ABU DHABI, Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, today inaugurated the 11th edition of the Ataya Exhibition, with the attendance of Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).
Proceeds from the exhibition will be allocated to empowering refugee and displaced families, by strengthening their professional capacities in their host countries or their homelands.
Sheikh Shakhboot explored the exhibition’s pavilions and viewed the products of participating entities, lauding their role in achieving the objectives of the Ataya Initiative, through their efficient participation in the exhibition aimed at supporting refugees.
H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Assistant to the Chairman of the ERC for Women Affairs and Chairperson of the Higher Committee for the Ataya Initiative, who is the wife of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, said that due to the effects of the refugee crisis on vulnerable communities, the initiative decided to allocate the proceeds of this year’s exhibition to those forced to leave their homes, by empowering them and training them on crafts, professions and industries to enable them to generate income, as well as supporting and financing 2,000 refugee families in Jordan and Iraq, by establishing small-scale productive projects in agriculture and livestock.
The exhibition is witnessing the participation of more than 100 exhibitors from 13 countries, which are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, India, Brazil, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Indonesia.
The annual charity exhibition has quickly become a landmark in Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar, where a wide range of fresh and distinct fashion wear, jewellery, home accessories and furniture is exhibited and sold.
Source: Emirates News Agency
