‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan with Majid Al Futtaim

Dubai, UAE: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, today launched its  annual ‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan initiative to collect donations and everyday essentials for distribution to those in need across the region. This year sees the campaign extending its platform of charitable giving through collection points at 17 malls throughout the region as well as hypermarket and entertainment destinations. 

 Now in its ninth year of partnership with the UAE’s Red Crescent Society, and coinciding with City Centre malls’ 20^th anniversary, Majid Al Futtaim’s ‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan programme encourages visitors to donate funds, clothes, books, food and mobile phones to regional families in need. The 2014 campaign, which included the GCC, Lebanon, and Egypt, saw thousands of much-needed items collected and distributed, including non-perishable food items, electronics, toys for children and even wheelchairs.

 To extend the reach of the initiative in 2015, other Majid Al Futtaim businesses are also participating. Carrefour locations across the region will feature donation points while offering significant reductions on essential items that can then be donated onsite. Mall visitors can also donate goods at Magic Planet, where they can donate toys won in-store to less privileged children. At Ski Dubai, visitors can donate their AED20 locker deposit, while AED 1 from every ticket sold at VOX Cinemas will be donated to the campaign.

 During a Ramadan-themed event for regional media at the Pullman Dubai City Centre Deira Hotel, hosted by Majid Al Futtaim,  Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Senior Director – Property Management, Shopping Malls for Majid Al Futtaim Properties, was joined by Emirati celebrity, Fayez Al Saeed, who is often referred to by his fans as the ‘Ambassador of Tunes’. He reaffirmed his previous commitment this year to raise awareness of the importance of giving, and encourage residents including the younger generation, to donate goods towards the campaign.   

 “This initiative has motivated regional communities to share their blessings with those less fortunate through diverse and generous donations,” said Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Senior Director – Property Management, Shopping Malls for Majid Al Futtaim Properties. “As our City Centres across the Middle East celebrate two decades of creating great moments for everyone, everyday, ‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan demonstrates Majid Al Futtaim’s continued commitment to the communities in which we operate, and we’re delighted to have more malls participating as well as new collection points at Carrefour and our entertainment destinations in 2015 to widen the platform for such a worthy cause.”

 In the UAE, Majid Al Futtaim collaborates with the Red Crescent to ensure the timely and appropriate distribution of all donated goods through their humanitarian network. Mohammed Abdullah Alhaj Al Zaroni, Manager, Red Crescent UAE, said, “Our work with Majid Al Futtaim for almost a decade has demonstrated the true spirit of Ramadan by providing thousands of needy families with essential everyday items.  2015 is set to be the widest campaign to date through new donation locations, and we encourage as many people as possible to join us in giving to those less fortunate this Holy Month.”

 Fayez Al Saeed, who has collaborated with some of the most celebrated talents in the Arab world, has previously encouraged his fans to take part in the ‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan initiative last year. The star has underscored his support in 2015 to develop the widest possible awareness and participation in the giving campaign. 

 Starting the first day of Ramadan and running into Eid, the ‘Make a Difference’ this Ramadan campaign will include easily accessible donation points in Majid Al Futtaim’s 17 shopping malls across the region in five markets including shopping malls in the UAE:  City Centre Ajman, City Centre Deira, City Centre Fujairah, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif City Centre Sharjah, My City Centre Nasseriya, and all four Matajer malls in Sharjah, plus malls in Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman. Additional collection points can be found in participating locations of Carrefour, Magic Planet, Ski Dubai and VOX Cinemas.