VIDEO: Burj Khalifa dazzles with 393,000 lights in four days of donations

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Within four days of the World’s Tallest Donation Box launch, Burj Khalifa shone bright with 393,000 lights as donations continue pouring in to support coronavirus-hit communities in the UAE.

The light donations of individuals and companies across the country will secure 393,000 meals to the ‘10 million meals’ campaign that aims to provide food support for those affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Individuals from 100 nationalities contributed to the World’s Tallest Donation Box that provides a meal for every light purchased for as little as Dhs10.

Donations illuminated 46 floors of Burj Khalifa, with the goal to shine the 1.2 million lights on the façade of the world’s tallest building in a message of solidarity and hope to communities hard hit by the pandemic across the world.

The World’s Tallest Donation Box enables companies, entities and the public to purchase lights of Burj Khalifa, for as little as Dh10 each, to provide meals for those in need.

Donors from different parts of the world are posting positive messages of hope as they make their contributions on the initiative’s website www.tallestdonationbox.com.  

Hailing from the UAE, Sara wrote, "I’m so blessed to be in a safe country with a roof above my head and food in my hands. I can never relate to what others are going through but I try my very best to help.”

Arsalan Khalid, from Pakistan, wrote, "The sun is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from the darkness, that we too can shine our own light.”

Hailing from the UK, Sarah Kelly wrote, "For the unsung heroes of Covid-19: When it rains look for rainbows, when it is dark look for stars.”

Aegidia Schnepp, from France, wrote, "May the world and human beings be respectful and at peace together and their environment any time. Love can do.”

While Joan De Los Reyes, from Philippines, posted, "I am one of the Covid response team in Abu Dhabi, I hope this little help that I made give some encouragement to the others who are striking in hunger. Aside from prayers that I am doing. Thank you, UAE.”

The World’s Tallest Donation Box drew massive contributions within the first few days of its launch from a number of private companies and multinational corporations including Amazon, Visa, Atlantis Resorts, West Zone, Tristar Group, Chalhoub Group and Bin Sougat Group.

The World’s Tallest Donation Box enables companies, entities and the public to purchase lights of Burj Khalifa, for as little as Dhs10 each, to collectively donate 1.2 million meals or food parcels to low-income individuals and families in the UAE.

For every light purchased for Dhs10 through the website www.tallestdonationbox.com, one meal is provided to someone in need through the ‘10 million meals’ campaign, with the goal to illuminate the 1.2 million lights on the façade of the world’s tallest building in a move that reflects social solidarity and cohesion of the UAE’s diverse society to bring much-needed relief to coronavirus-hit communities across the country.

As donations continue to pour in, Visa has pledged 55,000 meals to coronavirus-hit communities in the UAE, lighting up 55,000 pixels on Burj Khalifa as part of the World’s Tallest Donation Box. The Dhs550,000 donation contributes to illuminating Burj Khalifa’s 1.2 million lights to secure 1.2 million meals and food parcels for the ‘10 million meals’ campaign that supports individuals and families affected by the covid-19 pandemic during Ramadan.

Dubai-based Chalhoub Group donated 1,600 food parcels, equivalent to 17,000 meals, to support coronavirus-hit individuals and families in UAE as part the World’s Tallest Donation Box. The Group’s in-kind donation will light up 17,000 pixels on Burj Khalifa, as part of the initiative that aims to illuminate the 1.2 million lights on the world’s tallest building, securing 1.2 million meals and food parcels for the ’10 million meals’ campaign.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) oversees the campaign in collaboration with the Social Solidarity Fund Against