Ma'an launches Athar+ to empower social enterprises, non-profits in Abu Dhabi

2 June 2025 21:48
ABU DHABI (WAM)In a significant step to advance community-driven change, the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, the Abu Dhabi Government's official channel to receive social contributions, operating under the Department of Community Development, announces the launch of Athar+ (Athar Plus), Abu Dhabi's first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact.This launch comes as part of the 'From the Community to the Community' label, an initiative launched during the 'Year of Community' by the Authority, aimed at promoting community engagement.Athar+ brings together social enterprises, non-profits, and impact makers into one collaborative ecosystem for social entrepreneurship.Funded by community contributions, Athar+ is an initiative by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, designed to enable impact-driven organisations to thrive.The hub provides designated workspaces, expert mentorship, professional services, and tailored growth programmes—all aimed at helping social enterprises and non-profits scale their missions and deepen their impact across Abu Dhabi.Located at Madar_39, Athar+ serves as a catalyst for collaboration, entrepreneurship, and inclusion; offering a dedicated workspace for impact-driven organisations to develop solutions, share knowledge, and access the resources they need to build a more inclusive and resilient future.On this occasion, Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, affirmed that the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an continues, throughout the 'Year of the Community,' to launch impactful initiatives and creating an enabling environment that supports the achievement of sustainable positive impact for Abu Dhabi's society.Dr. Al Khaili stated, 'The launch of Athar+ platform reflects the social sector's commitment to building an ecosystem that empowers third sector entities, including public benefit organisations and social enterprises—entities that have emerged from the community to serve the community. More than 150 third sector organisations are expected to benefit from this platform, offering unique services, programs, and initiatives to members of our society.'He added, 'We will spare no effort in strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as an enabling city for all institutions dedicated to serving the community and addressing social challenges with innovative and effective solutions.'Abdullah Humaid Al Ameri, Director-General, the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, said, 'Athar+ comes as part of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an's efforts to empower the third sector, promotes social entrepreneurship, and build a thriving ecosystem that enables this sector. The hub aims to accelerate the growth of non-profits, social enterprises and social initiatives through capacity-building, mentorship and fostering collaboration and networking opportunities. These efforts contribute to addressing social priorities in Abu Dhabi while building a more cohesive and inclusive community.'He also expressed his appreciation to the Abu Dhabi community members for their contributions to support this pioneering initiative, particularly commending Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank for its contribution, representing a model of effective collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving community-focused initiatives. He emphasised that such steadfast commitment serves as a cornerstone for achieving inclusive and sustainable development.With offerings such as capacity-building workshops, networking events, one-on-one advisory support, and flexible membership options, Athar+ reinforces the Authority's long-standing commitment to connecting the community and nurturing an active, empowered social sector.
Through the launch of Athar+, the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as a regional leader in social entrepreneurship, as well as reflecting the Authority's broader vision of enabling a culture of giving, participation, and measurable social progress.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Al Etihad

2 days ago

• Al Etihad

Abu Dhabi holds awareness sessions about Emirati Family Growth Programme, Numou and Medeem initiative

21 June 2025 13:17 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Community Development (DCD), in collaboration with the Presidential Court Majalis Abu Dhabi, has hosted a series of sessions for community members to raise awareness on the Medeem initiative and the Emirati Family Growth Program, sessions shed light on the objectives and successes of both initiatives, encouraging youth and soon-to-be-married couples to embrace an approach rooted in Emirati heritage—one that promotes simplicity, mutual understanding, and shared responsibility as the foundation for happy, stable sessions, which were attended by Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of DCD, and Engineer Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of DCD, and included a series of interactive discussion sessions across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al sessions fostered direct engagement with community members, addressing their questions, gathering feedback, and sharing insights on the design and impact of both Medeem and highlighted the critical role of the sessions as open forums for meaningful dialogue where youth and families can share their experiences, including success stories from Medeem, which has empowered couples to build stable marriages with reduced financial burdens. Aligned with the Year of the Community, the department reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with partners like Majalis Abu Dhabi to deliver tailored community programmes that meet the needs of the youth and Emirati families. These efforts underscore the enduring importance of reaching diverse segments of the community across all regions of the emirate. The sessions were held at various community majalis across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, including Baniyas Majlis, Al Aliah Majlis, Mazid Majlis, Al Masoudi Majlis, and Mohammed Al Mahmoud Majlis. In the Al Dhafra region, a session was also hosted at the Madinat Zayed Majlis. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi

Hi Dubai

3 days ago

• Hi Dubai

MAJRA National CSR Fund Signs MoU with Careem to Expand Summer Support for Delivery Captains

In a move to safeguard delivery captains during the UAE's scorching summer months, the MAJRA National CSR Fund has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Careem to boost its annual summer support initiatives across four emirates. The agreement, formalized in the presence of Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of MAJRA's Board of Trustees, aims to enhance conditions for more than 60,000 delivery riders in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. This year's campaign will see a significant expansion in services, including mobile, air-conditioned rest stations and sustainable, solar-powered cooling hubs. These stops will provide free Wi-Fi, drinking water, and refreshments at high-traffic delivery zones. Careem CEO and co-founder Mudassir Sheikha emphasized the importance of the initiative, calling it 'tangible, on-the-ground support' designed to help captains work more safely and comfortably in extreme heat. In addition to rest areas, Careem is distributing 'Captain Kits' containing towels, water bottles, and hydration supplements. Through a partnership with the Pakistan Association Dubai, delivery captains will also receive free health screenings throughout the summer. MAJRA CEO Sarah Shaw said the initiative aligns with the UAE's 'Year of Community,' reinforcing MAJRA's commitment to supporting on-the-ground projects that promote welfare and resilience among frontline workers. News Source: Emirates News Agency

What's On

7 days ago

• What's On

Flexible summer work hours initiative announced by Dubai Government

After a successful pilot test in 2024, Our Flexible Summer, Dubai Government's flexible work summer program will be implemented across all government entities. This was announced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR). Set to roll out across all government entities, the initiative aligns with the Year of Community and is designed to promote a healthier work-life balance and will be running from July 1 to September 12, 2025. While the rollout has been made available for all, it will be implemented on the discretion of the specific entities. The specifics According to Dubai Media Office, employees will follow one of two flexible schedules in alignment with the official five-day work week. The first set will work eight hours daily from Monday to Thursday, receiving Friday off. Alternatively, the second group will work seven hours Monday to Thursday, and 4.5 hours on Friday. Why do we need this? The overall aim of the initiative is to promote a healthier life and overall wellbeing of the government workforce. Meant to enhance work-life balance, the program will foster a more supportive work environment, increase employee satisfaction and productivity, and also strengthen family ties, all important aspects of a healthy foundation for society. The results speak for themselves. Post the pilot phase, which was implemented across 21 government entities in 2024, the results showed enhanced productivity and improved work environments. The data showed an increase in employee satisfaction and happiness of up to 98%, while assessments under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme highlighted clear improvements in the performance of participating entities. Elsewhere in the world, remote working and flexible working policies have been piloted in many parts of the world, including several countries in Europe, with promising results. A survey conducted by CIPD UK in 2023 showed that of 83% of the organisations that have hybrid working, 38% reported increased productivity and 46% say employees are more productive at home or with hybrid work models. Economist Impact/Google's 2023 flexible work barometer, with 900 executives globally, showed that more than 90% of companies now offer flexibility in time or location. 82% of executives say productivity improved and 77% – 82% report benefits across wellbeing, innovation and financial performance. A 1,600-employee study published in Nature showed h ybrid work maintained productivity and promotion rates, while reducing turnover by 33%. @dubaimediaoffice Images: Getty > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in