RIYADH: At the end of Ramadan, the Saudi government’s Zakaty charity platform announced it had received more than SR1 billion ($266 million) in donations since launching nine years ago.
The platform was developed by the country’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and allows people to make charitable donations directly to beneficiaries.
Zakat donations are one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam, requiring all Muslims who meet a minimum threshold to give 2.5 percent of their wealth to the needy.
Charitable donations often surge during the holy month of Ramadan as worshippers endeavor to practice good deeds.
The platform also sees an annual uptick in donations as Eid Al-Fitr nears, with the faithful donating the mandatory Zakat Al-Fitr, the equivalent of 2.5 kg to 3 kg of staple food that must be paid before the Eid prayer.
