Doha: The Department of Zakat Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has set up 31 Zakat collection points to facilitate people during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Department is all set to launch an app on smart devices offering services related to Zakat. “Since most of the people give Zakat during Ramadan, the Department made necessary preparations, offering a number of services to facilitate them,” said Director of Zakat Affairs Department, Saad Imran Al Kuwari, while speaking at a recent event.
He said the Department receives alms through its branch offices, collection points at shopping complexes and markets, through bank transfer, Qatar e-Government Portal (Hukoomi), and collecting officers. Al Kuwari said that SMS service is also available for Zakat Al Fitr.
He said that Zakat collection points are operating in two shifts from 9am to 2pm and 8pm to 11:30pm. “The Department of Zakat Affairs is operating 15 branch offices and 16 points for collecting Zakat,” said Al Kuwari.
Offices for collecting Zakat are available at Al Wakrah, Al Dafna, Al Saad, Al Waab, Al Rayyan, Al Shamal, Al Khor, Al Muntaza Commercial Street, Al Matar, Salata Al Jadida, Madinat Khalifa (north and south), and Al Meera branches in Bin Omran and Al Nasiriya.
Zakat collection points are operating at Mall of Qatar, Villagio Mall, Dar Al Salam Mall, Family Food Center (Al Rayyan), Lulu Hypermarket (Al Gharrafa), Tawar Mall, Al Meera Bani Hajar Branch, Hamad General Hospital (temporarily), The Mall, Landmark, The One, The Pearl-Qatar, Sidra Mall, Al Meera (Najma, Al Wakrah) and Women Wellness and Research Center (temporarily).
“The Zakat Services Department, through the Research and Studies Section, receives thousands of calls during the blessed month of Ramadan for inquiries and questions related to the obligation of Zakat,” said Al Kuwari.
He said that Zakat calculation service is available at hotlines 44700071, 55188887 and 55188889.
Al Kuwari said that the department is all set to launch a mobile app offering services such as zakat calculation and inquiries related to giving Zakat.
He said needy people will be able to apply for assistance through the app and follow up on their applications.
The Zakat Affairs Department, being the official governmental department entrusted with collecting Zakat and distributing it to the beneficiaries inside Qatar, determines the value of Zakat Al Fitr annually, through researchers and legal experts.
The Zakat Fund provides the beneficiaries registered with it monthly assistance, food baskets (Ramadan aid), which the department used to provide before the blessed month of Ramadan, in addition to the monthly and fixed aid.
The employees communicate with needy people throughout the official working hours during the holy month, to meet the needs of those in need and expedite opening files for them and conducting the necessary research to verify their entitlement to aid, and then the aid is approved for disbursement.
