HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and Rota director Essa al-Mannai at the Gala Dinner.

 HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Reach Out To Asia chairperson HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani arriving to attend the Gala Dinner at the Ali bin Abdullah castle in Doha yesterday.

 

By Joseph Varghese

 

The fifth Reach Out To Asia (Rota) Gala Dinner last night raised $21mn for education  projects in Asia and the Middle East.

The event, held at the Ali bin Abdullah castle, was attended by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani,Rota’s chairperson. More than 450 dignitaries from Qatar and the wider Arab region were present.

The world-famous auction house Sotheby’s conducted a charity auction during the event. Items at the auction included  an Arabian horse, Njoud Al Shaqab, donated by Al Shaqab; a custom-made Hermes saddle donated by Wissam Saleh al- Mana; a Mini Cooper designed specially by artist Damien Hirst, donated by Alfardan Automobiles; and a safari trip for two to South Africa donated by luxurious hotels Singita and the One & Only
Resort.

In addition, there were two tickets to attend a football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, donated by Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; a black gold necklace designed by Robert Procop and donated by American actress, Angelina Jolie and a motorcycle signed by world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, Giacomo Agostini.

Special earrings were donated by Chopard. Al Mannai Group donated a gold and gemstone masterpiece. All event seats were sold with  the price of front row seats reaching  $60,000  per seat. The charity auction was held  to support Rota’s education projects in Syria, Palestine, Tunisia, Nepal and
Pakistan.

During the event, HE Sheikha Mayassa  presented Rota’s “Lifetime Achievement” award to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia  in recognition of his dedication and devotion to development and charitable work and support of Rota’s mission.

Sheikha Mayassa said:  “This year, the event was honoured by the presence of HH the Emir of Qatar, which gives us an additional motivation and confidence in what we do and what we are aiming for. Moreover, this underlines HH the Emir’s interest in what Rota has been doing to support the historic role of Qatar in its unique geographical location, as well as what Rota is doing  in support of volunteer work.”

Accepting the award, Prince Alwaleed  said: “It embodies the deep relations between Kingdom Holding, the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation and Qatar on the professional and charitable levels. This relationship was deeply rooted with HH the Father Emir and will be continued with HH the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.”

HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada delivered the opening speech and stressed on the importance of education and innovation in grooming the generations and the role played by Rota  in  extending  a helping hand in various countries in Asia.

 

 

 

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