An Abu Dhabi health drive has been hailed as a major success after raising Dh900 million in a month to support patients with chronic illnesses, people with disabilities and senior citizens.
The Life Endowment Campaign, established by the Endowments and Minors Funds Authority (Awqaf Abu Dhabi), was launched on May 19 to help meet the treatment costs of patients as part of a wider vision to make the health sector more sustainable.
Organisers have praised the outpouring of support for the scheme, from both individuals and businesses, after more than 200,000 financial contributions were received.
The humanitarian initiative, held under the slogan With you for Life, was announced by President Sheikh Mohamed under the UAE's Year of Community.
Awqaf said it will continue to welcome donations to the flagship endowment campaign, which was established under the body's Healthcare Endowment initiative, launched in May, 2024 with the goal of raising Dh1 billion over five years.
Investing in the emirate's health
The funds raised are being used to create an endowment, which will serve to support treatment of patients and investment in services and medical supplies for years to come.
An endowment fund acts as a philanthropic investment portfolio, with donations to used to establish an initial pool of money with the aim that this will be invested to grow in value.
The Life Endowment will seek to maximise the returns of the endowment and direct them towards various healthcare programmes to improve quality of life of the public in the years ahead.
Awqaf has announced a number of supporting endowment projects. These include the Awqaf Abu Dhabi - Community Centre project valued at Dh50 million, and a DhD70 million real estate endowment project in partnership with Aldar Properties.
Key contributions to the campaign included a Dh172 million donation from Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, approved the allocation of Dh100 million from Erth Zayed Philanthropies to the campaign.
This pledge was made under the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
“The Life Endowment campaign has provided a pioneering model for transforming endowments into an innovative financial tool that allows for the efficient investment of endowment assets to generate sustainable returns that support key sectors and enhance the quality of life," said Abdulhamid Mohammed Saeed, chairman of Awqaf.
"Exceeding its target by raising more than Dh900 million, the campaign demonstrates a growing public awareness of the endowment's power to drive positive social impact.
“The remarkable community engagement and generous contributions from individuals and organisations highlight the deeply ingrained culture of giving and social responsibility within the UAE.
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
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Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
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Married Malala
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
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- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
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Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
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A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
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The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
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Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
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2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Kalra's feat
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
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Beam: 21.2 m
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From Zero
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WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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