YouTube star AboFlah raises $11m by living in glass box in Downtown Dubai

Kuwaiti vowed not to leave until his target of $10m for winter refugee fund was reached

YouTube star AboFlah said he will remain locked inside a glass box in Downtown Dubai until $10m is raised to support the UAE's winter fundraising drive. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

He raised $5,069,878m in only one week which will help more than 50,000 families.

He live-streamed his experience from the glass box to more than 22 million subscribers online.

AboFlah greets his fans from the glass box.

He vowed to remain in the box – which will be in public view in Downtown Dubai, near Burj Khalifa – until the cash target is reached.

Fans take photos with AboFlah.

YouTube star AboFlah is celebrating after raising $11 million by living in a glass box in Dubai.

The celebrity raised the money for the UAE’s Warm Winter campaign, which is supporting tens of thousands of refugees and others in desperate need of help across the region.

He has been living in the glass box since January 7 and live-streaming the experience to almost 24 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.

AboFlah, whose real name is Hassan Suleiman, emerged from the box, located in Burj Park, Downtown Dubai near the Burj Khalifa, on Tuesday night after reaching his target.

“We shall never forget this day for the rest of our lives,” said the Kuwaiti in an Instagram post.

“We have learned that nothing is impossible, especially in Zayed's home. Thank you from the heart. People are for each other.”

He had vowed not to leave the glass box until a target of $10m was reached.

Paul Roy, founder of Dubai-based gaming and Esports Galaxy Racer, for whom AboFlah is a content creator, praised his fundraising efforts and the support of the public.

"We are amazed and grateful for the immense generosity shown by the fans, community and general public," he said.

"Raising over $11m is no easy task and we are glad to be part of this humanitarian initiative."

AboFlah attracted almost 155,000 donors from all over the world, with the money raised going towards mattresses, food, blankets and clothing for refugee families in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and vulnerable people living in Egypt and Syria.

Emirates Red Crescent made a donation of $1.1m to the campaign, while other donors included the UAE Food Bank, Eyal Zayed or Zayed's Sons humanitarian initiative and Ahmad Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor.

The YouTube star also set two Guinness World Records while in the glass box - the longest live-stream video and the most viewers for a live-stream charity donation event.

AboFlah recorded 268 hours, 14 minutes and 20 seconds of live streaming during his 12 days in the box, attracting 698,000 viewers in that time.