The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre distributes 15,000 iftar meals everyday during Ramadan.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre distributes 15,000 iftar meals everyday during Ramadan.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre distributes 15,000 iftar meals everyday during Ramadan.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre distributes 15,000 iftar meals everyday during Ramadan.

Government

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque distributes 15,000 iftar meals daily at worker accomodation

Ninety chefs and 145 workers prepare meals in safe and hygienic environment

The National

May 03, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has distributed 15,000 iftar meals every day at different worker accommodation across Abu Dhabi since the start of Ramadan.

The centre joined the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel for the initiative.

Officials said the meals were prepared in a safe and hygienic environment and were taken by trucks equipped and certified by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.

A team of 90 chefs and 145 workers prepared the meals.

During the holy month, it is common for mosques to host social gatherings for workers to dine during iftar.

But all permits for Ramadan tents in the UAE were cancelled this year, in line with nationwide efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

However, organisations across the city were allowed to deliver meals to people and families in need.

On April 11, the UAE launched the 100 Million Meals campaign to feed the needy in 30 countries during Ramadan.

A website allowed the public to donate as little as Dh10 to fund 10 meals, rising to Dh500 or more.

The UAE officially reached its target in only 10 days, thanks to the generosity of 185,000 donors, which included people and companies inside and outside the UAE.

Iftar meals distributed at Dubai worker accommodation - in pictures

  • Sri Lankan community volunteers hand out meals for 300 people at a labour accommodation block in Sonapur, Dubai. All pictures by Antonie Robertson / The National
    Sri Lankan community volunteers hand out meals for 300 people at a labour accommodation block in Sonapur, Dubai. All pictures by Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Food packages include hot meals and dry essentials for workers and families
    Food packages include hot meals and dry essentials for workers and families
  • The Sahana group secured permission from the authorities for its Ramadan campaign
    The Sahana group secured permission from the authorities for its Ramadan campaign
  • In addition to the iftar meals campaign, Sahana helps Sri Lankan families who have fallen on hard times
    In addition to the iftar meals campaign, Sahana helps Sri Lankan families who have fallen on hard times
  • It also works to people who lost their jobs in the construction sector to find work in restaurants or other sectors
    It also works to people who lost their jobs in the construction sector to find work in restaurants or other sectors
  • Packets of drinks and snacks are prepared to be handed out
    Packets of drinks and snacks are prepared to be handed out
  • The campaign is funded by generous residents and businessmen from Sri Lanka
    The campaign is funded by generous residents and businessmen from Sri Lanka
  • Sonapur is a cluster of labour accommodation blocks that has existed for decades
    Sonapur is a cluster of labour accommodation blocks that has existed for decades
  • A volunteer hands out produce from his car
    A volunteer hands out produce from his car
If you go

Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

While you're here
The specs

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Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

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On sale: now

Married Malala

Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.

The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.

Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.

How to vote in the UAE

1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/

2) Take it to the US Embassy

3) Deadline is October 15

4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Pandemic Parenting
THE DEALS

Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m

Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m

Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m

Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m

Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m

TOTAL $485m

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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