From 22-26 December, AED197,580 was raised by du’s employees who also collected 105 boxes of in-kind donations, including warm winter clothing for all ages, thermals, blankets, and heaters. A total of 30 du employees signed up as volunteers for collecting, sorting and packaging the contributions.

"The ‘Our thoughts are with the people of Syria’ campaign is a heart-warmingly humanitarian initiative towards our Syrian brothers and sisters by our great leader, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan," said Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du. "We are happy to cooperate with the UAE Red Crescent Authority to extend a helping hand to the people of Syria, in the hopes that our contribution will aid in alleviating their situation."

She continued: "We have worked in partnership with the UAE Red Crescent Authority since du was founded, adopting a long-term commitment to making a positive difference in our society by contributing to charities and humanitarian relief efforts. As a company we are keen to promote social responsibility both internally, amongst our own employees, and throughout our community to ensure the sustainability of humanitarian relief efforts for various affected peoples around the world."

Mohammad Al Zarouni, Head of Red Crescent Authority’s Dubai branch, said: "We are profoundly grateful for du’s continued and generous support of our activities. Thanks to du’s on-going charitable contributions, we managed to amass a significant amount of donations and bring life-saving aid to Syrian refugees. du is a responsible national company that takes the initiative to organise donations and charitable campaigns, both internally and externally, making it an example that others in the UAE private sector should follow."

Al Zarooni stated that the Red Crescent Authority is intensifying its efforts to aid Syrian refugees wherever they are, especially in Lebanon, Jordan, and Kurdistan. It is doing so in cooperation and coordination with local authorities in those nations, humanitarian relief organizations, and International organizations to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees facing difficult living conditions in the harsh cold winter weather.

du has a strong　tradition　of　charitable　giving and fundraising. As a recent example of its philanthropic efforts, in November 2013 the company launched an internal fundraising campaign, inviting employees to contribute to Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, with a total of AED 105,106 raised and presented to the UAE Red Crescent Authority. Additionally, du introduced lowered SMS rates to the Philippines, so that customers could stay in closer contact with loved ones.

In July 2013, du was awarded the Hamdan bin Zayed Humanitarian Award, for its outstanding philanthropic work that has contributed significantly to social services in the UAE.

du frequently supports the UAE and international community through charitable initiatives, including its annual Iftar tables, which distribute meals to those less fortunate throughout Ramadan; supporting the initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to clothe 1 million of the world’s deprived children; and a donation of more than AED2.75 million to A’inouhum and Suqyahum, part of a humanitarian drive launched under instructions given by the President of the UAE, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to fund emergency aid for Horn of Africa in 2011.

For more information about du’s charitable work, please visit