Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans Raises Dh3.3 Billion in Ramadan Campaign

The Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans initiative, launched by the Endowments and Minors' Funds Authority Awqaf Abu Dhabi under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, raised Dh3.3 billion during Ramadan, marking one of the largest sustained charitable fundraising totals in the emirate's history for a single campaign period.

The initiative, launched at the beginning of the Holy Month and named in honor of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the UAE's "Mother of the Nation," aims to establish a sustainable, investment-driven endowment funding source for orphan care across the country covering education, healthcare, living costs, and social empowerment programs.

How the Model Works

Rather than functioning as a traditional one-time donation drive, the campaign operates on a waqf, or endowment, model: contributions are converted into structured investment assets, with the financial returns generated by those assets rather than the principal itself channeled toward supporting orphans on an ongoing basis. Officials describe the approach as designed to guarantee long-term, sustainable support rather than a finite pool of funds that eventually runs out.

Major Contributions Behind the Total
The Dh3.3 billion total was driven by a mix of government, corporate, and individual contributions. Among the most significant was the Dh1 billion "Mother of the Nation City" project, a commercial development announced through a partnership between Awqaf Abu Dhabi and property developer Eagle Hills, with all financial returns from the project directed to the endowment. Awqaf Abu Dhabi itself contributed Dh100 million, while major UAE institutions including Aldar Group, Binghatti Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank each pledged tens of millions of dirhams. Prominent businessman Yusuffali M.A. personally donated Dh150 million to the campaign.

Leadership Reactions

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs, credited the campaign's success to strong engagement from individuals and institutions across the UAE, calling the result a reflection of deeply rooted values of giving and solidarity in Emirati society.

Abdulhamid Mohamed Saeed, Chairman of Awqaf Abu Dhabi, described the initiative as a pioneering national model that transforms community generosity into a sustainable endowment system capable of ensuring continuous support for orphans across generations, while Director General Fahad Abdul Qader Al Qassim said the campaign reflects the UAE's distinguished record of globally recognized humanitarian efforts.

Part of a Broader Pattern of Record-Setting Campaigns

The Ramadan campaign builds on the momentum of Awqaf Abu Dhabi's earlier "Life Endowment" campaign, launched during the UAE's Year of Community, which raised close to Dh1 billion in just four weeks from more than 200,000 individual donors underscoring a broader pattern of large-scale, rapid fundraising success for the authority's endowment-based initiatives.

Given the scale and speed of the fundraising Dh3.3 billion within roughly a single lunar month the campaign has been described in some coverage as setting a new benchmark for endowment-based charitable giving. However, a specific claim describing this as a certified Guinness World Records title for "Most Money Raised for Charity by an Annuity Pledge in One Month" could not be independently verified at the time of publication, and readers should treat that specific designation with caution pending official confirmation from Guinness World Records or Awqaf Abu Dhabi.

Sources: Gulf News; Abu Dhabi Media Office; Awqaf Abu Dhabi; The National.