Ramadan is the month of giving, and the conglomerated feeling of generosity that has embedded the city is contagious regardless of faith, age or ethnicity. FMCG giant OMO has created charity bins at prominent malls (Deira City Centre, MOE and City Centre Mirdif) and even tied up with Uber for free pickups from home. Well-meaning residents have installed refrigerators that can be filled with fresh food and drink for the needy, and Iftar tents have popped up in every nook and cranny installing a sense of brotherhood that is so in line with the teachings of Islam.

 

How have you been giving back this Ramadan?

With shorter work hours, I’ve taken the time to clear out the wardrobe and used the Uber service to send off 3 big piles of clothes to the OMO initiative. I’ve also sent a home-cooked meal to my building watchmen (more on that in a separate post), yet there is one more thing I am planning to add to the list… give blood.

Did you know that blood donations can drop by a staggering 30% in Ramadan (according to Gulf News)? Yet the demand for blood transfusions remains the same. If you, like me, have been in the unfortunate predicament of seeing a loved one in need for blood (or perhaps have been in the receiving end yourself), you surely understand the magnanimity of the situation.

 

Cash and kind are often the most common means of charity, but blood is not as common. Blood is always in dire need.

 

Apart from the philanthropic side of giving, donating blood is also very good for health. Click here for my past post for more details.

Today I am leaving you with a list of locations across the UAE where you can safely donate blood. What better time to start on such an altruistic initiative than the month of giving? Ramadan Kareem.

Emirate	Blood Transfusion Center	Tel No.	Address
DUBAI	Blood Bank – Latifa (Al Wasl) Hospital	04-2193221	Oud Metha Road – Dubai
	Blood Bank – Tawam Hospital	03-7623088	Jimi – Al Ain
	Blood Bank – Zayed Miltary Hospital	02-4055243	Musaffah Road – Abu Dhabi
	Blood Bank – Al Baraha Hospital	04-2731451	Arabic Gulf Street – Dubai
SHARJAH	Sharjah Blood Transfuion and Research Center	06-5582111	University City Street – Region Moweleh
			P.O Box: 2605 Sharjah
ABU DHABI	Abu Dhabi Blood Bank Center	02-6656508	Manhal Street – Abu Dhabi
AL AIN	Blood Bank – Al Ain Hospital	03-7072475	Al- Ain City
NORTHERN EMIRATES	Blood Bank – Al Dhaid Hospital	06-8020245	Hisham Bin Abdul Rahman Street – Al Dhaid
	Blood Bank – Kalba Hospital	09-2030256	Ali Bin Abi Talib Street –
			Al Baraha area – Kalba
	Blood Bank – Khorfakkan Hospital	09-2080316	Khaled Bin Al Waleed Street – Yarmouk district
			P.O Box: 10 449
			Khor Fakkan
	Blood Bank – Ajman Khalifa Hospital	06-7050539	Next to the Ajman University of Science and Technology – Ajman
	Blood Bank – Umm Al Quwain Hospital	06-7657220	Mualla Street – opposite the National Bank of Dubai
			Umm Al Quwain
	Blood Bank – Saqar Hospital	07-2023167	Algosaidat Area, Ras Al Khaimah
	Blood Bank – Saif Bin Gubash Hospital	07-2024592	Al Nakheel Area, Oman Street RAK
	Blood Bank – Fujairah Hospital	09-2020503	Fujairah Hospital – Nagmyat St.- Front Al-Futtaim Motors – Fujairah
	Blood Bank – Dibba Al Fujairah Hospital	09-2061292	Sheikh Zayed Road – Dibba Fujairah

 

And if giving blood is really not possible for you, remember every little act of giving counts… even beyond Ramadan.