DP World, partner donate USD 20,000 to Dubai Center for Special Needs

A cheque for the amount was presented on Wednesday (June 13) by Iqbal Khoory, Vice President-Global Procurement, DP World, to Dr. Abdullah Al Khayat, Chairman, Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

Present on the occasion were Mohammed Muallem, Senior Vice President & Managing Director - UAE Region, DP World, Samar El Khoury, a Resident Engineer of Gaussin SA, and Dr Mahshid Salehi, Director of the Dubai Center for Special Needs.

Students from the center greeted the guests at a special assembly organized for the presentation ceremony and sang welcome songs, and entertained them with Arabic folk songs and other performances.

Mohammed Muallem, Sr. Vice President & Managing Director - UAE Region, DP World, said:

"This modest donation represents DP World's well-established commitment to community development. We are delighted to have been able to contribute in some manner to the Dubai Center for Special Needs, which delivers a valuable service for these students whose families could not otherwise afford to send their children to a special-education school. We wish the Center all the success and look forward to participating in its well-being in the future."

Over the years, DP World has developed a comprehensive corporate social responsibility program that is designed to deliver benefits to the local community wherever its ports are located.

Gaussin SA is a major French conglomerate is a business partner of DP World and often contributes to social causes in the UAE.

Welcoming the contribution, Dr Mahshid Salehi, Director, Dubai Center for Special Needs, said:

"We are indeed grateful to receive this substantial sponsorship from DP World and Gaussin SA. It will help us in carrying forward our mission more successfully. It is organizations such as these that enable us to provide our students with the best possible education and make them useful citizens."

The Center for Special Needs is a non-profit organization that runs on government, corporate and individual donations and sponsorships. It accepts contributions in cash, material and voluntary services.

The Center promotes high-quality, effective community-based programs and social support services to individuals and their families. It has received immense support and encouragement from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

It has been in operation for over twenty years and has on its rolls 136 students aged 3 to 29. The center provides them with academic education and pre-vocational training.

It is estimated that there are between 5,400 and 10,800 people with special needs in Dubai.