MAF Shopping Malls encourages shoppers to share in Ramadan's spirit of giving

In the UAE, MAF Shopping Malls' flagship centres - Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre along with Sharjah and Ajman City Centre are encouraging visitors to contribute items such as glasses, old mobile phones, books and clothes which will be donated to charitable organizations. As an added incentive, donators will receive a discount coupon for every donated item.

The eye glasses collected will be given to the Al Ihsan Medial Complex in Ajman where medical services are available to underprivileged residents of the UAE who are unable to afford medial care. Mobile phones will go to EnviroFone, a non-profit company who will refurbish the phones and donate them to third-world African countries or dispose them in an environmentally safe way. Keeping the core values of Ramadan, for every phone received EnviroFone will donate AED 5 to the Gulf for Good charity.

Books collected will go to Life-For Relief & Development, who will distribute them to needy schools and libraries in Iraq and discarded clothes will be donated to the needy communities within the region via Red Crescent. In Egypt, Maadi City Centre has tied up with a reputable charity organization to distribute 150 charity bags to the needy.

"To raise awareness and understanding of our culture, in the UAE, Deira City Centre has partnered with Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) to host the 'Fruit of the Date Palm' exhibition that showcases how the date features in the culture and lifestyle of the people of the Emirates, even through years of development.

Mall of the Emirates on the other hand is hosting the Majlis exhibition providing information regarding key aspects of Islam and its culture - the importance of the phases of the moon, the Hajj, mosque architecture, the Holy Qu'ran, calligraphy and Arabic art. Also, throughout Ramadan, the 'Al Layali' band will be performing traditional Arabic music in the Galleria of the mall," said Fareed AbdelRahman, Vice President and Asset Manager, MAF Shopping Malls.

During Ramadan, MAF Shopping Malls' seven centre's will stay open till 1.00 a.m. and many restaurants and leisure facilities may stay open even later to accommodate the needs of the customers. Shoppers are welcome with their friends and families after their iftar and esha prayers to the cafes and restaurants that are offering exciting Iftar and Suhoor banquet options.

"Ramadan is a time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves. On average, MAF Shopping Malls welcomes nearly 7.5 million people each month, across the region. Through this charity drive we hope to encourage our many customers to embrace the spirit of Ramadan and donate generously for a worthy cause," added AbdelRahman.