The Governor of the Eastern Province is briefed on the achievements of the Unified Zakat al-Fitr Program 1447
In line with the wise leadership's commitment to strengthening charitable work and developing its mechanisms to ensure aid reaches those who deserve it efficiently, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Province Charity Association, received a delegation of officials from non-profit organizations implementing the Unified Zakat al-Fitr Program at his office in the Governorate building on Wednesday. The meeting included a review of the program's plan for the year 1447 AH, as well as highlighting a comprehensive report documenting the program's achievements over the past decade.
His Royal Highness the Prince of the Eastern Province reviewed the details of the report, which reflected a qualitative leap in institutional charitable work. He commended the remarkable development in procedural governance and implementation mechanisms. His Highness affirmed that these efforts reflect the maturity of the non-profit sector in the region, emphasizing the importance of adhering to precise Sharia guidelines in collecting and distributing Zakat, ensuring that this religious obligation is fulfilled on time and delivered to needy families with ease and efficiency.
Record numbers and development achievements
During the meeting, Engineer Ibrahim bin Mohammed Abu Abah, CEO of the Eastern Province Charity Association, presented a detailed overview of the program's progress, revealing figures that reflect the scale of the effort undertaken. He explained that the program has successfully generated over 50 million riyals in revenue over the past ten years, benefiting more than 131,000 families. He also noted that over 11,445 tons of rice have been distributed, with 100% compliance with Sharia principles, thus enhancing the program's credibility and the community's trust in it.
Strengthening institutional work and keeping pace with the national vision
This program comes within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's drive to empower the third sector (the non-profit sector) to be a strategic partner in development, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. The "Unified Zakat al-Fitr Program" represents a model to be emulated in the transition from haphazard, individual efforts to organized, institutional work. The importance of this transformation lies in eliminating duplication in distribution, ensuring equitable access to aid, and reducing the financial and food waste that can accompany traditional methods of distributing zakat.
Sustainable social and economic impact
On the social and economic front, the program plays a pivotal role in strengthening social solidarity among members of the community in the Eastern Province. By unifying efforts under one umbrella, the logistical burden on zakat payers is reduced, and the quality of food provided to beneficiaries is ensured. The program also contributes to stimulating local commerce by purchasing large quantities of rice, thus benefiting the local economy and underscoring that zakat is not merely a religious obligation, but an effective tool for achieving social and economic balance.
At the conclusion of the reception, Engineer Ibrahim Abu Abah expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Prince of the Eastern Province for his unlimited support and close monitoring of all the details of the program, stressing that His Highness’s directives were the main driving force behind the successive successes achieved by the program over the past years.
