This Zakat policy outlines the guidelines for the distribution of Zakat funds within the sustainable Waqf city. The city, consisting of housing, a masjid, a school, and vocational training facilities, aims to provide a comprehensive and sustainable living environment for its residents of orphans and supporting mothers. This policy seeks to ensure that Aldar Waqf City is in full accordance with the teachings of Islam, thus confirming to donors that their Zakat is fulfilled responsibly in the best way possible.

The Zakat funds will be allocated to the following priority areas:

1. 1. Housing:
      • • Construction: Building housing units for orphans and their supporting mothers.
        • Maintenance and Repair: Ensuring the ongoing upkeep of existing housing units, including structural repairs, plumbing, and electrical maintenance.
   2. Masjid:
      • • Construction: Building the masjid for the residents of Aldar Waqf City
        • Operational Expenses: Covering the costs of Imam’s salary, utilities, maintenance, and community programs.
        • Expansion and Improvement: Funding the expansion of the masjid or the addition of facilities, such as a library or community center.
   3. School:
      • • Construction: Building the school for the children of Aldar City and neighboring communities.
        • Educational Resources: Providing textbooks, supplies, and technology to enhance the learning environment.
        • Teacher Training: Supporting professional development programs for teachers.
        • Tuition Assistance: Offering financial aid to students who cannot afford tuition fees.
   4. Vocational Training:
      • • Construction: Building the center for the residents of Aldar Waqf City
        • Program Development: Funding the development and implementation of new vocational training programs.
        • Equipment and Supplies: Providing necessary equipment and supplies for training programs.
        • Job Placement: Assisting graduates in finding employment opportunities.
   5. Water and Wellness:
      • • Water Infrastructure: Building and maintaining a robust water supply system that ensures clean, safe water for all residents of Aldar Waqf City.
        • Healthcare Resources: Supporting the establishment and ongoing operation of healthcare facilities within the city, providing essential medical services to both residents and the surrounding community.
        • Sustainable Development: Ensuring that both water and healthcare infrastructures are not only established but also sustainably maintained, offering long-term benefits to the community.

1. All Zakat donations received by Aldar Waqf City are internally tagged as Zakat.

2. When a Zakat donation is designated to a certain program by a donor, this restriction will be respected and the funds are used solely for the donor’s intended purpose to the greatest extent possible, unless doing so becomes impossible due to unforeseen external circumstances.

3. When a Zakat donation is not designated to a specific project by the donor, Aldar Waqf City allocates the funds according to the eight categories of Zakat-eligible programs as outlined in the Quran. Note that Aldar Waqf strongly encourages donors to make their donations unrestricted, providing us greater flexibility to respond to where most needed.

4. Zakat-eligible projects are identified based on need and per the eight categories noted in the Quran (9:60):

• • ‘al fuqara’ (the poor)
  • ‘al masakin’ (the chronically needy / indigent)
  • ‘al amilina alayha’ (the administrators of Zakat funds)
  • ‘al mualafati qulubhum’ (those that incline their hearts towards good)
  • ‘f’il riqabi’ (freeing of slaves / those in bondage)
  • ‘al gharimina’ (those in debt)
  • ‘f’il sabili-llahi’ (in the way of God)
  • ‘al sabili’ (the traveler)

In line with category “the administrators of Zakat funds”, a portion of Zakat funds collected are eligible to be allocated toward covering operational costs which enables us to ensure impactful distribution and monitoring of funds (such as gasoline for delivery vehicles, salaries for monitoring staff, and accounting fees for financial oversight).  Some organizations feel pressured to publicly advertise unsustainably low – or even 0% – overhead numbers for their Zakat, or to promote the widely held, although jurisprudentially non-binding, perspective that a 12.5% allocation for pure administration is an acceptable level.  We recognize that providing high-quality, impactful programming at a significant scale in the long term requires regular investments in professional staff, technology, marketing, and training. We therefore endeavor to keep our spending on administration for incoming program designated Zakat donations, at all times, as low as responsibly possible, never exceeding 12.5%.

5. The Zakat Advisory Board will ensure transparency in the distribution of funds. This includes:

• Clear documentation: Maintaining detailed records of all Zakat transactions and distributions.
• Regular audits: Conducting regular audits to verify the proper use of funds.
• Public reporting: Providing regular reports to donors and the community on the use of Zakat funds.

 This Zakat policy provides a framework for the effective and equitable distribution of Zakat funds within the sustainable Waqf city. By prioritizing housing, education, and community development, the policy aims to create a thriving and sustainable community for its residents.