Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s leading listed property development, investment and management company, has announced a contribution of Dh36 million ($9.8 million) to Sandooq Al Watan, a national initiative launched by prominent Emirati businessmen to support research projects for the post-oil era.

The contribution was personally made by Aldar’s chairman, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, at a ceremony attended by Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim and senior representatives of Aldar and Sandooq Al Watan as well as members from Aldar’s senior management team. The contribution reflects the priority that Aldar attributes to its corporate and social responsibility as a leader in the community.

Aldar’s latest contribution to Sandooq Al Watan is in addition to the company’s previous donations of Dh48 million ($13 million), bringing the total contribution to the fund to Dh84 million ($22.8 million).
 
Sandooq Al Watan is a community initiative that seeks to promote a sense of social cohesion in Emirati society. The initiative aligns with the UAE leadership’s vision for a sustainable development and a better future for the country and its citizens. It is rooted in the UAE’s national values of charity, generosity and social solidarity, and synchronizes community efforts to forecast and plan for the future. Sandooq Al Watan seeks to steer investments into the UAE’s human capital with projects and initiatives that focus on the strategic sectors that most affect people’s lives.

Dhahi Khalfan, chairman of Sandooq Al Watan, commented:
“We are happy to be working with Aldar, who share our vision and have shown us consistent support and generosity. Together, we will strive to promote young Emirati talent and provide them with career guidance, all the while encouraging small and medium enterprises and fostering research and innovation in the UAE."

Examples of the initiatives in which Sandooq Al Watan is involved include the Emirati Coder Initiative, which seeks to educate a generation of professionals fluent in programming languages (the “language of the future”). The program takes place over the course of three months, during which participants can hone their skills through a series of classroom lectures and online programs. The program is slated for an expansion allowing it to include 1,000 students from all seven emirates in its next instalment.

Another initiative is Researcher.ae, the UAE’s first national research-support platform connecting researchers with investors. Researcher.ae seeks to support R&D across all sectors, including aviation and space travel, water management and genomics, among others, to come up with innovative solutions, patents or prototypes that can create the next generation of highly competitive UAE companies to rival international giants like Google, Tesla and others.

Sandooq Al Watan had also launched “Mawhibatna” which focuses on identifying and nurturing gifted individuals at a young age through world-class summer programs, industry challenges and extracurricular activities designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of gifted and talented children.

Aldar has supported many of these initiatives through its financial contributions as well as through hosting events in its key destinations or assets including Aldar HQ and Aldar Academies.

In addition, the national fund joined hands with the Khalifa Innovation Center to establish the “Sandooq Al Watan Oasis”, which seeks to field high tech social investment opportunities that are set to yield positive effects on society. The Oasis will cover a total area of approximately 12,000 square feet, setting out to develop innovation centres all around the country, providing dedicated office spaces, laboratories and infrastructure that allow entrepreneurs to produce deep science and high-tech offerings and products. The Oasis will also provide a full range of services, including entrepreneurial training programs conducted by top local and international experts, financiers and entrepreneurs. - TradeArabia News Service