Dubai: Al Jalila Foundation announced yesterday (Wednesday) that it is developing a Dh32 million endowment to generate revenue to fund biomedical research.
The six-floor residential building, Al Warqa’a Endowment, aims to create a 12 per cent return to support local research into some of the UAE’s most pressing health problems.
“Since its inception two years ago, Al Jalila Foundation has been continuously highlighting the critical need for local research to improve lives and is looking for innovative financial models to support our vision to position the UAE at the forefront of global medical innovation,” Dr Abdul Karim Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, commented,
“World-class medical care depends on vital medical research and requires significant financial support over the long-term. Al Warqa’a Endowment will provide Al Jalila Foundation with a sustainable income, while giving donors the opportunity to contribute to a national philanthropic project to support the advancement of health in the UAE,” he added.
The building, which is named after the Al Warqa’a area in Dubai, will be built on land granted by the Government of Dubai, with construction expected to start in December 2015, and a projected completion date of March 2017.
Designed by Arif and Bintoak Consulting Architects and Engineers, it will consist of 60 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and will house a number of retail outlets and amenities on the ground floor.
The Dh32 million value of the development has been divided into 32,000 shares valued at Dh1,000, with the first 200 shares issued to an anonymous Emirati businessman and philanthropist.
Al Jalila Foundation will own the building and expects to generate a rental yield of 12 per cent per annum.