Leading marine operator DP World recently raised funds for a training centre for children with special needs through auction of art.

Children at Al Noor Special Needs Training Centre will benefit from the combined efforts of DP World and its employee Farid Mohammed Al Rais, a renowned young Emirati artist.

DP World purchased the painting earlier this year and donated it to an auction to raise funds for the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs in Dubai.

The work of art fetched Dh25,000 ($6,805) and the money will go towards supporting the centre’s humanitarian efforts to provide quality education and therapy services to children with special needs. The auction coincided with the 30th anniversary of Al Noor Training Centre.

The painting was part of a February exhibition of works by Al Rais, who works as a senior officer in DP World, UAE Region’s Strategic Planning and Business Support Department. At the time, the painter donated 10 per cent of the proceeds from the sale to children with special needs.

Al Rais’s works were chosen from 350 entries for the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award in 2010. Four of his pieces are owned by Burj Khalifa.

Mohammed Al Muallem, senior vice president and managing director, DP World, UAE region said: “This auction is part of DP World’s ongoing initiatives to actively contribute to the development of UAE society by encouraging local talent and supporting humanitarian causes.”

“We are pleased with the enthusiastic response from art lovers and philanthropists whose support is essential to sustain the good work done by the Al Noor Training Centre,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service