Powering On with Hope & Determination

If 2022 was the year of resilience, 2023 was the year to power on with determination. 2023 marked the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, 52 years since the formation of the United Arab Emirates, an historic milestone to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey from the past to today, and towards the transformative change that lies ahead in the next 52 years. Today, more than 200 nationalities call the UAE home and in the words of our Founder His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai: “The bigger our dreams, the bigger our accomplishments.” A look back at the year that was fills me with enormous pride of all that we have achieved together in our pursuit to improve patients’ lives; empower researchers to push the boundaries of science and inspire the next generation of healthcare heroes to shape the future of medicine. I am also reminded of the people we serve and that hope for the future is what fuels our work. Together, we share a common hope – a healthier, happier, brighter tomorrow. 2021 has proven to be another pivotal year for Al Jalila Foundation: we announced the UAE’s first cancer charity hospital to open in 2024; opened our ‘cancer drop-in centre’ dedicated to female cancer warriors; launched our patient crowdfunding website; continued to invest in aspiring medical students, pioneering research and life-saving patient treatment; and welcomed hundreds more teachers to our Al MaktoumCharity program alumni. We had the opportunity to work with many inspiring individuals and organisations, like you, who believe in our mission and chose to be a part of our journey to transform lives, for good, for better. One of our proudest achievements of 2021 is the launch of Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital paying tribute to the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his legacy. The UAE’s first comprehensive cancer charity hospital will bring together leading expertise to manage prevention, diagnosis and treatment under one roof. We are grateful to the generosity of the philanthropists who have already made significant contributions to the hospital that will become a beacon of hope to cancer patients and their families. In October 2021, we opened Majlis Al Amal, the UAE’s first of its kind ‘cancer drop-in centre’ to support cancer patients and survivors. We wanted to create a home away from home for cancer warriors and a reminder that there is hope and a community to lean on. In our continued efforts to invest in pioneering research and advance biomedical research Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute partnered with Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). Our partnership with MBRU fosters collaboration among the research community, creates opportunities for students and faculty to further their education and contributes to the UAE’s thriving medical research ecosystem. A’awen, our patient treatment program, helped almost 300 patients unable to afford quality medical treatment. Every one of our patients has a unique story of hope, and each one serves as a reminder of what is most important in life – health. While we reflect on a successful year behind us, I am excited by the work ahead of us. There is still so much more to do and we look forward to continuing our journey together to transform more lives. We salute the researchers, scientists and doctors that are shaping the future of medicine and thank our partners and donors for enabling us to do what we love most. My team and I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023. Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama Chief Executive Officer Member of the Board of Directors Al Maktoumcharity Foundation