Dh6.2m for needy children

DUBAI // Dh6.2 million in alms was distributed to underprivileged children by the Awqaf and Minor Affairs Foundation last year.

The money was donated in cash, shares, bonds and property investments. Amaf has about 2,000 children under its care that are mandated to receive zakat according to Sharia.

Khaled Al Thani, the deputy secretary general of Amaf, said: “As Amaf is the only entity responsible for minors in Dubai, the foundation pays special attention to preserving and managing the finances of those in similar circumstances.

“The zakat was distributed to the underprivileged minors as part of the Dubai Government’s efforts to take care of their basic needs, as well as those of their families.”

Ahmad Al Yasi, the director of the financial affairs department at Amaf, said: “The financial department supervises the extraction of zakat in cooperation with the Sharia committee.” He said zakat needed last year was 51 per cent less than in 2013, because many of the children had become adults.