Sandooq Al Watan, the national initiative launched by prominent Emirati businessmen to support research projects for the post-oil era, has received a new donation from Rotana one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey of AED1 million to support its effort to strengthen a diversified and knowledge-based economy.

Rotana Hotel Management Corporation will be added to Sandooq Al Watan’s Prime Funders list, which compiles the names of all contributors – individuals or institutions – until the end of the Year of Giving 2017, to encourage the wider business community to come on board and support the fund in achieving its goals outlined in the Sandooq Al Watan 2020 strategy.

Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, said: “Our contribution to Sandooq Al Watan, the national initiative, is in line with the directives of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to support the ‘Year of Zayed’ being marked in 2018. The UAE's founding father inspired us to uphold the value of giving. Through this contribution, we aim to participate in our nation’s march of sustainable development.”

Al-Nowais added: "Rotana Hotels Management is committed to social responsibility, whereby we contribute effectively to support national initiatives that promote sustainable development. The donation will support the Fund to achieve its strategic goals.”

The Board of Directors at Sandooq Al Watan expressed its gratitude for the generous contributions from Emiratis and welcomed the support of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, which reflects its commitment to uphold the national duty and abide by the vision of the country’s wise leaders, who have urged all to spare no effort in supporting the development, advancement and economic diversification of the UAE. The Board called on the wider business sector in the UAE to follow suit and contribute to building a sustainable knowledge economy.

Sandooq Al Watan’s agenda includes several ambitious initiatives that complement the UAE leadership’s call to prepare for the post-oil era and empower a generation of young innovators across various sectors and segments, to cement the UAE’s position among the world’s 20 most innovative countries.