The UAE shows its enduring humanitarian legacy in the Afghan crisis
August 27, 2021, 8:35 pm

The UAE shows its enduring humanitarian legacy in the Afghan crisis

the Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The UAE has been one of the world's top humanitarian donors for the last twenty years.

Providing accommodation to Afghan displaced women and children shows this great legacy.

Since the Taliban took over the country, thousands of Afghans have fled and taken refuge in many countries.

Therefore, under orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the UAE has received hundreds of families, especially women and children.

The decision continues the two decades of the UAE humanitarian work in Afghanistan reinforces its global message of goodness.

This move came as a part of the UAE's efforts in the Afghani crisis. The UAE provided its airplanes and airports to evacuate other countries' citizens and the employees of the international organizations.

The UAE helped to evacuate about 40,000 Afghans and foreign people.

The UAE is a top foreign aid donor by all global indices. Since its foundation in 1971, the UAE has donated more than Dh320 billion to humanitarian and development aids to underdeveloped countries.

Since 2003, shortly after the US invaded Afghanistan, the UAE Red Crescent and armed forces provided substantial humanitarian aids to Afghanistan.

The UAE began with the construction of a refugee camp that accommodated more than 10,000 refugees in Pakistan's Chaman and supplied it with all essential commodities and a modern hospital. This followed the Sheikh Zayed housing program which provided 200 families with the necessary facilities such as a mosque, two schools, and a medical center.

The UAE has built dozens of schools, at least 6 medical centers, a university that serves 6,500 students annually, at least 40 mosques, hundreds of wells, and many other vital projects in order to improve the lives of the Afghan people.

More recently, the construction of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan city, a massive residential housing project that consists of 3333 apartments in Kabul was completed.

The UAE armed forces guided by the principle of providing safety and stability to brotherly people have been lending their helping hand in Afghanistan for years.

Today, this enduring legacy continues. Since the beginning of the current crisis, the UAE has made it clear that it will provide all necessary help to the Afghan people in these hard times and this will continue until Kabul is peaceful and stable again.

The UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed used to say that helping those in need is a duty. This principle has guided our foreign policy for decades.

For Afghanistan and others in need, the UAE is a friend indeed.

Source: gulfnews

UAE provides accommodation, social care for Afghan families under orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Two British nationals and child of another Briton killed in Kabul airport suicide attack

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.