Government | Tuesday 24 March, 2015 12:38 pm |

Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) today showcased its latest humanitarian initiative – the Salma Project - at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD 2015) that was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Salma project seeks to provide aid to people in crisis and war torn areas. AMAF is assigned the responsibility of managing the project and overseeing its implementation in collaboration with global partners.

In line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s directions, Salma deployed its first batch of aid comprising 200,000 relief meals in 2014 among displaced people in the Gaza Strip. The efforts were achieved in cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the UN’s World Food Programme.

Notably, the Salma’s project’s early success won it the distinguished Islamic Economy Award this year.

Commenting on AMAF’s participation at DIHAD 2015, His Excellency Tayeb Al Rais, Secretary General of AMAF, said: “We at AMAF are committed to boosting international humanitarian relief efforts. DIHAD provides us with unique opportunities to meet and network with notable relief agencies to understand their needs and create partnerships that benefit people during crises and disasters.”

“The Salma relief project is part of Dubai’s strategy to emerge as the capital of Islamic economy. It targets disaster victims from all religions, ethnicities and backgrounds without any discrimination. Islam is a religion of giving and mercy, and the UAE reflects its heritage and culture of generosity through unique initiatives such as the Salma project,” he added.

On his part, Abdul Wahab Soufan, Director of Salma project, said: “The profits generated from processing secondary products from cattle such as wool, the leather and the fats are recycled and utilized in waqf projects in order to maintain sustainable financial revenues. Such revenues will meet the administrative and operational costs of the Salma project and help grow it financially in order to ensure the consistent delivery of food aid.”


About AMAF
The birth of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) came with the issue of law No. 6 in 2004 during the era of the late His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. With the expansion of the institution in its work and functions, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler Dubai issued law No. 9 in 2007 organizing the work of the institution, to ensure the provision of a conducive environment for greater achievements in the development of ‘awqaf’ and minors’ funds, and the care of their affairs, according to a well-aimed plan, and a conscious vision and insight.

The main objective of the establishment of AMAF stemmed from Government of Dubai’s keenness to embrace and care for minors, invest their money, and provide them with rehabilitation. The institution set its eye on becoming a global role model in the development of the ‘waqf’ and rehabilitation of minors.

In order to achieve its strategic objectives for the institution, AMAF is keen to nurture talent and provide an environment full of creativity, excellence and teamwork in order to improve the quality of daily transactions to consolidate the credibility in the minds and hearts of its team and people it works with.