In 2024, the UAE continued to lead in international humanitarian efforts, restating its commitment to promoting international solidarity and cooperation in all of its forms. On UAE National Day, the nation reflects on the values of giving and humanitarian solidarity which have been an important focus area for many years.
Since the establishment of the UAE in 1971 until mid-2024, the UAE’s foreign aid amounted to AED360 billion ($98 billion), supporting poverty reduction, reducing the effects of disasters and crises globally, supporting economic and social development, and promoting international stability and peace.
Erth Zayed Philanthropies
As part of its several foreign aid initiatives this year, the UAE launched the AED20 billion Erth Zayed Philanthropies by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This initiative is part of the nation’s commitment to providing assistance with a profound impact on communities and people’s lives, thereby fostering sustainable development, growth, security, and stability.
Erth Zayed Philanthropies focuses on improving lives around the world, ensuring well-being, empowering individuals, and continuously striving to foster the prosperity, security, and stability of communities.
Mothers’ Endowment campaign
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, which aims to honor mothers in the UAE by establishing an AED1 billion endowment fund to sustainably support the education of millions of individuals around the world.
The campaign, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, highlights the basic fact that mothers are their children’s first teachers. They nurture generations and provide them with the essential knowledge they need throughout life. Therefore, the fund represents an ongoing charity on behalf of all mothers in the UAE.
Combating hunger and poverty globally
In support of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty’s mission, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, announced that the UAE would allocate $100 million in foreign aid through the UAE Aid Agency to assist in combating hunger and poverty worldwide. This pledge reaffirms the UAE’s ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable development, peace, and prosperity at both regional and international levels.
Reaching the Last Mile, a portfolio of global health programs by the philanthropy of the UAE President also announced an AED55 million commitment to the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), its second since the Institute’s launch in 2019.
Birds of Goodness
The UAE President also directed the provision of medical treatment for 1,000 wounded children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip in the country’s hospitals. The UAE’s Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence also launched the “Birds of Goodness” operation to airdrop humanitarian and relief aid in accessible areas in the Gaza Strip.
UAE stands with Lebanon
For Lebanon, the UAE President directed the delivery of an urgent $100 million relief package to the people of Lebanon. This initiative is part of the UAE’s continuous efforts to support Lebanon through its current challenges, underscoring the nation’s unwavering commitment to assisting the Lebanese people.
Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE launched this year a national relief campaign to support Lebanon and its brotherly people under the name “UAE stands with Lebanon”.
The UAE dispatched in November its 18th aircraft as part of the campaign, carrying 40 tons of medical supplies. It also sent an aid ship carrying 2,000 tons of urgent relief to the Lebanese people. In addition, the UAE provided an urgent relief aid package worth $30 million to the displaced Lebanese people in the Syrian Arab Republic.
As part of the “UAE stands with Lebanon” campaign, assistance from H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, also reached 240 tons in support of Lebanese women.
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Humanitarian efforts in Sudan
For Sudan, the UAE pledged $100 million in April to support humanitarian efforts and announced in September humanitarian projects worth $10.25 million for the UN in Chad to support women affected by conflict in Sudan.
The UAE has also committed $50 million to the second phase of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund 2.0, a major multi-donor development initiative that supports the Islamic Development Bank member countries in building sustainable pathways to lift millions out of poverty.
The UAE continued its humanitarian presence globally in terms of relief and assistance to those affected by natural disasters that occurred in many countries around the world. In this context, the UAE also extended a helping hand to many countries around the world, such as Burkina Faso, Brazil, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Nigeria, Nepal, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon.
