ABU DHABI: April 18, 2017. Abu Dhabi Ports is providing the Emirates Red Crescent Authority (ERC) with a 550 square meter warehouse in Zayed Port as part of a renewed partnership with the humanitarian agency.

The move follows the declaration by UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan that 2017 would be a "Year of Giving".

Commenting on the announcement, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: "'Giving' is a value we cherish and saw personified in the UAE's Founding Father Sheikh Zayed.

"We continue to see this philanthropic legacy embodied by his sons and ingrained in the DNA of our society. Through my humble experience, I believe giving is not limited to monetary donations. Rather, 'giving' is defined by the differences we make: the differences in someone's life, in a society, or in a nation. Sheikh Zayed's legacy is not measured in the generous donations he made to the less fortunate only, but in the impact he has had on our lives and our country forever.

"This is our goal for the Year of Giving – to make a difference in the lives of those we care for, and in ourselves," he added.

Sheikh Mohammed also noted the contributions made by corporations saying the UAE would continue to help business leaders give back: "When people spend their lives accumulating material assets and wealth, they quickly learn that there is no meaning in life unless they share their wealth in the service of others. We thank them wholeheartedly."

Acknowledging the increased cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports, ERC project manager Sultan Al Shehi said: "We greatly value this noble initiative. The warehouse will be dedicated to storing donated furniture after revamping and repackaging it. We expect to provide furniture for more than 1000 families in need this year all over the country."

As part of its humanitarian aid program, the UAE has already provided US$2 billion in relief and development assistance to people affected by the war in Yemen, including the ERC's transport of those recently injured for treatment at Indian hospitals.

"The humanitarian and health situation in Yemen has reached catastrophic levels due to the intransigence of the militias who prevent the entry of relief aid and medicines to the various Yemeni regions," said the government.

Pictured: Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi (left), and HE Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, secretary general of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.