Saif attends MoU signing between Faraj Fund, Flydubai and Emarat al-Youm

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, has attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Interior (MoI), represented by the Faraj Fund, Flydubai Airlines and Dubai Media Incorporated, represented by the Emarat Al Youm newspaper.

The MoU is aimed at boosting mutual cooperation and provide assistance to the Punitive and Correctional Establishments' insolvent inmates and their families countrywide, to settle their outstanding financial debts in order to be released from jail, and to pay fare for those who need to be deported.

The MoU was signed by Major General Dr. Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of H.H. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of Al Faraj Relief Fund, along with Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai. Also signing the MoU was Sami Al Riyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm newspaper.

Major General Dr. Nasser Al Nuaimi expressed his sincere thanks to Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering support and supervision of the Faraj Fund's objectives. He said, "The Faraj Fund was a charitable humanitarian initiative launched by His Highness to alleviate the suffering of inmates who are unable to settle their outstanding debts due to financial problems."

Major General Dr. Al Nuaimi stressed the keenness and commitment of the police leadership to provide aid and help the debt-laden and financially faltering inmates overcome their debts. "Signing this MoU and joining hands with another national institution reflects the success of the previous campaigns carried out during the past years to help indigent inmates in the Punitive and Correctional Establishments and their families," added Major General Al Nuaimi. Furthermore, he noted that the efforts exerted by the Fund's partners have allowed the fund to pursue its humanitarian and philanthropic tasks to support eligible inmates, based on an objective and honest approach.

Adding further, Major General Al Nuaimi commended the distinguished and pioneering efforts exerted by Emarat Al Youm newspaper, being a strategic partner, in supporting insolvent inmates and their families. He also expressed his hope that the participation of a national company as prominent as Flydubai would represent a qualitative leap for the Fund's work and a distinguished addition to this purposeful national institution. He also highlighted the Faraj Fund's noble contributions in developing the local community, and encouraged various segments of society to support the Fund financially and morally, in order to help debt-laden and indigent inmates and provide them with the opportunity to return to a normal and decent life, overcome the debts and return to their families by settling the financial issues that forced them to remain in prison after serving their sentence.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, praised the Faraj Fund's initiative and the efforts of the Fund's officials. He said, "We are honoured to be able to provide support to this pioneering initiative, which has secured the release of a large number of insolvent inmates, with the support of the Ministry of Interior and Emarat Al Youm newspaper, and the generous contributions of charitable and philanthropic Emirati individuals and institutions. We look forward to contribute to the release of more eligible indigent inmates through this noble initiative."

Sami Al Riyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm newspaper pointed out that renewing the MoU with the Faraj Fund marks a step ahead towards complementing joint cooperation efforts between both the parties in the light of the big success that the campaign has achieved during the past years in helping insolvent inmates. Al Riyami hailed the Fund's humanitarian and societal objectives that reflect the Ministry of Interior's commitment to provide aid for insolvent inmates and their families, as well as to strengthen the partnership between the media and government agencies regarding various community issues.

The MoU aims at fostering cooperation and coordination between the three signing parties in order to achieve satisfying results and alleviate the burdens of financially-faltering inmates in order for them to be released. This falls within the framework of the Fund's charitable and humanitarian objectives and is consistent with the laws and regulations of the UAE, and aims at providing inmates with travel tickets to leave the country quickly and at the lowest cost. This sums up the social and humanitarian objectives that the parties have signed up to achieve.

The MoU defines the tasks and commitments of each party in the process to help faltering inmates. The MoI would prepare and provide lists of beneficiaries and inmates eligible for the Fund's initiatives, in addition to assisting with the legal procedures, providing the necessary documents, and facilitating travel procedures when needed. Flydubai would provide tickets with promotional fares, discounted or free tickets as needed.

According to the MoU, Emarat Al Youm Newspaper would organise media campaigns and provide coverage for the efforts exerted to help inmates in the Punitive and Correctional Establishments and their families, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior. Emarat Al Youm Newspaper would also publish articles that highlight the humanitarian cases, taking into account the applicable laws in order to achieve the objectives of the media campaign, which is in line with the Faraj Fund's vision.

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, also attended the signing of a supplemental agreement to renew the mutual cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Faraj Fund, and Dubai Media Incorporated, represented by Emarat Al Youm Newspaper. The agreement aims at pursuing mutual efforts and helping financially-faltering inmates in the Punitive and Correctional Establishments.

The MoU renewal was signed by Major General Dr. Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of H.H. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Faraj Fund; and Sami Al Reyami, Editor-in-chief of Emarat Al Youm Newspaper.

Under the renewed MoU, the two parties would maintain cooperation and coordination in order to organise a media campaign for inmates at the Punitive and Correctional Establishments and their families across the UAE; in addition to collecting financial donations from philanthropists, and publishing articles that showcase some of the humanitarian cases after acquiring the regulatory approvals from the competent parties, with the aim of achieving the social and humanitarian objectives of both parties.

The renewal of the MoU complements the consecutive successes attained by this partnership, notably encouraging philanthropists to make generous donations to provide for faltering inmates and their families and increasing the number of eligible inmates who can benefit from the Faraj Fund. These joint efforts have already resulted in the release of a significant number of inmates and settling their debts, or paying the designated blood money. This has helped inmates reunite with their families and return to normal life.

The joint campaign has also succeeded in spreading further awareness about the Fund's objectives and received positive response from public figures and various social segments. It also encouraged private sector companies to demonstrate their sense of social responsibility and to provide help for financially-faltering inmates.