JEDDAH — Princess Doaa Bint Mohammed, the United Nations ambassador of peace for children, hosted an iftar dinner for 300 orphans at Almasah Celebration Hall in Jeddah on Monday to share with them the joy of the holy month of Ramadan. Prominent businesswomen, charitable and volunteer leaders graced the occasion with their presence.

The event was organized in order to spread a message of peace for orphans in society as it has a moral and religious responsibility to preserve the rights of orphans by supporting their upbringing in the light of the teachings of Islam and keeping the directions of Saudi Arabia intact in this regard.

The ceremony started with the recitation of Qur'an verses and playing of the national anthem, which was followed by a speech by Princess Doaa.

The princess said: “There is no doubt that the value and importance of caring for orphans is a fundamental pillar of Islam and Islamic society. Under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, governmental as well as private institutions are supporting these children who are with us today."

Princess Doaa hoped that the iftar arrangement and the presence of royal guests at the event would please the children.

She further said that sustainable development could only be achieved with social work but it required an organized and dedicated struggle.

While addressing the organizers and volunteers, she also said, "Our hard work pays off as we see smile on the faces of these children. "

Earlier, Mishary Al Wasmi, deputy CEO of Golden Press, one of the sponsors of the event, welcomed Princess Doaa and other guests to the charitable event. He said events like these were an important factor in promoting solidarity among members of the community.

Other sponsors of the event were Almasah Hall, Virgin, Othman Cuisine and Al-Qurashi Company.

During the ceremony, there were performances by children to entertain the audience. The performers were presented with gifts and souvenirs.

In an informal session, Princess Doaa met with the orphans and took photos with them to share the happiness.

Princess Doaa is the wife of Prince Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Turki. One of the pioneers in community work in Saudi Arabia, she has been actively carrying out many charitable and humanitarian work.

An influential figure in the Arab world, she is the UN ambassador of peace for children and an ambassador for human rights. She is also a goodwill ambassador for humanitarian action and sustainable development for the Arab Development Council for Women and Business. She has a societal role in various fields including supporting children with cancer, orphans and elderly women. She is also supporting community relations for development and is maintaining many charitable initiatives. — SG