A crackdown on illegal fundraising in Dubai delivered hundreds of thousands of dirhams of support for the fight against cancer.
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) said close to Dh500,000 seized from cash donation boxes installed across the emirate without permits was redirected to good causes last year.
Ahmed Al Muhairi, executive director of the department's charity sector, said the breaches were discovered during more than 3,000 inspections carried out in 2019.
“The inspection visits covered 5,525 cash donation boxes and 2,300 cloth collection boxes across the emirate,” he said.
The infringements covered unlicensed organisations carrying out charitable activities and accredited groups which did not receive authorisation to seek donations.
“The money seized from all breaches was spent on various charitable causes – for instance, Dh337,000 was donated to Rashid Hospital for cancer patients treatment,” he said.
Mr Al Muhairi said regulations were in place to ensure fundraising efforts supported those most in need.
“We have more than 700 activities dedicated to fundraising and were able to collect more than Dh800m in 2018 through legal channels,” he said, adding that the amounts raised last year will be made public at a later date.
