The Department of Economic Development in Ras al-Khaimah, RAK DED, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Anti-Smoking International Alliance-London, to combat smoking in local corporations and associations.

Dr. Abdulrahman Alshayeb Alnaqbi, General Director of the RAK DED, and Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of the Anti-Smoking International Alliance-London, signed the MoU during a ceremony that was attended by Dr. Salah Al Deen Al Bloushi, Consultant at the Health Ministry of Oman, and Dr. Hisham Safadi, Founder of UDENZ App, as well as several officials and representatives from both sides.

The RAK DED is working diligently to maintain social responsibility in business communities, by adopting several relevant programmes and initiatives. The department also follows the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, which aims to create an active foundation of social responsibility and achieve sustainable development in the country.

The MoU, which was signed today, aims to organise several initiatives and campaigns that will consolidate good values and good citizenship among members of society, as well as to change many common and unhealthy habits that encourage smoking. The initiative will also strengthen the role of the RAK DED and its interactions with the community, and enhance its efforts to combat smoking and protect society from diseases caused by this negative behaviour. The initiative will also help to reduce the considerable waste of money when treating diseases caused by smoking.

Dr. Alnaqbi extended his gratitude to the Anti-Smoking International Alliance for their co-operation with the RAK DED, to eliminate this unhealthy behaviour in Ras al-Khaimah. He also mentioned that the RAK DED is keen to adopt this non-profit initiative during the Year of Giving, in addition to the other charitable initiatives that it launched this year.

"We have adopted this initiative under the slogan, ‘together we combat smoking for our generation and the coming generations,’ and we aim to create a healthy business environment in corporations in Ras al-Khaimah. Therefore, we have also placed the logo of the Anti-Smoking Alliance on all documents printed within the RAK DED. We are trying to spread this culture among business communities in the emirate, in addition to launching a number of awareness campaigns that support this initiative," Dr. Alnaqbi said.

"We are very proud of this pioneering initiative launched by the RAK DED, and we also value the efforts of the department. This initiative is the first of its kind in the world that comes from a business entity and is a unique opportunity to spread awareness about the disadvantages of smoking across the business community. On behalf all members of the alliance, I extend my deepest gratitude for this trust from a national governmental entity, outside the health industry. This is valid evidence of the efforts of the Government of Ras al-Khaimah to spread awareness and support future generations while educating them about the risks of smoking," Dr. Al Madani said.

Dr. Al Madani also referred to the initiative as an excellent example for other organisations and associations, which will encourage them to support the initiative for the overall benefit of the society. "We will grant free membership to all licenses issued by the RAK DED, to encourage them to continue in this endeavour and help them commit to healthy behaviours, for a better and successful working environment," he added.

Dr. Safadi said that the initiative is only the start of a series of initiatives, which will encourage co-operation between the business community and the healthcare sector, in a time when healthcare expenses are considerable for organisations and companies.