The Jumbo Group has coincided the spirit of giving this Ramadan while remembering its founder Manohar Chhabria with a donation of Dh1 million to Dubai Cares for children’s education on Thursday.
Vikas Chadha, chief executive officer of Jumbo Group, handed over the one-million cheque to Tariq Al Gurg, his counterpart and the vice-chairman at Dubai Cares.
The day marked the 21st death anniversary of Chhabria who started Jumbo in 1973 as a retail agency and 50 years on, it has evolved into a group companies and is the UAE’s leading retailer for latest technology products.
In true Indian tradition of doing charity as a show of thanksgiving to the universe on behalf of Mr Chhabria, Jumbo Group’s contribution towards the cause of children’s education now amounts to a total of Dh6 million to date.
“The donation is part of Jumbo’s enduring support towards advancing the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to empower children and youth through access to quality education,” Chadha said on behalf of Jumbo Group.
Dubai Cares is an organisation that works to improve children’s access to quality primary education in the UAE as well as developing countries. The vision that the organisation wants to transmit is that education goes beyond training. It is a tool to break the cycle of poverty.
Apart from cash, organizations as well as individuals can also donate new or used devices such as desktop computers, laptops and tablets by filling out a donation form on www.dubaicares.ae.
Last year, Jumbo Group supported the 1 Billion Meals campaign, an initiative by the Dubai government, with a similar amount. “Our relationship with the UAE and its people was established over 45 years ago and we are proud to be able to contribute to such important initiatives,” Vidya Chhabria, chairperson of Jumbo Group, had said then.
“Ramadan is a time for self-reflection and charity and as a company Jumbo Group is in full support of the efforts made by the government here to help those in need.”
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In a landmark move to boost digital banking security, banks across the UAE will begin phasing out one-time passwords (OTPs) sent via SMS and email starting Friday, July 25, 2025. The transition comes in line with new directives issued by the UAE Central Bank, mandating the adoption of app-based authentication for all local and international banking transactions.
The shift will be implemented in stages, with customers required to activate app-based verification systems to continue approving transactions. The complete phase-out of SMS and email OTPs is expected by March 2026.
The UAE Central Bank’s initiative marks a significant departure from traditional OTP delivery methods, which have increasingly become targets for cyber threats. In contrast, app-based verification offers a more secure and reliable method for transaction approvals, leveraging advanced technology to safeguard user data and banking operations.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has unveiled a new academic calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year, set to be adopted across all public and private higher education institutions in the UAE. The move follows approval from the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council and is part of a broader push to strengthen the national education system.
Key changes include a revised structure for end-of-term holidays, aimed at offering greater flexibility and consistency for universities across the country. The revamped calendar is aligned with the objectives of the ‘Year of Community,’ a national initiative that encourages family cohesion and student well-being through a more balanced academic schedule.
His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the new calendar reflects a strategic shift in how academic life is structured to better serve students and society.
“This step reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the higher education system by aligning academic policies with community development goals and student needs,” Dr. Al Awar said. “It marks a qualitative shift toward a more flexible, balanced system that supports students’ well-being, community engagement, and personal growth.”
The Ministry says the updated calendar is part of a larger vision to foster an integrated and responsive university environment—one that not only meets academic requirements but also supports the broader personal and social development of students.