Year in Review 2018

HH-Sheikh-Mohammed
As we reflect on a remarkable Year of Zayed and welcome the new year with renewed hope we, at Al Jalila Foundation, begin by pledging our continued commitment to the vision of our Founder, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to position the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation. Al Jalila Foundation is underpinned by three pillars: treatment, education and research and everything we do is to improve lives be it through supporting a hopeful patient, an aspiring student or a pioneering scientist. Each step we take brings with it a new sense of hope lighting the path for a brighter tomorrow. 2018 saw Al Jalila Foundation invest AED 20 million in a number of healthcare programs to transform lives.

The Year of Zayed mirrored the philanthropic spirit of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who as one of the world’s greatest humanitarians extended his generosity and support improving the quality of life enjoyed by all people in the UAE today. As we embrace the Year of Tolerance we will continue to pay tribute to Sheikh Zayed and his legacy whose values of wisdom, respect, sustainability and human development push us ever further to make a difference to the lives of people.

We are optimistic that the future is brighter for patients because of the advances in the healthcare industry and we are encouraged by the support we receive from our donor community. By funding life-changing research, we give doctors the power to shed light onto new and better treatment options, and ultimately bring hope to patients.

Before we begin the next chapter of our journey we would like to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of 2018 that you, our valued partners, have made possible.

In the past decade alone we have seen great advances in medical treatment and longevity with promise that in the next decade healthcare will make a greater leap forward than at any time in history. Our commitment to medical research is steadfast and we have awarded 20 new seed grants to brilliant researchers in the UAE leading studies in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health. We are proud that as a young foundation we have awarded almost 100 research grants since 2014, investing AED 25 million to empower researchers to push the boundaries of science in their quest for medical discoveries that can be translated into improved treatment and therapies to save patients’ lives.

Sheikh Zayed believed Education is like a lantern which lights your way in a dark alley.” and honouring this value we awarded 24 scholarships to outstanding Emirati students fortifying the UAE’s medical landscape for generations to come. Our Ta’alouf training program also saw the graduation of 174 parents and teachers brightening the lives of hundreds of children of determination and their families. The first of its kind flagship program has been instrumental in empowering children to reach their full potential and has brought communities closer together.

Our healthcare achievements cannot be discussed without mentioning the people whose precious lives have been forever changed thanks to quality medical care.  Throughout the Year of Zayed more than 183 patients in need, including 123 young children, were able to receive lifesaving treatment giving them a new lease of life and renewed hope for the future. Internationally, we have provided 1.43 million tetanus vaccines as part of a global campaign to protect the lives of mothers and babies in underdeveloped countries.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama
Every day we are inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership, his dedication to be of service to others and his unwavering commitment to our great nation and its citizens. On the occasion of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s 50 Years of Service to the Nation we pledge to uphold the eight governing principles to enhance the lives of the people, and the communities, we serve.

As a member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), which aims to improve the Arab world through humanitarian, developmental and community work, Al Jalila Foundation is proud to play a role in ‘putting humanity first’ and since inception has provided aid to more than 5 million beneficiaries, locally and internationally, supporting MBRGI in its mission to improve human life.

May the Year of Tolerance be one of acceptance, compassion and understanding inspiring each one of us to make the world a better place leaving a legacy that we can all be proud of. I hope that you will continue to follow our news and find inspiration from the stories of courage, determination and innovation that we, together, have been privileged to be part of.

My team and I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and wish you a healthy and prosperous new year.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama
Chief Executive Officer
Member of the Board of Directors
Al Jalila Foundation