UAE: Pay Zakat Through This New App

Ramadan is all about giving back and the UAE in Ramadan gives back safely considering COVID-19. Muslims are asked to perform zakat, the giving 2.5% of one's possessions to charity, generally to the poor and needy. as it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Smart Dubai has collaborated with the UAE Zakat Fund to launch a new and secure zakat payment service on the government app DubaiNow in time for Ramadan.

The app DubaiNow can be downloaded via the Appstore and google play for android users, Wesam Lootah, CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment, said: “DubaiNow has established itself as an innovative city app allowing users to easily complete their everyday tasks and transactions, saving them time and effort. The application is a key driver of Smart Dubai’s strategic goals, accelerating the holistic digital transformation of the city, and helping transform the Dubai Government into a fully paperless government by December 12, 2021.”

.@SmartDubai Launches new 'zakat' service on DubaiNow App in collaboration with the #UAE Zakat Fundhttps://t.co/SiQiMMTny8 pic.twitter.com/zfbbbQIgbw

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 19, 2021

Abdullah Bin Oqeedah Al Muhairy, UAE Zakat Fund’s secretary-general, said the new payment channel through DubaiNow is an interpretation of the directives of the federal government that call for enhancing strategic partnerships with local governments. He added that Smart Dubai was the first entity to communicate with the Zakat Fund. Al Muhairy also acknowledged the role played by the Zakat Fund’s strategic partners and their contribution to upgrading its services.

The app allows users to calculate their zakat amount in accordance with Sharia, and then pay the full amount or part of it. The feature adds to the existing set of services in the ‘Donations and Islam’ categories of the DubaiNow app, which include the Zakat Al Fitr (given at the end of Ramadan) payment service and allow users to donate iftar meals (for ending the fast) in collaboration with the Dar Al Ber Society.