The money - Seven million Dirhams - has been donated by the city-based master developer Nakheel to help provide clean water for underprivileged children in Third World countries.

The British couple specially flew here to receive the donation yesterday on behalf of the organisation run by the children in affluent countries to help their counterparts in less-privileged nations.

The charity - Free the Children - was founded by international child right activist Craig Kielberger and a group of his friends in Toronto when they were only 12 year old.

The 'Wall Street' actor said he had joined the campaign as he was " highly impressed" by the fact that the charity was run by children to help other less-fortunate children.

"Many diseases are spread through contaminated water and children in these countries often become too sick to go to school," Douglas said.

"This just isn't fair for any child. It's something we want to see stopped. 'Free the Children' addresses the children's need for clean water in many ways, teaching proper hand washing and boiling water," he was quoted by The Nation as saying.

A portion of the donation would be used to fund a trip for 40 school children from Dubai to visit Free the Children projects in Sri Lanka.

"They will work on the projects and when they come back here they will inspire others to become involved. If you change a child's perspective you can change the world."

Also present during the function, Craig Kielberger hailed the donation as "a towering feat of philanthropy". The charity had already received support from Queen Noor of Jordan, King Constantine of Greece, Sir Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey.