Introduction
This article examines the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of three companies based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with respect to the following areas, making charitable contributions; supporting art and museums, gardens, and public places; funding public health and education; and helping orphans, and physically and mentally challenged people.
Commercial Bank of Dubai
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework of Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) is divided into the following sections – sustainability, governance and transparency; environment; employees; and society and culture (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1). The CSR of CBD can be further discussed as follows.
Making charitable contributions: This issue is covered in the ‘society and culture’ section of the bank’s CSR strategy. Under the program put in this section, the bank has listed the needy that the company was going to help, as one of its objectives (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1).
Supporting art and museums, gardens, and public places: This strategy is also fulfilled as a part of the program implemented in the ‘society and culture’ section of the bank whereby the company has set to perform the local UAE cultural activities. The bank also makes the public aware of the issues affecting the environment and has gone ahead to offer credit facilities to green projects (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1).
Funding public health and education: CBD aims at promoting education among the youth through sponsoring learning related students’ activities (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1).
Helping orphans, and physically and mentally challenged people: CBD addresses this issue due to ‘society and culture’ strategy, whereby the program involves philanthropy to help the needy as well (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1).
CBD is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). This shows the commitment of the company to the issues concerning human rights, environment, labour and anti-corruption. The company has also been awarded a “CSR Label” in the year 2011. In Dubai, this award is granted in recognition of the companies, which exercise the corporate social responsibilities well (Commercial Bank of Dubai 1).
Ducab
Corporate Social Responsibility under Ducab is undertaken through three sections: philanthropy, environment and employee welfare (Ducab 1). Further discussion on how CSR is carried out in Ducab is explained below.
Charitable contributions. Ducab donates funds to various missions, both locally, in Dubai, and overseas. For instance, the company has continually donated building wires to Gaza (Ducab 1).
Supporting art and museums, gardens, and public places: Ducab is actively engaged in keeping public places clean. The company does this by engaging in cleaning campaigns organised by Dubai Municipality yearly – it has been doing this for more than 13 years now (Chaturvedy 9).
It is also a member of Emirates Environmental Group, the main objective of which is to keep the environment clean. The company is actively involved in environmental management and was the first in tne UAE to achieve the ISO 14001 certification (Ducab 1).
Funding public health and education: As a part of its philanthropy project, Ducab supports health campaign. For instance, the company is recorded to sponsor a newsletter by Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centres. This newsletter is informative in areas of paediatrics, especially on issues touching children who have special needs.
The company also organises blood donation campaigns for UAE’ Thelaessemia Free Campaign frequently. This action is also carried out at other healthcare organisations; for instance, in 2009 the company’s employees donated blood to Al Wasl Hospital. The Company also supports education – for instance, it supports students attending classes at the Emirates Science Club (Chaturvedy 9).
Helping orphans, and physically and mentally challenged people: Ducab has created an allowance to cater for the needs of such people. The help may be offered due to CSR’s philanthropic arm. For instance, it undertook the repair of the Dubai Club for Special Sports (a facility used by people with special needs) (Ducab 1).
DUBAL
DUBAL aggressively engages in CSR activities through community involvement (economic, social, environment and workplace), charitable donations and corporate sponsorship (sport sponsorship, award programs, career exhibitions, industry/trade events) (DUBAL 1). A more detailed discussion of how DUBAL undertakes its CSR is discussed below.
Making charitable contributions: Contributions to charitable activities are a part of DUBAL’s CSR. The company maintains school projects and also has created a mechanism through which its employees can make similar contributions (DUBAL 1).
Supporting art and museums, gardens, and public places: DUBAL has great concerns in preserving environment. The company is engaged in the program aimed at minimization of waste. DUBAL uses technology that poses the least environmental harm.
It also partners with organisations and groups which aim at cleaning the environment and public places. The Emirates Environmental Group, for example, is involved in creating environmental awareness in the UAE and also in cleaning beaches, among other activities. DUBAL is a member of this group and is engaged in its environmental actions (DUBAL 1).
Funding public health and education: The Company encourages its skilled employees to train the students and share knowledge and experience with them. It supports the ministry of education through various initiatives. One of such initiatives is the DUBAL Clubs of Excellence which was started with the aim of developing students’ skills on environmental protection (DUBAL 1).
Helping orphans, and physically and mentally challenged people: DUBAL offers assistance to distressed communities around the world, especially to those that suffered in the aftermath of natural calamities. The company also supports community-based organisations instituted to support “disempowered people (orphans, special needs individuals, the elderly and so on)” (DUBAL 1).
Conclusion
Commercial Bank of Dubai, Ducab and DUBAL are companies in the UAE that are actively involved in CSR matters. Their interest in CSR matters has benefited the community and environment.
Works Cited
Chaturvedy, Ashish. “Success Quotient”. Cable Talk, 2010. Web.
Commercial Bank of Dubai. “Corporate Social Responsibility”. Commercial Bank of Dubai, 2013. Web.
DUBAL. “Our Corporate Social Responsibility”. DUBAL, 2013. Web.
Ducab. “Corporate Social Responsibility”. Ducab, 2013. Web.