The first Ramadan Majlis, organised by the Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office and the Higher National Committee for the Year of Giving, was held on Wednesday evening at the Etihad Museum in Dubai, and was attended by the UAE martyrs' families along with high-level officials.

The initiative, organised in co-ordination with the General Secretariat of the Cabinet to the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, comes within the framework of the Year of Giving dedicated to all UAE martyrs and their families.

The strategy for the Year of Giving was revealed at a Cabinet meeting led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at Wahat Al Karama.

A number of similar events will be held during the holy month across the UAE with the aim to enhance communication with the families and acknowledge their utmost sacrifice to protect the UAE.

The first Majlis was attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Director of The Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office, and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and the Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Year of Giving, at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.

Speaking about the Majlis, Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun said, "The Ramadan Majlis reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who have called for continuous support to the UAE’s heroes’ families and the importance of maintaining direct contact between them, the government figures, and the rest of the community. These Ramadan gatherings will further commemorate the sacrifices of their sons who gave their souls to defend the UAE and its achievements.

"Today, as the first Ramadan Majlis for the heroes’ families convenes at the Etihad Museum, the unity and solidarity of our society take centerstage. Everyone is gathered here to express the utmost gratitude and pride in our heroes and their families. This unity brings to mind the day our union was founded and underlines the cohesion between the leadership and the members of the community, as well as the loyalty and patriotism displayed by our heroes as they continue to defend the UAE and its values of tolerance and generosity. The Majlis will discuss the initiatives launched as part of the Year of Giving campaign, and is one of many similar gatherings that are set to take place across the Emirates."

The Majlis commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Ishaq Largo, a twelve-year-old Italian-Moroccan contestant participating in this year's ‘Dubai International Holy Quran Award.’ In his address, Al Gergawi stressed the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa to dedicate the projects and programmes of this Year of Giving to all the UAE heroes and their families.

"This initiative is a direct message from our leadership to you, our heroes’ families, to always hold your head up high in honour of our sons and their great sacrifice. It comes quite naturally to talk about giving when we are present here today at the Etihad Museum, the history of the union is the crystallisation of good deeds of our founding fathers who made sacrifices for the sake of their people. The UAE has given us so much and we will not be able to give back no matter what we do," he concluded.

The families along with Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun and Al Gergawi toured the Etihad Museum through experience led-exhibitions which chronicle the events and the historical journeys that led to the formation of the Union of the Emirates through photographs, films, documentaries and collectables. The families expressed their appreciation for the Majlis initiative and thanked the leadership for maintaining close communication and providing all kinds of support.

source: WAM