The scholarships granted by Zakat Fund is part of its “Read” project to help needy students throughout the Emirates

Abu Dhabi, 15 August, 2010: The disbursement committee of Zakat Fund has approved to grant 29 new scholarships to needy university students as part of the Fund’s “Read” project that aims to financially support the students who cannot afford their educational expenses. Zakat Fund has previously approved another 30 scholarships bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 59 university students since the beginning to the 2009/2010 academic year.

HE Abdullah Al Muhairi, Secretary General of Zakat Fund, said that providing cash assistance through scholarships to needy students goes in line with the Fund’s strategy and objectives that aim at extending a helping hand to those in need among the nationals and expatriates who fall under one of the Zakat deserving categories. As an independent federal authority that is inspired by the spirit of giving of Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the development process led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, Zakat Fund initiates various charitable projects through which it proves to be a secure shelter and a source of giving and assistance to all those living in this country.

“Believing that Islam encourages education and realizing that Allah helps those who help others, we decided to financially support the smart students who cannot afford study expenses and encourage them to pursue their university education as we will pay all education-related expenses as long as it takes to finish their colleges,” said Al Muhairi.

He noted that Zakat Fund was planning to accept 50 applications only for university scholarships according to its plan for this year, but due to a 20% rise in the number of applications received by Zakat Fund, the authority decided to increase the total number of scholarships to 59. “We hope to offer double that number of scholarships as long as we still receive more Zakat money and cash assistance from Muslims and philanthropists,” Al Muhairi said.

The total amount of the 59 scholarships is AED 14 million which will be spent on those university students throughout their four to five years of study at college. The total amount of scholarships project is expected to reach AED 65 million within the next five years.

He pointed out that Zakat Fund is very keen in following up the educational circumstances of students all over the Emirates through collaborating with the educational zones. Zakat Fund feels committed to support smart students whose difficult economic conditions prevented them from pursuing their university education. The Fund studies all the cases it receives to decide the students who deserve to be granted the scholarship based on certain regulatory conditions. Through this program, the Fund aims to turn those students, who come under one of Zakat deserving cases, into active and producing members of the society following the UAE’s policy in realizing social development.

The Zakat Fund Secretary General extended his appreciation to all educational institutions in the country for cooperating with the Fund through reducing their tuition fees, or through granting extra free scholarships to Zakat Fund.

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About Zakat Fund:

Zakat Fund is an independent federal authority that was established in Abu Dhabi by the federal law No. (4/2003). Its main objective is to enhance Muslims’ awareness about the obligation of Zakat in Islam, and to consolidate its effect and significant role in social and individual development. Zakat Fund makes it the top priority to create a society of solidarity and human compassion through participating in many charitable activities targeting the poor and the needy. The Fund receives, develops and distributes Zakat money of the UAE national and resident Muslims in its legitimate channels specified by Islamic Shari’ah.

Resources of Zakat Fund include the Zakat money which Muslims desire to pay through the Fund or the money referred to the Fund by other charitable associations and authorities. Zakat resources also come from contributions, donations and aids delivered to the Fund by other entities provided that it does not conflict with the Fund’s objectives and that are accepted by the Board of Directors. Resources also include a portion of the UAE general budget that is specifically allocated for the Zakat Fund’s administrative expenses. Two committees have been assigned by the Fund’s Secretariat. The first is a legal committee that provides legal opinions with regard to the rulings of Zakat in Islamic Shari’ah, and the distribution committee which prepares policies of Zakat money disbursement in its legal channels specified by Shari’ah or determined by Zakat payers.

Zakat Fund provides a number of electronic programs to help Zakat payers, whether individuals or organizations, inquire, calculate and pay their Zakat through the Fund’s website and cell phones. Zakat Fund launched a series of charitable projects including: Poor & Needy project, Read project, Reward & Health project, Debtors project, Prisoners’ Families project, Mawadah project, Cooperation project with social and charitable associations, and the latest project of University Students.

For further inquires about Zakat Fund, please visit our website: www.zakatfund.ae

 

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