The global allure of Dubai – News

An enabling environment for businesses to become global leaders in philanthropy

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai With Mirwais Azizi, Founder and Chairman of Azizi Developments and Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments.

Earlier this month, I decided to donate AED 100 million to the Billion Meals Foundation in Dubai. A commendable charitable initiative driven by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Endowment Fund aims to donate to millions around the world during the holy month Food aid Ramadan for those in need.

Acts of charity are primarily for the fulfillment of human and religious obligations. But charity also means gratitude and gratitude and for me and my family our donation to the Billion Meals Endowment Fund is above all an expression of our love and gratitude for the UAE which is almost our cherished home thirty years.

Dubai welcomed, protected and nurtured my family in the 1990s as my birthplace of Afghanistan struggled with conflict and instability. Over the years, in this wonderful city, my children have had happy childhoods, grown into responsible adults, and gone on to start their own businesses. Together, we enjoy the unparalleled security that the UAE offers, and benefit from education, healthcare and lifestyle opportunities that are second to none in the world.

When we moved here in 1995, we brought with us a modest fortune, built up early in my entrepreneurial career in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Today, three decades later, we have built a massive business that includes one of Dubai’s top real estate companies – Azizi Developments – with assets in excess of US$10 billion. I believe with all my heart that our success is a testament to the open and conducive environment Dubai offers entrepreneurs and their businesses.

The experience of Dubai taught me that in a well-governed and environmentally empowered society, while everyone can and is encouraged to pursue his or her dreams, no one needs to be completely self-made. Success is a product not only of our ambitions, but of the opportunities we have—the rule of law that prevails, the reliable infrastructure that surrounds us, and, most importantly, a government committed to supporting the private sector.

Crucially, Dubai’s global appeal as a safe, happy and welcoming place stems from the vision and wisdom of its leadership and government. I believe the role of the Al Maktoum family is at the heart of Dubai’s success. I salute Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his inspiring vision and leadership in enabling Dubai to fulfill its potential as a global hub, The reason behind Opportunity and Prosperity’s ability to connect people and cultures is unmatched by any other city or country.

I particularly commend His Royal Highness for his focus on supporting those in need. Philanthropy, in terms of our collective sense of responsibility to the less fortunate, is a cornerstone of human society. It is the structure that brings communities and people together, emphasizing our shared humanity and fundamental interdependence.

Already a major logistical hub for the United Nations and other humanitarian entities operating around the world, Dubai is becoming a major fundraising base for charities as well. I think the time has come to acknowledge the UAE’s role and potential as a major center for global philanthropy.

Through our contribution to the Billion Meals Endowment Fund, I am proud to be a small part of His Highness the Sheikh’s vision of supporting a global eradication of poverty and suffering. In addition to addressing the immediate challenges of extreme hunger and malnutrition through emergency food aid, His Highness rightly identified education and health as two of the most critical areas of humanitarian intervention in many countries around the world.

Azizi Developments is currently in our own humble way providing aid and support to communities in need with a particular focus on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Through the Azizi Foundation, we provide emergency food assistance to 1.5 million Afghans in need each year. In addition, we offer university-level scholarships to students, especially girls, who would otherwise not be able to pursue higher education. In addition, we recently allocated $100 million to fund three major projects in Kabul—a cancer hospital, a dialysis center, a maternity center, and an orphanage.

In continuing to pursue these and other philanthropic goals, Azizi Developments is honored to continue to be part of the vision and strategy of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

More broadly, in addition to Dubai’s vibrant, stable economy and world-class facilities, I see a unique ethos in the fabric of this great city that combines ultra-modern with steadfast tradition; a A spirit that generates a sense of community, collaboration and a shared future at home and abroad. This spirit of generosity will form the basis for greater success for Dubai in the future.

The trajectory of Dubai is very bright and prosperous, and I am proud and honored not only for the emirate itself, but for the world in general, that my family and I will be actively involved in this promising future.

The author is the founder and chairman of Azizi Developments