The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi has joined forces with Damas, the leading Emirati jewelry brand, to support children’s medical treatment.

Hosted through the month of October, The St. Regis Hope Afternoon Tea by Damas will feature bespoke pastries inspired by the Dubai brand’s collections and aims to raise funds for Al Jalila Foundation.

Dedicated to furthering healthcare research and education, it was founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Al Jalila Foundation’s work is saving lives both here and overseas, and we’re delighted to be in a position to do something to help and to give back to our community,” said Marwan Fadel, hotel manager of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

“With Damas’ valuable support, we plan to raise money for a very noble cause while at the same time delivering delightful experiences for our guests.”

Anan Fakhreddin, chief executive officer of Damas, said: “At Damas, we believe in the importance of medical research and through the years it has become a priority for the UAE to become one of the world’s top nations by 2021. Our partnership started with Al Jalila Foundation four years ago and we consider it a significant contributor to the advancement of local medical capabilities since its inception and, as a UAE company, we are delighted to be part of this initiative and to partner with St. Regis to raise money and build awareness on such a noble community endeavor.”

The hotel’s head pastry chef, Hyeran Do, has created a special menu for the campaign in homage to Damas’ distinguished heritage. A representative of the brand will be on hand to present its exquisitely crafted pieces, which exude exclusivity and style.

The Afternoon Tea tradition at the St. Regis was originated by Mrs. Astor, the mother of the founder of the first St. Regis Hotel, in New York. Envisioned as the perfect way to gather and socialize with close friends, it remains popular to this day.

On Saadiyat Island, it is served daily in the elegant Drawing Room from 2pm to 6pm. Diners can enjoy unlimited hot beverages alongside a platter laden with sweet and savory treats, including bite-size sandwiches and scones served with whipped cream and jam. Prices start at Dh160 ($43.5).

For each Afternoon Tea ordered during October, a proportion of the proceeds will support Al Jalila Foundation’s Farah project – the name means ‘joy’ or ‘happiness’ in Arabic – which funds children’s medical treatment in the UAE. Damas will also make a sizeable donation towards the cause.

“Each year, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi takes part in The Road to Awareness fundraising campaign. This charitable drive, embraced by associates at many of our parent company’s properties, has made a positive difference to children’s lives for almost a decade,” said Shweta Dhumale, director of marketing at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

She added: “We are proud of what we have achieved through our philanthropic activities to date and look forward to hosting The St. Regis Hope Afternoon Tea by Damas.”

Al Jalila Foundation is a nonprofit organization and all donations it receives are invested inside the UAE. It is developing an Dh200 million ($54.4 million) medical research center – the first of its kind in the country – to focus on cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and mental health.

Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, chief executive officer of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be the charity partner for the St. Regis Hope Afternoon Tea by Damas to support our pediatric program ‘Farah’. Hope is a theme very close to our hearts and we are encouraged to see The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi join forces with Damas, one of our long-term partners, to improve children’s lives and contribute to their health and happiness.” - TradeArabia News Service