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Dubai, United Arab Emirates: With its
4,000-strong workforce hailing from about 37 countries around the
world, effective cross-cultural communication is one of the key
success factors at Dubai Aluminium Company Limited ("DUBAL") - one
of the world's largest single-site primary aluminium smelters and
the industrial flagship of the UAE. Moreover, with a large
percentage of its employees being expatriates, the blend of culture
and creed at the company's Jebel Ali site is both colourful and
eclectic.
Aiming to raise the levels of inclusivity in the cultural
rituals and festivals of the Arabian Gulf, the company has this
year elected to host an internal educational campaign on the
meaning and importance of the holy month of Ramadan. The initiative
began on 1 August 2010 with the establishment of an Al Majlis
within DUBAL's main entrance security reception area prior to
Ramadan, complete with coffee and dates, enabling visitors to
experience Arabic culture and tradition. Then, from 8 August
onwards, the wallpaper and screensavers deployed all PCs across the
company will bear messages explaining the true essence of Ramadan -
specifically spiritual reflection and worship; personal penitence
and prayer; purification through self-discipline and charitable
deeds; re-affirmation of faith through fasting; and seeking favour
and forgiveness.
From the onset of Ramadan and throughout the month, the DUBAL
Medical Centre will begin rolling-out a "Healthy fasting during
Ramadan" campaign, targeted both at the company's employees and the
employees of contractors working on the DUBAL site. A series of
emails will be circulated, the contents of which highlight the
healthiest way to approach fasting; and workshops will be held to
help diabetics participate in Ramadan without jeopardising their
health.
As in prior years, Muslim employees will also have the
opportunity to participate in DUBAL's annual Qura'an Memorization
and Recitation Competitions during Ramadan 2010. These
competitions, which offer substantial prizes to the winners,
culminate in an annual Hajj send-off event later in the year.
At the same time, the campaign will have an external element in
the form of a Ramadan tent near DUBAL's main entrance, where
employees can place donations of clothing, household linens and
non-perishable food to charity. Says Khalid Buhumaid (Vice
President: Corporate Relations & International Affairs and
official spokesperson of DUBAL), "DUBAL cares about the community
and provides corporate support for projects that improve the
quality of life for underprivileged or disempowered members of the
community. We also encourage our employees to become engaged in the
community by investing time, skills or other resources at a
personal level. Through this multi-faceted Ramadan programme, we
hope that many more DUBAL employees will experience Ramadan Kareem
at a new spiritual and cultural level, learn more about Arabic
culture and traditions, and give gifts to charity."
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