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Juma Al Majid - a man of over thousand initiatives

Dubai - It's hard to overlook this Emirati personality who has played vital roles in the development of this country.

Juma Al Majid is one of the iconic UAE traders and philanthropists who have been well aware of the importance of education. His generous support to education are recognised in the UAE as well as the Arab and Islamic worlds. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had named Al Majid as the Islamic Personality of the Year of the 23rd edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.
It's hard to overlook this Emirati personality who has played vital roles in the development of this country, and was part of its progress since the early years of the Union.
Al Majid was born in 1930 at Al Shindagha area, the then capital of Dubai. He was raised in a unique environment, rich in social, marine and commercial aspects. At the age of seven, his father, a ship captain, used to take him during his long diving trips. His childhood summers were spent onboard his father's ship where he took care of the sailors' needs.
Al Majid was then enrolled for Holy Quran and Arabic language classes at the Katateeb or Quran Study Centres where he memorised and gained reading and writing skills. He went to the Ahmed Al Qanbari and Al Ahlia schools, following which he worked at his grandfather's office. He soon ventured into his own business and opened an outlet.
Unable to resist his passion for charitable work, Al Majid founded a local charity committee in collaboration with friends. They managed to build and run two charity schools - one for boys in Bur Dubai and one for girls in Deira. He also participated in the establishing of the public library in Dubai in the 60s.
What has always been inspiring is that the more Al Majid gave for charity, the more his business boomed.
Al Majid and his colleague Mohammed Abdullah Al Qaz founded the first charity association in the country - Arab Charity Association - to help vulnerable families. They took poor patients to hospitals - a great service during the 1960s. Two private schools Al Majid established supported children of indigent families who could not afford tuition fees.
In the 1990s, Al Majid founded the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies, offering free education. He later launched Master and PhD programmes for aspirant learners, and then founded Beit Al Khair Society to support poor Emirati nationals and cover their needs.
Al Majid, who had a lot of cultural interests, was a book lover, particularly old ones. He established the first culture and heritage centre in Dubai which is now one of the most important scientific and cultural heritage centres in the Arab world - with numerous rare heritage manuscripts and books.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com