Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, has been awarded the ‘HH Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa Award for Volunteer Work’ at an event in the Bahraini capital Manama. Al Habtoor was handed the highly-coveted award by HH Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa at the Ritz Carlton on Tuesday September 15, 2015.
The HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award is a key annual Arab event for voluntary Arab societies and centres. It rewards prominent volunteers from around the Arab world.
Khalaf Al Habtoor, who was recognised for his extensive philanthropic work, praised the initiative, saying it had a positive impact throughout the Arab world. “It is everyone’s duty to help those less fortunate than themselves. Being charitable and providing for the needy are important features of Islam.”
He added, “It is a sad indictment on human nature that the poor are either discriminated against or treated as though they were invisible. I vowed that no matter how much money I made, I would endeavour never to do that.”
Al Habtoor set up a Foundation in his name several years ago. The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation’s priorities include education, fostering interfaith communication, and easing the plight of people caught up in conflict zones. The Foundation also lends its support to many charities around the world.
The Al Habtoor Group Chairman was welcomed at Manama Airport by HH Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa, after which he was hosted for lunch by Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa.
Following the award ceremony Al Habtoor visited Bahrain’s Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.