Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons contributes to Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research

Dubai's leading retailer of the world's finest watch brands for more than half a century, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is also regarded a pioneer in real estate development.

With Abdulmagied Seddiqi's contribution, he joins an elite group of donors as a founder member of DHFMR.

In recognition of this generous gift the auditorium, under construction for the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education and Research (HMSDC) at Dubai Healthcare City, a member of Tatweer, will be named The Ahmed Seddiqi Auditorium.

Abdulmagied Seddiqi said: 'The Seddiqi Family is privileged to become a founder member of the foundation and contribute to the creation of new scientific knowledge. We believe research is crucial to the advancement of any industry. DHFMR's work will not only lead to path breaking studies, it will also further DHCC's mission to raise the bar on quality healthcare, while impacting the overall well-being of the UAE community'.

Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO Dubai Healthcare City and Member of the Board of Trustees Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research, said: 'We are grateful for this contribution from Seddiqi and his family, to help enhance the research activities of the foundation. This clearly validates the commitment of the local business community to drive healthcare research in the region'.

Dr. Robert L. Thurer, Executive Director of the Foundation, said: 'The generosity of Seddiqi Family will enable the Dubai Harvard Foundation to identify and support innovative research programs as well as talented scientists from the Gulf and Middle East region'.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, became the original founder member of the Dubai Harvard Foundation with his endowment of ($13.6m) in 2006.

The Foundation was set up with the aim of supporting biomedical research and academic programs for the advancement of scientific knowledge and the creation of a medical community of regional leaders.

Research at the Foundation will focus on diseases that are endemic to the region, while providing a strong regional perspective to current research initiatives.

It will also offer an impetus to develop new programs for identifying the causes and potential solutions to some of the region's most pressing health concerns.

The Foundation is in the process of raising Dhs365m ($100m) to create a permanent endowment, which will generate funds to sustain medical education, create scholarships and fellowship programs, and develop research centers in life sciences.

The Foundation's research programs will be implemented in collaboration with HMSDC, which will also develop collaborative scientific and medical research between regional laboratories and Harvard Medical School.

The DHFMR is a member of the Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Center, which also includes HMSDC, University Hospital, the Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library, and the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education.