The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Local Host Committee for the 57th ICCA Congress in November have announced they are to work on initiatives in aid of the Noor Dubai Foundation, which focuses on the prevention of blindness and visual impairment.
Delegates at the 57th ICCA Congress in Dubai, 11-14 November, will have the opportunity to support the charity, including taking part, on the morning of 12 November, in the ICCA Charity Run’N’Walk.
This will take place along the Arabian Gulf coastline at La Mer, Dubai’s newest beachfront entertainment, retail and dining district and a popular attraction for both residents and tourists.
Meraas, the developer behind La Mer, will be official Venue Sponsor for the event, which is building on the first run at last year’s ICCA Congress in Prague.
With the choice of a 3km run or a 1.5km walk, participants will be encouraged to make a donation to the Noor Dubai Foundation.
In addition, throughout the congress delegates will have the opportunity to donate old pairs of glasses to the Foundation, which will re-lens and distribute them to those in need through its mobile eye clinics.
Issam Kazim (pictured), CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “When Dubai bid for the ICCA Congress, we made it clear that there would be a robust CSR element, and partnering with Noor Dubai Foundation on these initiatives ensures we are able to live up that promise. In choosing a charity to work with, the Local Host Committee was eager to select an organisation that has an international reach and can make a direct impact on people’s lives, and crucially, we wanted to make sure that delegates could easily get involved. With these initiatives in partnership with Noor Dubai Foundation, we will be able to ensure that the event leaves a strong legacy.”
Launched as an initiative in 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and later established as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in 2010, the Noor Dubai Foundation has touched the lives of over 27m individuals across Africa and Asia through free treatment and preventive programmes, including the provision of eye glasses and medication.
ICCA reports registrations for the Dubai Congress are outpacing previous editions.
In addition to a core programme taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will also feature a series of evening events to facilitate networking and cultural exchanges. Venues will include the Armani Pavilion at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and Al Lisaili Desert Camp.
Dennis Speet, acting CEO of ICCA, said: “Our Local Host Committee and Noor Dubai Foundation have outdone themselves with the variety of initiatives they have planned for our 2018 Congress; they have made it incredibly easy for delegates to get involved in supporting the Foundation’s work at home and abroad. To maximise our impact on the charity’s cause, we will also make donations to Noor Dubai Foundation, replacing speaker and Local Host Committee gifts.”
Industry professionals can find out more and register to attend the 57th ICCA Congress in Dubai here.
