Sarah Shou, the CEO of “Majra,” highlighted the significant achievements of the fund since its establishment in 2018, including the creation of four key initiatives that have made a real impact in the realm of corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the UAE.
Shou explained that the fund connects companies wishing to initiate community programs with non-profit organizations seeking support, along with government entities that outline national priorities and executors from the third and fourth sectors, as well as academic institutions that evaluate projects.
She pointed out that financial backing for projects does not originate from the fund itself but rather from private companies that maintain strong relationships with it. In return, these supporting companies gain opportunities for dialogue and policy formulation, as well as meetings with stakeholders, thereby enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Regarding the “Institutional Impact Declaration,” Shou affirmed that it is an annual commitment made by companies concerning their community projects, with 300 companies having submitted declarations for the year 2025.
Key Initiatives of the Fund
Discussing the four major initiatives of the fund, Shou stated that the first is the launch of the “Societal Impact Medal,” which is the highest form of recognition awarded to private companies by the UAE government in the fields of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The inaugural cycle of the medal was launched in 2022, and winners were celebrated in 2023 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. This medal serves as a significant incentive for companies to adopt responsible practices and implement sustainable initiatives that have a tangible impact on society.
Secondly, the fund has prioritized supporting national priority projects, focusing on those that contribute effectively to achieving national priorities across sectors such as health, education, environment, culture, and heritage. At the beginning of 2024, the fund introduced the Sustainable Impact Challenge, aimed at assessing and identifying the quantity and quality of impactful projects within the country, ensuring that initiatives are founded on sound scientific principles and provide reliable reporting.
The third initiative, “Majra Harbor,” is designed to empower projects; the fund launched the “Majra Harbor” service as an advanced phase of empowerment, offered to the top 20 projects identified in the Sustainable Impact Challenge. This initiative aims to enhance project offerings for investors, develop strategies, modify business plans, conduct feasibility studies, and address the gap between having an idea and knowing how to implement it.
Shou likened “Majra Harbor” to a port where ships dock to be repaired and equipped before continuing their journey. This mirrors the fund’s operation with promising projects, providing training and guidelines for companies to enhance their corporate social responsibility strategies and develop scientifically grounded sustainable projects that serve targeted demographics.
Her experience has shown that companies often focus primarily on two areas: “environment and education,” due to their ease of implementation, while other equally critical areas, such as culture, heritage, and health, are often overlooked. She cited the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation as an example, which emphasizes empowering university youth through training and employment.
Lastly, Shou mentioned that the fund’s overarching role is to act as a national umbrella uniting companies and institutions eager to engage in impactful initiatives.
Fund Investments and Its Real Role
Shou clarified that “Majra” does not include any provisions for funding projects. Its primary role lies in compiling contributions, raising awareness among companies about corporate social responsibility, stimulating engagement, and linking projects with private sector funders, ensuring everyone is on a unified platform.
Looking ahead, new funding mechanisms for national priority projects are anticipated, involving collaboration between the government, private sector, and third sector. Shou noted the introduction of a new approach to corporate social responsibility, focusing on genuine partnerships between the government and private sector within the framework of the “UAE Companies for Good 2031” strategy, which serves as a comprehensive national framework to augment the private sector’s contributions to sustainable development, directing efforts in corporate social responsibility towards the common good within an ecosystem of sustainable impact economy in the UAE.
She added that this strategy is based on the “Strategic Compass Approach,” representing a comprehensive federal framework steering the course of corporate social responsibility and sustainability within the private sector. This approach supports long-term sustainable planning, enhances corporate governance systems, fosters integration between government entities, companies, and the third sector, and empowers businesses to develop their capacities and adopt clear and transparent methodologies in corporate social responsibility and impact measurement.