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28 March 2024

Maktoum family items sell for record Dh50 million at charity auction

Published
By Staff

In an unprecedented charity auction that raised Dh89.8 million at Al Jalila Foundation fundraising gala dinner, the race helmet worn by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during his victorious win at the FEI World Endurance Championship in 2012, sold for a record-breaking amount of Dh24,050,000.

Also, among the prestigious auction items was Al Yamamah saddle donated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, which he rode to victory at the 2014 Altech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The saddle sold for a record-breaking Dh2,400,000.
The second highest auction sale of the evening was for Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Dubai Distinguished Vehicle Number Plate code O number 9, the first time that a single digit Dubai plate has ever been auctioned, which fetched Dh23,900,000.
Other auction items included an Arabian Horse, a luxury holiday experience; 300-year-old Quran; a sculpture by famous Emirati artist; antique pistol statue; limited edition timepieces and a number of Etisalat distinguished telephone numbers.

The gala dinner, which was brought together under the theme of ‘Research for Life’, was attended by over 350 guests including Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein; Dr Raja Al Gurg, Member of the Board for Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Al Jalila Foundation; Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, Director General of Dubai Health Authority; Abdullah Al Shaibani, Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council:  Members of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation and a number of philanthropists and members of the community.

Dr Raja Al Gurg, Member of the Board for Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Our success tonight is testament to the generosity of the people of the UAE. We are very grateful for the support of our sponsors, auction donors and everyone for a wonderful evening. It’s truly inspiring to see the community come together to support local medical research.”

During his welcome Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Al Jalila Foundation, like the rest of Dubai, is a product of the vision and foresight of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, one that has altered the course of medical innovation in the United Arab Emirates. There is no one who embodies better the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the mission of Al Jalila Foundation than Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Her Royal Highness Princess Haya  bint Al Hussein. Her passion for hunger alleviation, nutrition awareness, and the improvement of healthcare systems is recognized and celebrated the world over. We are so honoured by Princess Haya’s continued support and patronage. It is indeed a privilege and an honor for myself and my team to lead this ground-breaking institution into the future.”

The total proceeds of the charity gala reached Dh89,837,000 which included an Dh25 million donation from Sunny Varkey and Dh10 million from a long-term supporter of the Foundation, Raghuvinder Kataria.

The auction organised by Emirates Auction, a leading global auction house, began online to enable a wider participation and attracted more than 600 bids, including international participants, and culminated with a live auction at the charity gala.

Emirates Auction holds five Guinness World Records for the most expensive car plates, properties and vessels sold at auction. Following Al Jalila Foundation charity auction, Emirates Auction now holds the world record for the highest amount ever raised for a race helmet and horse saddle, adding to the company’s long list of accolades.

Also, earlier this month Al Jalila Foundation received an Dh60 million donation from Dr Rajen A. Kilachand.

In addition, donations to the value of Dh90 million came from Abdul Salam Kandampath and Shamlal Madathum Parambath, Dr Azad Moopen, Dr BR Shetty, Micky Jagtiani, Nilesh Ved, Puthan NC Menon, Faizal Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal.

Al Jalila Foundation’s investments in medical research and education aim to nurture a future generation of highly-qualified medical professionals through postgraduate scholarships, research seed grants and international fellowships.

The Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary medical research centre, will bring together local and international scientists to address the region’s most pressing health challenges: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and mental health. The state-of-the-art centre is scheduled to open in 2017 at Dubai Healthcare City.