Dar Al Sharq Group honours Social Responsibility Award winners

Doha: Under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Dar Al Sharq organised  6th Social Responsibility Awards Ceremony at Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Monday.

Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro, honoured the winners of 6th Social Responsibility Awards.

The Awards was organsed by Dar Al Sharq in cooperation with Social and Support Contribution Fund under a theme of ‘Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting 2022 FIFA Wold Cup’.
H E the Minister also inaugurated the 6th edition of White Book 2019 titled ‘Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting 2022 FIFA Wold Cup’, issued by Dar Al Sharq.

The event was attended by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Sharq Group; Abdul Latif bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group; Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula; Sheikh Thani bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Social Responsibility Committee at Dar Al Sharq and a number of representatives from government organizations and private sector. David Grayson, Professor of Corporate Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management of UK was invited to address the ceremony on the issue of social responsibility.

The winners of 6th Social Responsibility Awards were honoured for their contribution to social responsibility. Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) received Social Responsibility Award (SRA) for best financial institution while Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Ministry of Justice received the award for best government institution. The award of best private company was won by Vodafone.

Nas Group received award of best real estate company while Mind Institute, an independent special needs center, won award of best social service institution. Qatar Charity received the award of best national initiative and Al Meera Ali Abdul Hadi Al Marri received award for writing best article on social responsibility.

Nora bint Ali Al Henzab received award of best individual of social responsibility. Mesaieed International School got award for best students’ initiative and Katara Hospitality received the award of best company in tourism and hospitality sector.

“Social responsibility is a basic humanitarian necessity and a moral duty,” said Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro while addressing the ceremony. He said that social responsibility is no more optional but it had become an obligation for individuals and institutions.

H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro (centre), the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs; Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani (right), Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Sharq Group; and Abdul Latif bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group, at the ceremony.

“Social responsibility is one of the most important duties of the companies and institutions operating in the country. It requires a commitment by these institutions to keep developing and improving the educational, cultural, economic and social level of the society by providing various services,” the Minister added.

He said that the importance of social responsibility for institutions and society lies in improving services to society, creating real jobs, paying fair wages, ensuring the safety of workers and employees, and participating in bringing about solutions for social and environmental problems.

H E the Minister said that the Ministry is keen to create social awareness especially among children and young people who are the basic part of Qatari society. “We are keen to provide the necessary awareness about the concept of social protection to all segments of the society,” said the Minister.

The Minister said that Qatar adopted a holistic approach of development as the sustainable development embodies an effective social protection network for all Qataris. “The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs took key responsibility of social security in the country which is the highest in the region,” said the Minister.

Prof. David Grayson, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management, addressing the ceremony.

He said social security programmes are being implemented in the country to provide highest level of dignified life to Qatari citizens by improving their ability to manage economic and social risks.

“Other programmes are also running for welfare of all segments of society specifically for those need social care,” said the Minister. Speech of the main sponsor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Social and Sport Contribution Fund was also read out at the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Sheikh Thani bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Social Responsibility Committee, said: “The performances of the companies are not only evaluated by economical point of view like profit and loss but there are some other values which contribute to the development of society and individuals including cultural, social and humanitarian values.”  

He said that social responsibility has become a key factor for measuring the performances and contribution of companies and institutions in the community. “Now the meaning of social responsibility extended to ensure human rights, development of local community, abiding by a healthy competition free from monopoly, consumer protection, work transparency among other factors creating basis of social responsibility for companies,” said Al Thani.  

David Grayson, Professor of Corporate Responsibility, lauded Dar Al Sharq Group for its Social Responsibility Awards initiative. “I commend their initiative to organise these awards and also to support the work of a committee to promote Corporate Social Responsibility here in Qatar,” said Grayson while addressing the ceremony.