To herald the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, the Global Gift Gala joined forces for the first time with the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball – created by a collective of women in the UAE capital who support meaningful charitable causes Sawtouna along with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia – to raise funds for Lebanese Red Cross, a humanitarian organization and an auxiliary team to the medical service of the Lebanese Army and the Global Gift Foundation.

The event was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Cabinet member and the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who graced the evening and said:

“It gives me great pleasure to join you for this year’s Abu Dhabi Dream Ball, a splendid evening that celebrates hope, inspiration, and human fraternity. This annual Dream Ball is an opportunity to display our desire, indeed our commitment, to providing life opportunities to those women, children, and families who most need our support. It also provides an occasion to honor and celebrate the community spirit on display here this evening. Your partnership this year with the Global Gift Foundation allows you to explore and realize new ways for improving the lives of women and children in our country and around the world.

It is only appropriate that this annual Ball bears the name of the City of Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates is a compassionate country. People who are in need inspire us with their courage and invoke our compassion. We in the UAE are committed to a society that fully supports the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – a society that educates, mentors, and nurtures women – a society that empowers families to provide opportunities to all their members. We are extremely grateful to our leaders who shape the environment that incubated the successful development of women, children, and families.”

The event saw Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid presented with the prestigious Global Gift Excellence Award.

The prestigious event was chaired by Global Gift Foundation founder Maria Bravo with co-chairs including the founders of Sawtouna, Nadine Maalouf and Nadia Sehweil, Global Gift ambassadors Huda Kattan and Mona Kattan, and honorary chair, actress and philanthropist Eva Longoria Baston.

The Global Gift Gala is a unique international initiative from the Global Gift Foundation, a charity founded by Maria Bravo that is dedicated to philanthropic events worldwide; to help raise funds and make a difference towards children and women across the globe. Maria comments: “I am delighted that we joined forces with one of the most prestigious events in the UAE social calendar, The Abu Dhabi Dream Ball. The annual gala makes a real difference to the lives of refugee women and children in the Middle East, and it was an honour to be a part of the event. Furthermore, the generosity of all the global sponsors allows for the funds raised to go directly toward the benefitting causes.”

Guests were entertained by performances from international pop star and recent winner of The Masked Singer Australia Anastacia, soprano Angelica de la Riva and International pop sensations, Gipsy Reyes Heritage. The world class event was hosted by TV and radio presenter, Tom Urquhart alongside entrepreneur and influencer, Rosemin Madhavji. Glamorous VIP guests including football legend Clarence Seedorf, Egyptian Hollywood film actor Mohammed Karim , UK TV personality Nick Ede, and leading social media talents, Mony Helal and Raghad Fahmi, were invited by the official influencer agency partner of the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball, ITP Live.

The Abu Dhabi Dream Ball is a high-profile charity event aimed at making a real difference in the lives of refugee women and children in the Middle East. A key event in the UAE’s social calendar, Abu Dhabi Dream Ball is a brainchild of Sawtouna, a collective of influential women based in Abu Dhabi committed to promoting volunteerism and developing the potential of women and children through supporting meaningful charitable causes, in partnership with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.