Dubai: A growing number of Emirati businessmen and organisations nationwide are continuing to contribute to the Reading Nation Ramadan campaign.

Most recently, Ahmad Al Shafar and Ali Bin Abdullah Al Shafar each donated Dh500,000, while the National Trading and Developing Establishment (NTDE) donated Dh300,000.

Their combined contribution of Dh1.3 million will facilitate the printing of 130,000 books.

The donations to the campaign that was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have exceeded the campaign’s target of five million books to reach more than 7.3 million books, during the Reading Nation auction that took place last Tuesday.

Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares, said: “We thank Ahmad Al Shafar, Ali Al Shafar and NTDE for their generous contributions to the Reading Nation campaign that has so far attracted the overwhelming participation of individuals, corporations and organisations from across the UAE. The campaign has also enhanced values of collaboration and social solidarity between the UAE and all Arab and Muslim countries.”

He added: “In addition to their charitable contributions, the campaign has showed the commitment of our businessmen in supporting the country’s humanitarian role that has its fundamentals strongly rooted in the vision and efforts of our founding father the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

The Reading Nation Ramadan campaign concludes its activities on the 19th day of Ramadan (on Friday) to coincide with the Zayed Humanitarian Day. Before a few days of its conclusion, the campaign exceeded the set target of five million books, and reached more than 7.3 million books that will be distributed to children in refugee camps and underprivileged students in schools across the world. In addition, the campaign is mandated to support the educational programmes implemented by the UAE humanitarian organisations worldwide, with one million books.

For more information about the ‘Reading Nation’ campaign or for contact numbers, please visit www.readingnation.ae