450 volunteers come together to assemble essential school kits for children from low-income families across the UAE
Marking the Year of Community, Dubai Cares, in partnership with Aldar as the exclusive sponsor, hosted another edition of Volunteer Emirates – Back to School in Abu Dhabi, following last year’s successful initiative. More than 450 passionate volunteers, including 80 Aldar employees, came together to assemble 10,000 school kits for children from low-income families across the UAE.
Community Spirit in Action
The initiative was a powerful display of unity. Volunteers worked side by side to prepare school supplies, highlighting the importance of collective action in shaping young lives.
Abdulla Ahmed Al Shehhi, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Cares, said: “In this Year of Community, the success of Volunteer Emirates – Back to School is a true testament to the spirit of unity and shared purpose that defines our country. This achievement would not have been possible without the generous support of Aldar and the incredible commitment of volunteers from across the UAE. The incredible turnout in Abu Dhabi today shows how strongly people believe in giving back. This initiative goes beyond providing school supplies; it sends a powerful message to every child that their future matters and they are not alone.”
Aldar’s Commitment to Education and Community
Salwa Al Maflahi, Executive Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach at Aldar, said: “At Aldar, we believe that building a thriving, inclusive society begins with making sure that every child is given the best chance to realise their full potential. Seeing hundreds of volunteers come together – many returning for the second year – was a powerful reminder of the social cohesion that exists in the UAE and the power of community engagement. Dubai Cares’ Back to School initiative is not only about providing equipment for students, it’s an investment in local communities and the long-term prosperity of the UAE and its residents.”
Volunteers Share the Joy
The event drew dedicated volunteers from across the country. Many had participated in previous editions of Volunteer Emirates, returning with the same passion and commitment.
Muhamad Al Blooshi, an Emirati volunteer, said:” I’m excited to be in Abu Dhabi and join Dubai Cares for Volunteer Emirates – Back to School. As a long-time volunteer, it’s always a joy to take part in an initiative that brings smiles to children’s faces. I’m confident the students will be overjoyed to receive their new school bags, filled with everything they need to start the academic year with confidence and excitement.”
Schools Across the UAE to Benefit
The school kits will reach students through several institutions, including:
- Al Ihsan Charity Association in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman
- Al Etihad Charity Foundation in Ajman
- National Charity School in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman
- Hemaya School in Dubai
- The School of Tolerance in Abu Dhabi
- Al Tafawq Private School and Al Dhaid Private School in Sharjah
- Umm Al Qura Private School in Umm Al Quwain
This wide distribution ensures the initiative reaches children across diverse communities.
Aligned with the Year of Community
Dubai Cares’ Volunteer Emirates initiative, along with its broader community engagement efforts, aligns closely with the vision of the Year of Community, declared by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This national initiative aims to strengthen social bonds, promote cohesion, and foster a deeper sense of belonging across the UAE. Under the slogan “Hand in Hand”, the Year of Community encourages active participation in volunteering, community service, and knowledge sharing—empowering individuals and organizations to contribute to collective progress and stronger social connections.
The Back to School edition of Volunteer Emirates aligns with Dubai Cares’ mission to promote inclusive education and community engagement across the UAE and beyond. The initiative is also in line with Aldar’s broader efforts to foster community well-being and enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
About Dubai Cares:
Since its inception in 2007, Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has been working towards providing children and youth in developing countries with access to quality education through the design and funding of programs that aim to be impactful, sustainable and scalable. To date, the UAE-based global philanthropic organization has successfully launched education programs reaching over 116 million individuals in 60 developing countries.
Dubai Cares plays a key role in helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, and promote lifelong learning by 2030, by supporting programs in early childhood development, access to quality primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education and training for youth as well as a particular focus on education in emergencies and protracted crises. Moreover, Dubai Cares adopts a strategic approach to improve student enrollment and learning outcomes through an integrated school health and nutrition model that is made up of school-based deworming activities, school feeding, and WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) in schools.
Dubai Cares is a civil society organization formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC), as well as a registered non-government organization under IACAD, the charitable activities regulator in Dubai. The UAE-based global philanthropic organization is authorized to raise funds through direct donations and fundraising campaigns, as well as process all permit approvals with IACAD.
Volunteerism is a powerful tool to Dubai Cares in order to engage people in tackling development challenges. Dubai Cares rallies the UAE wider community through a large spectrum of volunteering and awareness initiatives that are linked to its global mandate.
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About Alder
Aldar is the leading real estate developer, manager, and investor in Abu Dhabi, with a growing presence across the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East North Africa, and Europe.
The company has two core business segments, Aldar Development and Aldar Investment.
Aldar Development is a master developer of a 62 million sqm strategic landbank, creating integrated and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah’s most desirable destinations. The delivery of Aldar’s developments is managed by Aldar Projects, which is also a key partner of the Abu Dhabi government in delivering housing and infrastructure projects across the UAE’s capital. Internationally, Aldar Development wholly owns UK real estate developer London Square, as well as a majority stake in leading Egyptian real estate development company, SODIC.
Aldar Investment houses a core asset management business comprising a portfolio of more than AED 47 billion worth of investment grade and income-generating real estate assets diversified across retail, residential, commercial, logistics, and hospitality segments. It manages four core platforms: Aldar Investment Properties, Aldar Hospitality, Aldar Education, and Aldar Estates.
For more information on Aldar please visit: