Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, was founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai in April 2013, to position Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation.
Al Jalila Foundation promotes medical education and research by investing in the UAE’s medical treatment capabilities; it provides scholarships to nurture a home-grown generation of medical professionals and supports ground-breaking research that addresses health challenges prevalent in the region. The Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, set to open in 2019 in Dubai Healthcare City, will be a beacon for regionally-relevant medical innovation produced by home-grown biomedical researchers. The UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary medical research centre will focus on five of the most pressing regional health challenges: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and mental health. Benefitting from the Foundation’s global outreach, the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre will bring together international best practice and regional expertise in a cultivating environment with state-of-the-art facilities.
Al Jalila Foundation is named after Her Highness Sheikha Al Jalila Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.
Al Jalila Foundation is one of the 33 member organisations under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the Arab world through humanitarian, developmental and community work. (source: Al Jalila Foundation website)
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Al Jalila Foundation is a global philanthropic organisation established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation.
We are dedicated to improving the health of the nation through a number of dedicated healthcare programs which help to ensure that no member of our society will be left behind in the race for a better quality of life.
For more information on our work, please visit: www.aljalilafoundation.ae .
A’awen (support in Arabic) is our medical treatment programme which provides UAE-based patients with financial aid and access to quality healthcare.
Fund life-changing healthcare!
Farah, ‘happiness’ in Arabic, is Al Jalila Foundation’s paediatric program which provides life-saving treatment, funds cutting edge research and offers hope to countless children and their families. Through Farah we spread hope, joy and happiness to children suffering from heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses. Children today benefit from great discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines which have wiped out entire diseases, and it is our hope to continue these discoveries so that children can live healthy and happy lives.
Ta’alouf is Al Jalila Foundation’s flagship program that equips teachers and parents with knowledge and skills to better manage children with disabilities and special educational needs. Ta’alouf means ‘harmony’ in Arabic and brings this spirit to life by working in unison with strategic partners, parents, educators and the wider community to empower children of determination. Instead of being weighed down by their disorders, these children can rise above their disabilities and discover hidden abilities.
Cancer causes 1 in 8 deaths worldwide.
According to the UAE Ministry of Health, cancer is the third highest cause of mortality and responsible for 11% of all deaths in the country. Breast cancer is the most prevalent followed by colon, lymphoma and prostate cancer.
Unite against cancer!
3 in every 10 deaths worldwide is caused by cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the Emirate of Dubai. The global average for first heart attack is 65 years, in the UAE it is around 45.
Help fight heart disease!
Diabetes has become a global epidemic.
It is currently the 4th leading cause of death worldwide and is expected to account for almost half of all deaths in 2030. The UAE is ranked second highest worldwide for diabetes and studies suggest that 1 out of 5 adults have diabetes.
Take a step for diabetes!
Medical research is the bedrock of Al Jalila Foundation’s strategy with a focus on the region’s most pressing health issues: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health. The high incidence of obesity in the UAE highlights the need for scientific research to develop life-saving discoveries to reverse the alarming statistics and ensure the future health of the nation. Through research Al Jalila Foundation aims to delve deeper into the causes and treatments of obesity and its effect on other health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Prevention is better than cure and alongside research, raising awareness is integral to reducing obesity rates leading to a healthier, happier UAE.
According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages worldwide, and by 2020, it will be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world after cardiovascular disease. Barriers such as stigma and discrimination prevent people with mental illness from seeking help and guidance resulting in many cases going undiagnosed and untreated. In line with the UAE Vision 2021 to be one of the happiest nations in the world, Al Jalila Foundation aims to drive change and research in the area of mental health and turn depression, anxiety and misunderstanding into hope, self-care and acceptance.
Road to Awareness (R2A) is Marriott International’s associate fundraising campaign which has been making a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children around the world since the launch in 2008. To date, employees throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East have raised over USD 5 million for children in need. Since 2015, Marriott International in the United Arab Emirates has been supporting Al Jalila Foundation with 100% of R2A fundraising and donations going towards children’s medical treatment and research of childhood diseases.
We are fortunate enough to serve more than one hundred athletes of Determination and their families.
All of this is made possible by our amazing team of over 30 coaches who are teachers, sports professionals, students and parents that have voluntarily committed to giving People of Determination the opportunity to excel in sports.