The spirit of Ramadan was on full display in Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall on Monday night when it hosted 100 underprivileged children and orphans for a special iftar event.
The project, entitled 200 Smiles, is part of the citywide Joy of Eid initiative, organised by the Rawafed Centre and Dubai’s Red Crescent, to spread happiness among less fortunate children.
Shadidh Abdullah, who co-ordinated the event, explained how 200 orphans and underprivileged children will take part in the event over a three-week period in Ibn Battuta Mall.
“Ibn Battuta has sponsored tonight’s event, they are sponsoring 200 children to come and shop for their Eid clothing,” she said.
“The idea is that it is a tradition during Eid that you get new clothes, we wanted to bring joy to all of these children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The National spoke to some of the children taking part in the evening.
“I am looking forward to getting to choose a new dress,” said Noor, 8, from Egypt.
“I am going to do a lot of shopping. I am going to buy a pretty red dress to wear.”
Dresses were certainly top of the shopping list for Noor’s friends Jenna and Maya as well.
“I want a purple dress,” said Maya, 8, also from Egypt.
Jenna, 10, also wanted a dress, but she has her heart set on a white one.
“With shoes and accessories of course,” she said.
The children who were all fasting all agreed that they were big fans of Ramadan.
“I love the fruits you get for Ramadan,” said Jenna.
Maya said: “I like to pray a lot for Ramadan.”
The last word was had by Noor who declared that she likes Ramadan because “I get to eat a lot of nice food”.
After the children had iftar in Chuck E. Cheese, and played to their hearts content on the amusements, they were paired with volunteers who took them shopping for new clothes.
“A lot of the children’s families can’t afford new clothes, so the children often wear hand-me-downs,” she said.
This is the third consecutive year that Ibn Battuta Mall has played host to orphans and underprivileged children ahead of Eid.
“Instead of just putting money into a charity box we are asking people to take a child shopping and give them that opportunity to buy new clothes, it gives the volunteers that opportunity to share in the joy.”
The 200 Smiles project has a special agreement with Redtag in Ibn Battuta Mall which allows a certain budget for each child to select their Eid clothes, after they receive a fashion and styling session.
Hamdan Musallam Al Mazroui, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Red Crescent, said the idea behind the event is to not only bring joy to the underprivileged children, but also to the volunteers who shop with them.
“We just wanted to give everybody the opportunity to share in this,” said Abdullah.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
Live: On beIN Sports HD
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
