DUBAI // The Zakat Fund has seen a 24 per cent increase in donations compared to last year at the same time.
The total proceeds since the beginning of 2011 until the end of August were Dh78.3 million, an increase of 24 per cent when compared with the same period in 2010, according to Abdullah bin Aqeeda Al Muhairi, the fund's secretary general.
Mr Al Muhairi said in a statement released today that proceeds of the Zakat Fund's income for the same period last year were Dh63 million. Contributions to the Fund reached Dh44.4 million during the month of Ramadan.
This amount included both zakat al fitr, which is charity given to the poor at the end of the month of Ramadan, and other charity given during Ramadan.
The Zakat Fund has adopted more transparency by sending periodic reports to donors, informing them of how their money is being disbursed.
Bank deposits ranked first in terms of the size of the funds collected — a total of Dh22.5 million, followed by direct contributions to the Fund at a total of Dh17.4 million. ATM donations came in third at Dh1.9 million.
Mr Al Muhairi said the Fund aims to make progress each year by implementing programmes that can increase zakat contributions.
The Zakat Fund is a federal body that facilitates obligatory annual charitable donations by Muslims.
balqabanni@thenational.ae