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The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) has signed a funding agreement with the Al Noor Center for the Blind that will run from 2026 through 2028. The pact focuses on purchasing specialized devices and equipment for people with visual impairments while also providing a medical device to upgrade the center’s vision clinic. This financial contribution will help enhance the range and quality of services offered to beneficiaries, according to details released following the signing.
Meshaal bin Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, the executive director of Al Noor Center for the Blind, valued the partnership. “We value our partnership with the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), as it enhances the technical and medical infrastructure of the center, and contributes to empowering people with visual disabilities and raising the quality of services provided to them,” he said. The center, which traces its origins to 1998 and was transformed into its current form in 2018, operates under the Qatar Foundation for Social Work and focuses on education, rehabilitation and community awareness to foster greater independence.
Yousef Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, director of shared services at DAAM, linked the initiative to broader policy goals. He confirmed that the support complies with the third National Development Strategy that prioritizes empowerment of priority care groups including those with visual disabilities. This in turn will aid in developing the center’s services and fulfilling the needs of its users, he added.
DAAM was established in 2010 by Amiri Decision No 44 to promote sustainable social development in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030, the fund has stated. The fund relies on contributions from companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange to finance projects in social, sports, cultural and health fields. Over the years it has backed numerous programs aimed at improving quality of life and supporting vulnerable groups, recent examples including agreements with centers for orphans, vocational rehabilitation and assistive technology.
A population-based study conducted in Qatar found the prevalence of blindness at 0.4 percent among adults aged 50 and older with uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts among the main causes of vision impairment. Al Noor Center marked the end of its recent academic year by honoring 29 graduates who had completed inclusive education and university programs, the center reported. Such milestones highlight the center’s role in preparing individuals for active societal participation.
The new equipment is set to improve diagnostic and care capabilities at the vision clinic while specialized technologies will better address daily needs of those with visual impairments. Both parties anticipate that the multi-year commitment will yield sustained benefits and stronger outcomes for the center’s community. The agreement underscores ongoing collaboration between national funds and specialized institutions to advance inclusion and support services.
