Philanthropy has long been a worthy badge of honour for the world's richest people, and recently it has been thrust under the spotlight by something called The Giving Pledge, a non-contractual commitment for the world's wealthiest to dedicate more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes, either during their lifetime or in their will. Established in 2010 by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, alongside investor Warren Buffett, the pledge directs fortunes towards causes including education, climate change, poverty, healthcare and economic development.
To be included on the list, a member must dedicate at least half of their personal wealth to charity, and there are now 204 Giving Pledge members, not all of whom are still alive, hailing from 23 countries. A number of those names come from the Middle East, and in 2019 the 47-year-old Emirati philanthropist Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Musallam Al Ameri quietly joined the list, pledging to give away at least half of his wealth.
Dr. Al Ameri is no stranger to generosity. The son and grandson of two of the most influential figures in the formation of the UAE, he serves as deputy chairman of the Bin Ham Group, an international business with a broad investment portfolio spanning engineering, property, hospitality, travel and education. He is also the author of two books on governing the UAE, a former Federal National Council member, and deputy secretary-general of the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition.
His accolades are considerable: he has been a recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Medallion Humanity Award, the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Charity and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence, the last of these awarded to him twice.
"Based on the principles of our Islamic religion and our inherent human values, I seek to harness our resources, capabilities and specialised competencies to continue to make many outstanding achievements in humanitarian, charitable and relief work around the world, without discrimination between race and religion," Dr. Al Ameri said in his Giving Pledge letter. A humble and highly influential family man and entrepreneur, he stands as a shining example of magnanimity.
