Threefold surge in charitable donations in Oman during Ramadan

Muscat: More than OMR230,000 was donated to charities in Oman during Ramadan, more than triple the amount donated last month.
Oman’s Donation Portal for Charitable Organisations registered a sharp increase in donations in the Holy Month of Ramadan, as citizens and residents flocked to perform charitable deeds and pay their Zakat. Through June, the organisation recorded 5,797 contributors, who raised OMR229,688.24 as of the 30th day of Ramadan, corresponding to June 26. Total June contributions, including Eid week, were pegged at OMR240,508.20, from 6,190 contributors.
May contributions were estimated to be OMR49,609.32, and showed that June’s contributions increased by more than 360 per cent to coincide with Ramadan. Last year’s Ramadan contributions sat at OMR221,951.36, reflecting a small 3 per cent increase this year.
Since the initiation of the portal in 2009, a total OMR2.48 million has been recorded in donation contributions. This year alone has seen OMR394,767.61 in donations, from almost 13,000 contributors.
The portal collects donations either by choice of charity organisation, or by cause. It donates to 25 charitable organisations in the Sultanate, including the Dar Al Atta’a Charity, the Oman Cancer Association, the Environmental Society of Oman, the Oman Association for the Disabled, and the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs.
There are 19 donation causes that donors can opt for, including Zakah, Ramadan Iftar Meals, Orphan Care, and Family Care, along with Donations for Yemen, and the Syria Help Campaign.
Donations for Zakah have been the main source for donations this month, accounting for over OMR120,000 of the total amount.
Payment of the obligatory charity or Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is obligatory for all Muslims, whose wealth is above certain limits. Although Zakat can be distributed any time of the year, Muslims all over the world prefer the Holy Month of Ramadan for its distribution.
An awareness campaign was launched by Oman’s Information Technology Authority (ITA) earlier in the month, urging people to donate to the portal through the website or the mobile app available in Android or iOS.
Opting for the website, www.donate.om, as an alternative is also secure, transparent and easy to use. Anyone holding an Omani Bank credit card can use the donations portal to donate online with few simple clicks.