Indians in UAE warned against illegal fund raising

Indians in UAE warned against illegal fund raising

  ABU DHABI - With help pouring in for flood victims in India's state of Kerala, Indian expatriates in the UAE where warned on Monday (August 20) against illegal fundraising. “The feedback received from the UAE Government suggested that some individuals and organisation are involved in fund raising. I have to draw the attention of fellow Indians to the local laws ,” said Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE. “We don’t want well-meaning efforts for the flood victims ending up in trouble. We are very mindful and respectful of local laws,” the Indian ambassador said. In the UAE, only organisations approved by the Community Development Authority (CDA) may be given special permit to collect money.  In cases where individuals and organisations are willing to collect donations, they must first approach a registered charity authorised by Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) for approval. Individuals who wish to donate money to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund may send cash through Al Ansari Exchange, UAE Exchange and Lulu Exchange free of cost. The UAE has a stringent law on fund-raising for charitable causes, which could land violators in jail and slap them with hefty fines of up to Dh500,000. Decree No. 9 of 2015 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, prohibits collecting donations or advertising of fund-raising campaigns through all forms of media without obtaining written approval from the IACAD. Violators face two months to one year in jail and a fine ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh100,000. The UAE's cybercrime law also penalises those who publish or manage a website or use social media to promote the collection of donations without a permit from UAE authorities. Violators face imprisonment and/or a fine ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000. GAD/Expat 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