Dubai launches new platform for community and business contributions

The launch of the platform is in line with the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, and under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Heir Prince. of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.

The platform is committed to promoting a spirit of “giving back to the community” and aims to establish a robust and proactive social care and empowerment system by providing a safe, reliable and officially supported avenue for social responsibility contributions. With the aim of involving companies, entrepreneurs, institutions and individuals of various nationalities, the initiative encourages their participation in sustainable projects aimed at empowering society in critical sectors such as health, education and social well-being. The overall objective of the platform is to ensure transparency and efficiency in leveraging companies’ contributions to social causes while fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enrich and advance the social sector.

Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, CEO of CDA in Dubai, underlined the importance of the Jood platform as an innovative and advanced channel to drive community empowerment activities in Dubai. Serving as a facilitator for institutions, businesses, business sectors and individuals, it aims to rationalize and institutionalize contributions to sustainable community projects, with a primary focus on vital areas such as education, health and social care.

He explained how Jood embodies the essence of Emirati culture, rooted in generosity and solidarity. He praised the strong desire shown by businesspeople, both citizens and residents, to contribute to supporting social programs and promoting social development. The initiative is distinguished by empowering business sectors and companies to channel their corporate social responsibility contributions towards projects with a lasting positive impact on society, particularly in crucial areas such as health, education and community empowerment. It contributes significantly to the realization of the objectives outlined in Dubai’s Social Agenda 33, with the vision of positioning Dubai among the top three cities in the world in terms of living standards within a decade.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Director General of Dubai Digital Authority, said: “We are delighted to be an important partner in the development of the Jood Platform for Community Contributions (jood.ae), which represents a pioneering model for leveraging digital technology. to contribute to the community. initiatives in the emirate.”

Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, said the platform serves as a trusted destination for those who want to contribute to humanitarian, charitable and development work across Dubai and facilitates direct electronic donations.

The Jood platform directs contributions to community projects with a focus on sustainable impact, prioritizing support for education, students, scientific research and development, improving healthcare standards and community protection measures. In addition, it facilitates the construction and equipment of social centers, improving the long-term effectiveness of contributions from companies, businesses and individuals.

This initiative arises from a collaborative effort between 11 Dubai government agencies, aligning with the Government of Dubai’s directives to strengthen governance in the community contributions sector. It seeks to establish a platform that harmonizes Dubai’s corporate social responsibility policy with the social responsibility strategies of institutions and companies within the emirate. By implementing impactful initiatives, ‘Jood’ aims to harness the benefits of philanthropy while ensuring sustained social impact. Rooted in the principle of “giving back to the community”, these initiatives aim to benefit citizens, residents and all segments of society to the greatest extent possible.

Participating entities on the Jood platform (jood.ae) currently include Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Dar Al Ber Society, Al Jalila – Dubai Health Foundation, Beit Al Khair Society and Dubai Charitable Society. The platform was developed in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council, the Dubai Digital Authority, the Community Development Authority, the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities and the Dubai Department of Finance.

Jood presents a unified and reliable platform to showcase and support initiatives, projects and campaigns proposed by institutions. It highlights the most pressing needs, facilitating new donor contributions and alignment with private sector social responsibility plans.

The platform (jood.ae) allows both institutions and individuals to contribute directly to the listed initiatives and projects through electronic payment or bank transfer. It also provides regular updates on project status and progress toward completion, along with documented contribution reports designed to meet social responsibility requirements. This approach supports sustainable performance and offers various benefits to taxpayers.

With its digital interface, the ‘Jood’ platform offers convenient direct access and immediate contribution to various community initiatives, allowing contributions through the platform (jood.ae) or making quick donations through the Dubai Now app. Furthermore, it illustrates the connections between each initiative presented and the corresponding sustainable community development objectives, including associated environmental, social and governance factors. This transparency ensures efficiency, effectiveness and transparency throughout the entire process.