Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has registered a new investment endowment comprising 58,988 shares in several companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, donated by a benefactor under the directorate’s supervision in favour of the “Waqf Al-Wuqoof” (Endowment of Endowments) initiative under the Waqf Fund for Righteousness and Piety.
The contribution marks the first endowment donation recorded for the benefactor in the directorate’s records, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of endowments and the increasing diversity of assets that donors can dedicate to charitable and sustainable causes.
Endowed shares represent a modern form of investment endowment, in which the shares remain as a dedicated endowment asset while their returns are directed to charitable purposes in accordance with the donor’s conditions. This model helps preserve the principal while ensuring that its benefits continue over the long term.
Director of the Investment Department at the General Directorate of Endowments Mohammed Abdullah Al Harami said the contribution demonstrates the diversity of investment instruments that can form part of the endowment system.
He explained that income generated from financial assets can support various endowment funds and charitable purposes in line with donors’ conditions. The Investment Department develops investment plans aimed at achieving the objectives of endowments and growing their assets, while monitoring their implementation after approval.
The department also manages investment portfolios in accordance with Shariah principles and professional standards, seeking to generate sustainable returns while preserving the economic value of endowed assets.
Al Harami said these efforts support the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, particularly the development of a sustainable endowment and zakat system, increasing endowment returns and maximising their social benefits in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
He stressed that endowment investment seeks to balance the preservation of the original asset with the growth of its returns, allowing endowed assets to continue generating resources that can be channelled into the areas specified by donors.
The Waqf Fund for Righteousness and Piety covers a broad range of charitable and philanthropic activities, with its returns directed to various areas according to donors’ conditions, contributing to social solidarity and supporting priority needs and initiatives.
The Waqf Al-Wuqoof initiative is based on reinvesting endowment returns in the establishment of new endowments on an ongoing basis. This approach expands the endowment asset base year after year, transforming returns from existing endowments into a source for creating new assets whose benefits can continue into the future.
The model provides an additional dimension of sustainability, as endowment income is not limited to immediate charitable spending. Instead, part of it is reinvested to create new income-generating assets, strengthening the growth of the endowment system and ensuring the continuation of its benefits across generations.
