Awqaf contributes Dh4 million to Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans
National initiative aims to provide long-term education and healthcare support
ABU DHABI – The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf) has contributed Dh4 million in support of the Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans initiative, launched by the Endowments and Minors’ Funds Authority – Awqaf Abu Dhabi as part of the Year of Family.
The initiative operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and aims to establish a sustainable endowment model that ensures continuous support for orphans, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
The programme forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen social welfare systems while ensuring long-term care for vulnerable segments of society.
Sustainable support
Dr Omar Habtour Al Derei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat, said the contribution underscores the authority’s commitment to advancing sustainable endowment models that ensure long-term care and support for orphans.
He said the initiative provides stable resources that can empower beneficiaries and improve their quality of life, particularly by strengthening access to education and healthcare services. Such programmes, he noted, align with the UAE’s vision of building a cohesive society rooted in compassion, solidarity and social responsibility.
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Al Derei added that the authority remains actively engaged in supporting national endowment and charitable initiatives through multiple forms of contribution, including financial support as well as awareness and advisory efforts aimed at advancing humanitarian objectives.
Waqf tradition
He highlighted that waqf, or charitable endowment, remains a fundamental pillar of sustainable charitable work. The model preserves the original capital while allowing its returns to fund social and humanitarian initiatives over time.
This mechanism ensures continuity of giving across generations, creating long-term social benefits while reinforcing community cohesion and responsibility. Endowment initiatives in the UAE increasingly focus on sustainable investment strategies that enable charitable contributions to generate ongoing returns.
Al Derei also praised the continued support of the UAE leadership for charitable and endowment initiatives, emphasising the importance of strengthening the role of philanthropy in national development.
National vision
He also commended the efforts of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, for her longstanding role in strengthening family stability and supporting initiatives focused on orphan care.
According to Awqaf, caring for orphans remains among the most significant forms of charitable work due to its lasting impact on nurturing capable and empowered generations able to contribute to society.
The Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans initiative forms part of a broader national vision aimed at transforming community contributions into sustainable endowment returns. These returns are invested through structured mechanisms designed to ensure continuous support for orphans, covering key needs such as education, healthcare and living expenses while enhancing their overall quality of life.
Through this model, the initiative seeks to strengthen the foundations of a balanced and cohesive society by combining charitable giving with long-term sustainability.