Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was found in UAE on January 29th, the UAE government has been taking serious measures to curb the transmission of this deadly virus. Strengthening of pandemic prevention and control measures has led to a heightened requirement of sanitization materials, especially for the front-line. In an attempt to help them help the civilians better by keeping themselves safer, to begin with, a UAE-based Chinese entity, Al Fonoon Group, along with its subsidiary Luxury Holiday Photography Studio, donated thousands of high-quality surgical face masks and other pandemic prevention materials to Dubai Police.

The masks were brought in from a certified medical supplies factory in China. On March 30th, Al Fonoon Group donated 100,000 surgical face masks to Dubai Police Headquarters for the safety of the policemen in the region. The General Department Of Services and Supplies along with members from Al Fonoon organized a donation ceremony at the Dubai Police Headquarters where they also made a video connection with the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China.

Consulate General Mr Li Xuhang expressed his appreciation for the commendable work that the Dubai police is carrying out in these tough times. He also expressed his gratitude to them for having provided a safe and stable social environment for Chinese enterprises and ex-pats in Dubai. In conclusion, Mr Li praised Al Fonoon Group and Luxury Holiday Photography Studio for being the first Chinese entity to assist the Dubai government in its anti-pandemic work. He said that this donation reflects the heartfelt sentiments of Chinese ex-pats towards the Dubai police and hopes it strengthens the friendship between China and Arab countries.

Brigadier Dr Abdulla Hussain Ali Alraeesi, Director of Ration & Hospitality Department, sincerely expressed the appreciation to their selfless donation to Dubai Police and assured that the Dubai Police would continue to ensure the safety of the Chinese ex-pats here.

Xu Xiaoping, secretary-general and acting president of Chinese Social Club lauded the donation, saying that it played an exemplary on behalf of all Chinese expatriates in the UAE, and called upon everyone to make concerted efforts to fight against this pandemic.

Zhang Zijun, the Chairman of Al Fonoon Group, said that since the origin of COVID-19 in China, UAE has made substantial public efforts to encourage the people in UAE, China, and across the world to stay at home and help fight this. For instance, they lit globally famous landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa multiple times with a Stay At Home message that has not only brought awareness to the local residents but people across the continent in China as well. Mr Zhang said that he has been living and doing business in the UAE for 18 years and considers to be a second home. He feels obliged to contribute as much as possible to fight against COVID-19 in the country that has given him so much.