Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry will make an initial contribution of AED10 million to the Community Solidarity Fund Against COVID-19, launched by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.

“The Chamber will work closely with all relevant government entities to dedicate the Fund’s proceeds to supporting the private sector in Dubai,” said H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a statement. “We have set a complete plan to assist the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector, mainly those companies that are particularly struggling through these exceptional conditions.”

“Most importantly at this stage though, is providing blue collar workers who have completed their work and would rather return home the financial means to do so,” Buamim added. “The issue of construction workers has economic, social, and health aspects to it. With that in mind, the Chamber is committed to supporting workers in the sector from a logistical and humanitarian point of view, in keeping with our mandate to represent, support, and protect the interests of the business community in the Emirate.”

H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Source: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Buamim noted that the business sector has a social and community role that is every bit as important as its corporate mandate to provide products and services. In line with that, the newly-launched Community Solidarity Fund Against COVID-19 is a major step towards mitigating the economic, social, and health challenges posed by the pandemic, and Buamim noted that the private sector will have a leading role to play in supporting the initiative, which will see the Chamber assisting blue collar workers in the construction and real estate projects, especially those who completed their work and were unable to return home as airports closed around the world.

The Chamber also reported receiving a considerable number of pledges from multinationals and family businesses in the Emirate to contribute to the Fund, give back to their communities, and support Dubai’s business sector through these difficult times. In addition, Dubai Chamber will be conducting studies on market performance, and assessing the current crisis, its development, and potential ramifications. This would then allow decision makers in the government and the business sector to see the full picture and propose pragmatic solutions to address the crisis.

“The upcoming period will see the private sector come together even further to face common threats,” Buamim said. “The sector will prove that it is beyond prepared to play its part in serving the community.”

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