In coincidence with the decision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to declare 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving, the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Charity Foundation announced its participation in the Global Endowment Vision adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the revival of endowment as a developmental practice for communities. The participation of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Foundation has been represented in providing a sustainable donation valued at Dhs5 million on an annual basis for medical education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

This sustainable community service comes within the framework of the Innovative Endowment concept in coordination with Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy (MBRGCEC) and also within the medical education endowment adopted by the Centre in collaboration with the university. The Innovative Endowment concept allows the establishment of various types of endowment as a developmental practice through services and products and other tools, and is not limited to property assets, as the case is with the conventional endowment.

Based on this initiative, the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Foundation will receive the Dubai Endowment Sign from the MBRGCEC, one of the key initiatives under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, in recognition of their contribution to the community as a model for private sector enterprises. This sign gives procurement privileges for the private sector with Government of Dubai entities as per the directives of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

“We have participated in the initiative due to our firm belief in the importance of the decision adopted by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, to declare 2017 “the Year of Giving”, in addition to our support to the Global Endowment Vision adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Such vision contributes to the development of our communities and to become a global model to be followed in order to contribute to the development of all the state’s sectors in collaboration with the private sector. We hope, through this Innovative Endowment, we could achieve the desired impact,” Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Charity Foundation, said.

Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Dean of the College of Medicine at MBRU, has stressed the importance of cooperation amongst the private sector’s entities in supporting community initiatives within the UAE: “We highly appreciate the endowment support by Easa Saleh Al Gurg Foundation, which will be allocated for medical education at the university. Moreover, we are looking forward to more fruitful cooperation with such leading entities, which in turn will contribute to the enhancement of the health standards, the development of medical capabilities across the state and building sustainable potential within the health sector in the UAE.”
Alsheikh also demonstrated the importance of endowment in supporting the fields of medical research at the university and providing the community with health and medical qualified cadres that are capable of addressing the various health issues with exceptional competence, in addition to accomplishing leadership and distinction in the field of medicine and health sciences at domestic, regional and international levels.
Dr Hamad Al Hammady, Secretary-General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy stated: “Declaring 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’ by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, is a great opportunity for all private sector companies to utilise the innovative endowment concept. The Innovative endowment, part of the Global Vision for Endowments, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has opened a wide door to the development of communities, which brings this important development tool to support community development.

“The innovative endowment adopted by Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy serves to provide unlimited opportunities for government and private sector institutions and works to advance the narrow definition of Awqaf and its perception, hence the importance of the contribution of the public and private sectors, which can devise initiatives that support the development of communities and meet various social needs. We believe that the contribution of the community through innovative endowments are unlimited and government and private sector institutions can participate in the service of the community regardless of the size of their contribution. Al Gurg Foundation has become a partner in the community by contributing through the innovative endowment, and will be provided the Dubai Endowment Sign launched by His Highness.”

The Secretary General of the Centre said that the website, www.MBRgcec.ae is ready to receive enquiries from all interested individuals and organisations wishing to obtain the Dubai Endowment Sign.

The Centre will also provide the necessary consultation to public and private institutions in promoting community contribution by the Dubai Endowment Sign, which helps build a range of community services that address the most important needs of the community through the active participation of institutions.