving the way for new sectors to emerge, spent a total of AED 128 million on implementing various projects and initiatives that benefited 4.6 million people in 2022, compared to 2.9 million in 2021.

Achievement in this regard included the launch of Concept Plus, a new business incubator for digital technology SMEs, a new edition of Mohammed bin Rashid Global Water Award which encourages research facilities to develop new solutions to face the challenge of clean water scarcity, over 1 million participations in Dubai Future Foundation’s One Million Arab Coders Initiative, as well as the opening of Museum of the Future; an icon of knowledge and a global symbol of advancement based in Dubai.

During its first year, the Museum of the Future received over 1 million visitors from 163 countries, and more than 1,000 international government officials and experts, including about 20 heads of state and official delegations.

Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development continued to serve Emirati entrepreneurs and start-ups, extending its services to 3,126 entrepreneurs and 2,210 start-ups in 2022.

Empowering Communities

2.3 million people benefited from community empowerment projects and initiatives during 2022, compared to 2.1 people in 2021, with a total spending of AED 95.1 million reflecting an increase of AED 6.4 million from the previous year.

Institutions working under this pillar include Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Arab Media Forum, Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, Dubai International Sports Conference, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, Arab Strategy Forum, Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development and Arab Hope Makers.

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Emirates

World Free Zones Organization Launches its New Corporate Identity

The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) has launched its new corporate identity, which coincided
with its 10th anniversary. The launch came during the 10 th World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) World Congress in Dubai held under the theme ‘Zones and the Shifting Global Economic Structures – Unlocking New Investment Avenues’, In conjunction with the launch of its new corporate identity, the World FZO announced its new vision, mission, and purpose. Its new vision focuses on driving global economic progress, sustainability, and inclusive growth through empowered free zones, setting the benchmark for economic advancement. As part of its new mission, the World FZO aims to engage with free zones from around the world by supporting them through knowledge
sharing, networking, advocacy, and consulting, enhancing their positive impact and contributions to economic and social development in their respective countries.
The World FZO reaffirmed its commitment to its core values while enhancing its approach by adopting the
latest practices and keeping pace with rapid global changes. This forward-thinking approach enables the
organisation to reshape prevailing perceptions and highlight its distinctive and innovative methods.
With its new identity, the World FZO also emphasise its dedication to launching purposeful and transparent initiatives that solidify its role as a catalyst for positive change on the global stage.
The organisation’s new corporate identity represents its three strategic pillars: Impact, Influence, and Trust. Its focus on Impact will drive sustainable growth and effectiveness, ensuring that free zones remain at the forefront of socio-economic development and innovation. Under its second pillar, Influence, it seeks to shape the future of global trade and investment by advocating for policies that foster growth and opportunity for businesses and communities. Furthermore, by building Trust, the organizations will reinforce its role as a steadfast ally, providing the advocacy needed to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape. The organisation’s key objectives for its new phase include opening new investment horizons and reinforcing social contributions by supporting net-zero initiatives.
The World FZO remains focused on fostering trade relations and partnerships between economic zones in its member countries, while broadening its activities to encompass emerging economic sectors. These sectors align with the demands of the era, including artificial intelligence, digital trade, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and advanced technologies.

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Emirates

Dubai Customs Launches Innovative Training Program to Enhance Emiratisation Efforts

– Specialized Vocational Program Under "Masar 33" Aims to Train and Employ 80
Citizens
– Sultan Bin Sulayem: Our Plans Align with National Vision and Goals
– Abdulla Mohammed Busenad: A Strong Commitment to Supporting
Nationalization Efforts in the UA

Dubai Customs is launching a significant initiative to train and employ 80 new high school graduates as “Customs Inspectors.”in line with the vision of the Dubai government and contributing to the goals of the Dubai Economic and Social Agenda, along with the leadership’s commitment to invest in citizens and increase Emiratisation rates.
This initiative is part of the department’s commitment to enhance the participation of citizens
in the economic development process and to support the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan goals
by investing in the youth and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to
keep pace with global changes. The department has allocated a vocational program in
customs inspection for candidates selected from Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024, providing them
with professional training for seven months both domestically and internationally before they
take up available positions. This initiative is part of the pioneering “Masar 33” program
designed to meet Dubai’s agenda goals by mobilizing all resources and development plans
to ensure the highest quality of life for citizens in the emirate. “Masar 33″aims to enhance
the competitiveness of Emirati talent through various initiatives, professional programs, and
scholarships, establishing Dubai Customs as a cornerstone for advancing the national
human development system, boosting its efficiency and productivity, and increasing its
participation in economic sectors to meet Dubai’s leading aspirations for the future.

Program Objectives:
The vocational program aims to nurture and train new high school graduates by enhancing
their professional skills in line with the Dubai government’s vision. It seeks to integrate
citizens into the labor market from early stages, ensuring their future success and
competitiveness. Additionally, it focuses on building the capabilities of customs inspectors on
scientific and advanced training foundations to address security risks and protect the
community and economy from customs evasion and smuggling, achieving a 100%
nationalization rate in customs inspection at Dubai Customs.

Active Participation:

H.E. Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports,
Customs and Free Zone Corporation, stated that the organization is committed through its
various initiatives and programs aimed at training and qualifying citizens to actively
contribute to the success of the UAE’s national vision, which is fundamentally based on the
Emirati workforce. He praised Dubai Customs for diversifying its projects in line with the
Dubai government’s plan and its social and economic agenda, enhancing the
competitiveness of citizens in the labor market for both the public and private sectors under
an ambitious strategy to encourage and promote nationalization policies.

Attracting Citizens:
H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, emphasized that
the department provides a range of specialized programs at the highest levels to attract
young citizens and involve them in the development process. Through “Masar 33” which
aligns with the objectives of the Dubai agenda and the leadership’s vision for enhancing
nationalization in both the public and private sectors, the programs enable citizens to gain
knowledge, field experience, and technical skills necessary for joining the labor market
through the approved career path. He noted that the initiative to train recent high school
graduates in customs professions builds upon Dubai Customs’ previous achievements in
qualifying citizens and the positive results attained through a series of diverse programs
covering the most in-demand job sectors. The department remains committed to enhancing
the efficiency of citizens and providing them with the professional opportunities they seek,
reinforcing its commitment to supporting nationalization efforts in the UAE.

Four Pillars:
Mohammed Al Ghaffari, Executive Director, Human Resources Division at Dubai Customs,
announced the opening of applications for the customs inspector training program during the
Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024 and provided the link to the official Dubai Government Jobs
website. The program is designed around four main pillars: digital skills programs, behavioral
programs, customs science programs, and security programs, alongside practical training in
the department’s customs centers and external training in collaboration with strategic
partners, which includes a comprehensive professional guidance program. He stated, “The
programs provided by Dubai Customs are increasingly popular among young citizens,
confirming the success of the department’ efforts in attracting national talent to shape future
leaders in customs work through various academic and specialized professional paths. This
offers new graduates the opportunity to qualify for roles in Dubai Customs, with 80 vacancies
allocated for graduates of the customs inspector training program.”

 

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Emirates

DCO Secretary-General commends Global Digital Compact at Summit of the Future

Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the
Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), said that “the digital divide the world faces today is
multifaceted, encompassing gaps in digital intelligence, computing capabilities, gender, and
skills,” in a speech at the Summit of the Future held during UNGA79 in New York.
In her speech, delivered after the UN General Assembly adopted the & Pact for the Future’ and the
‘Global Digital Compact’, AlYahya warned that “The AI and computing divide represents a
significant barrier, as some nations advance rapidly in AI innovation and deployment, while
others struggle to keep pace.
At the same time, the gender digital divide continues to limit women’s access to technology and
opportunities, and the skills divide leaves many without the digital competencies essential for
success in a fast-evolving economy. If we do not address these interconnected challenges, we
risk leaving entire communities behind.”
AlYahya praised the Global Digital Compact for “lays out an ambitious roadmap for an
inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all,” emphasizing that “It is a
bold vision, but the real challenge is translating these goals, principles, objectives, and
commitments into action, especially as we strive to achieve the SDGs.”
AlYahya highlighted that “at the Summit of the Future, the DCO proudly launched the Digital
Economy Navigator (DEN), an innovative tool that provides detailed insights on digital economy
performance across 50 countries. This initiative is just one of the many ways we are turning the
principles of the Global Digital Compact into action.”
She explained that “while DEN is a vital resource, it is only the beginning. In the spirit of
networked multilateralism, we must foster collective efforts to the GDC’s ambitious goals,
objectives, and commitments. I call upon every country, organization, and individual to join
forces in this critical endeavor.”
The Digital Economy Navigator (DEN) evaluates digital economy performance through three
intersecting dimensions: Digital Enablers, Digital Business, and Digital Society. Within these
dimensions, 10 pillars synthesize and summarize key aspects of countries’ digital economy, and
use of digital technology application from 102 indicators gathered from respected secondary data
sources, in addition to proprietary survey data of more than 27,000 participants across the 50
countries.
In addition to the launch of the DEN, on the sidelines of UNGA, DCO signed an agreement with
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enhance digital cooperation and accelerate
digital transformation across the world, to support efforts aimed at achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
It also signed a memorandum of understanding with the League of Arab States (LAS) to
accelerate the inclusive and sustainable digital economy, enhance relations and exchange experiences and knowledge, and accelerate the process of digital transformation and economic development.

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