According to the annual report of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the organization spent AED1.8 billion ($490.15 million) in 2023 to assist 111 million individuals in 105 countries. In comparison to 2022, the number of beneficiaries increased by nine billion, and the coverage expanded to five additional countries, reinforcing its status as the largest regional entity for humanitarian relief, development, and community work.
Read more: Mothers’ Endowment campaign: $272 million education fund launched ahead of Ramadan
These statistics were disclosed during a special event that took place at Dubai Opera. The event was presided over by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who chaired the board of trustees’ meeting for the initiative and reviewed the annual report for 2023. The ceremony also highlighted the foundation’s achievements in 2023 and previous years, while providing updates on the progress of the ongoing Mothers’ Endowment Campaign for this year.
“Every time we succeed in reaching someone in need, anywhere in the world, offering them the means and tools to fight poverty, disease or ignorance, we count this as a major win for us and for humanity as a whole,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed that the UAE initiatives encompass a wide range of areas such as aid, education, health, community empowerment, youth support, and fostering hope. The objective is to assist regions in resuming their path towards progress while offering assistance to underprivileged individuals. The ongoing journey aims to communicate a message of solidarity from the UAE to the world through their humanitarian projects, embodying the values and principles of the Emirati people, Sheikh Mohammed added.
Exemplary model for creating hope
According to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the board of trustees, MBRGI and the UAE serve as an exemplary model for creating hope.
“Over eight years since its inception, MBRGI has established the culture of hope-making in the region, turning humanitarian work into a sustainable institutional action and contributing to promoting an atmosphere conductive of all the noble values of which the UAE was founded,” Sheikh Hamdan said.
“This reality shows how the UAE is keen to be an inspiring example and a positive influence in the lives of people, helping them strive for a better tomorrow.”
Sheikh Hamdan said that MBRGI has made a difference in the lives of tens of millions of people around the world.
“It continues to embrace new humanitarian initiatives, extending the scope and reach of its impact,” he added.
For his part, Mohammed Al Gergawi, secretary general of MBRGI, stated that during 2023, MBRGI achieved the remarkable feat of reaching 111 million individuals across 105 countries. He further highlighted that the organization successfully addressed the needs and aspirations of these individuals through the expansion of sustainable projects and an increase in expenditure, amounting to AED400 million more than the previous year, across its five core pillars.
Mr. Al Gergawi expressed admiration for the dedication and hard work exhibited by the staff and over 160,000 volunteers associated with MBRGI.
Mothers’ Endowment campaign
Prior to the start of Ramadan, Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the Mothers’ Endowment Campaign, with the objective of assisting underprivileged families globally. The campaign was designed to facilitate access to educational resources, initiate social programs, and provide schools with necessary equipment. It draws inspiration from the pivotal role that mothers play in society, and individuals in the UAE are encouraged to make donations in honor of their mothers. It was recently announced that the campaign successfully raised AED770 million within a span of two weeks.
At the time, Mr. Al Gergawi expressed that the enthusiastic response from the community towards the Mothers’ Endowment campaign serves as confirmation of how acts of kindness have become deeply ingrained in the UAE community, thereby reinforcing the country’s humanitarian role. He further mentioned that the campaign is making significant progress and is expected to achieve its target of AED1 billion. Sheikh Mohammed, during the event held at Dubai Opera, took the opportunity to recognize and honor the major contributors to the campaign.
Additionally, MBRGI allocated AED242 million towards its knowledge and education programs, resulting in a noteworthy impact on a record-breaking 62.2 million individuals. This figure represents an increase of 7.1 million people compared to the previous year, highlighting the expanding reach and effectiveness of these initiatives.
Increased expenditure, wide-ranging programs
In 2023, a total of over 34.4 million individuals experienced the positive impact of MBRGI’s humanitarian aid and relief initiatives and projects, marking an increase of 4.2 million compared to the previous year.
The expenditure allocated to these programs also witnessed an upward trend, reaching AED1.1 billion, surpassing the AED910 million spent in the previous year.
Under this pillar, MBRGI operates various entities, namely the International Humanitarian City, UAE Food Bank, Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Foundation, Suqia, and Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy.
The initiatives encompassed a wide range of programs, including food aid campaigns, urgent relief efforts for victims of wars and natural disasters, campaigns supporting students, construction projects for schools, housing initiatives for impoverished communities, clean water schemes, as well as an endowment initiative.
A substantial contribution came from the International Humanitarian City, which dispatched over 746 tons of aid in 2023. This aid reached and benefitted more than 1.5 million individuals who were affected by wars and natural disasters.
Record-breaking impact, largest number of benificiaries
Established in 2015, MBRGI serves as an overarching entity for numerous charitable and humanitarian institutions that have long been supported by Sheikh Mohammed. The vision behind MBRGI revolves around institutionalizing humanitarian and community work.
Comprising 35 organizations and initiatives, MBRGI undertakes the implementation of hundreds of projects, programs, and campaigns across five primary pillars: humanitarian aid and relief, healthcare and disease control, education and knowledge dissemination, innovation and entrepreneurship, and community empowerment.
In 2023, MBRGI achieved enhanced operational efficiency and resource utilization, enabling it to reach a larger number of beneficiaries than ever before.
In addition to its dedicated workforce of 1,028 employees, the initiative’s various campaigns successfully attracted a remarkable 160,000 volunteers last year, representing an increase of over 10,200 volunteers compared to previous years.
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