Emirates Red Crescent and McDonald's UAE signed a Cooperation Agreement on Tuesday, 6 March 2018, at the Emirates Red Crescent Headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The Agreement aims to achieve the shared principles and goals of Emirates Red Crescent and McDonald's UAE, and to reinforce its core humanitarian values and objectives, locally. The partnership will consolidate efforts to support Emirates Red Crescent’s charitable and humanitarian initiatives with the ‘Ramadan Books’ campaign. As part of the programme, four Ramadan books will be produced and sold at the McDonald's restaurants in the UAE. All proceeds generated from the book sales will be invested by Emirates Red Crescent in local programmes specific to local communities in the UAE. McDonald’s UAE will also have Emirates Red Crescent donation boxes at their restaurants.

The Agreement was signed by Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary General of Emirates Red Crescent and Mr. Rafic Fakih, Managing Director and Partner at McDonald’s UAE, in the presence of Mohammed Yousef Al Fahim, Deputy Secretary General for Support Services, Marketing and Fundraising, Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Deputy Secretary General for Local Affairs and Mr. Hassan Abouezzeddine, Marketing Director at McDonald's UAE.

After signing the Agreement, the two parties discussed the possible ways of enhancing their partnership and to further develop joint humanitarian programmes, in order to achieve Emirates Red Crescent’s mission of protecting human life and alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people.

Dr. Al Falahi stressed that the Agreement reinforces the efforts of Emirates Red Crescent in implementing charitable projects, and in supportingthe humanitarian programmes that enhance community efforts in the country. The Agreement is also a model for cooperation between Emirates Red Crescent and other community institutions through joint, integrated humanitarian projects.

“At McDonald’s UAE, we are committed to giving back to the communities we operate in, and as part of these continuing efforts, we are proud to partner Emirates Red Crescent for the donation box and Ramadan Books campaigns. All proceeds collected from the initiatives will be invested in local programmes inside the UAE, to be mutually agreed upon between McDonald’s UAE and Emirates Red Crescent. I am confident these initiatives will bring about a positive change in our communities and in the lives of those less fortunate,” said Rafic Fakih, Managing Director and Partner at McDonald’s UAE.

About McDonald’s UAE:

Operating since 1994, McDonald's UAE today has more than 160 restaurants geographically located to service customers in many areas. McDonald’s UAE is committed to the quality of the products it serves at each restaurant and also maintains an active social responsibility agenda.

In an ongoing effort to improve communities and highlight the continuous environmental benefits of their actions McDonald’s UAE and Emirates Environment Group joined forces in spreading green values among the UAE’s children by planting trees across the nation over the past two years and as part of their ‘Planting a Greener Future’ campaign. McDonald’s UAE also significantly reduced its carbon footprint since the launch of its biodiesel initiative in July 2011. 100% of McDonald’s used vegetable oil is collected from its outlets across the UAE and converted into 100% biodiesel which is used to fuel the company’s logistics fleet.

In addition, McDonald’s UAE prides itself on being a local member of the community and has been committed to being a responsible corporate citizen since the first restaurant opened in the UAE.

For further information about McDonald’s UAE please visit: www.mcdonalds.com or contact: Carine Arif or Bianca Riley from Weber Shandwick on McDonaldsuae@webershandwick.com or +971 4 445 42 22

© Press Release 2018