The Dar Al Ber Society (DABS) is to spend 10,186,384 million on a variety of charity programs and projects across the country in the holy month of Ramadan this year.

H.E. Khalfan Khalifa Al Mazrouie, Chairman of Dar Al Ber, said the planned projects under the nationwide seasonal campaign, themed: ‘Make them happy’, span free Iftar meals, Eid clothing, Zakat Al Fitr, and general alms.

“The campaign, which is almost Dh6.7m more than last year’s, will kick off at all the branches of the Society in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah, along with the DABS Quran study centres for boys and girls.”

Some 100 DABS staff reps have been assigned at all cooperative societies and shopping centres to collect public contribution for the benefit of poor and low-income people, he added.

“The DABS Ramadan campaign will also be promoted on all mass media and social websites whereas the society is to run various courses to train its staff on the best way to deal with the philanthropists and urge the public to give charity to needy people and make them happy.”

Al Mazrouie said the 37-year-old charity association has specified Dh2 million for the local ‘Iftar Meal’ project against Dh1 million for abroad Iftar meals. “Up to Dh850,000 will be spent on the global Zakat Al Fitr program, along with Dh210,000 for the international ‘Eid clothes’ scheme, and Dh210,000 for the same project locally.”

Dar Al Ber is also to spend 486,000 on the Da’wah or preaching project which involves diverse programs, activities, events, meetings, and lectures in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Balochi at specific mosques, DABS headquarters, Islamic information centre, and labour camps. “This amount is Dh112,000 more than the Dh374,000 specified for the same scheme last year.”

“The main targeted segments are new Muslims, foreign communities, and blue-collar workers who will enjoy a variety of edutainment programs, free religious books, brochures, and CDs on the provisions of the holy month of Ramadan and frequently asked questions.”

Dar Al Ber Society is also to distribute thousands of different-sized copies of the Holy Quran of which more than 6,500,000 ones have been gifted so far to Muslims around the planet, Abdullah Ali bin Zayed, the executive director of Dar Al Ber said. “Dar Al Ber cooperates with over 49 foreign entities abroad to distribute Iftar meals, Zakat Al Fitr and Eid clothes to poor people therein.”

These are apart from the daily free Iftar banquets held every year at the Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, along with the Eid clothing project, Zakat Al Fitr, and free Iftar meals run at a number of mosques, and labour camps all over the holy month of Ramadan, he pointed out.

Urging donation, Bin Zayed said it is highly advisable for Muslims to take and chance, get closer to Almighty Allah, and give charity to most needy people on these blessed days. “Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was as generous as the blowing wind in the holy month of Ramadan.”