Donations by the Zakat Fund during the first eight months of the year reached AED173,471,000, a 24.09 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to Abdullah Al Muhairi, Secretary-General of the Zakat Fund and Chairman of its Expenditure Committee.

Al Muhairi said that these donations were approved by the fund’s Expenditure Committee and only allocated to those who have met their criteria and conditions.

He emphasised that the donations were only paid out after the fund's specialist researchers performed appropriate investigations, to confirm the eligibility of potential beneficiaries. He added that they have received Zakat funds from banks and from some 21 projects through these banks.

The Zakat Fund Secretary-General explained that those who are eligible to receive Zakat include the underprivileged, new Muslims, people in debt, orphans and their families, the sick, elementary students, higher education students, the unemployed, people with disabilities and those who require urgent aid.

Al Muhairi stressed that the Zakat Fund seeks to add new categories of eligible people to receive Zakat through its projects in legal Zakat banks. He also highlighted their speedy response to Zakat applications, as the Expenditure Committee meets on a weekly basis to process the largest number of applications in a short period of time.