Taking spirit of charity beyond shores

Abu Dhabi: "The true benefit of the UAE's wealth lies in its ability to help others [who are] less fortunate," said Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Building on the nation's founding legacy, lending a hand to those in need has been the core principle of the UAE since its establishment in 1971.

The early establishment of organisations like the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development in 1972 and the UAE Red Crescent Authority in 1983, in addition to new humanitarian and development organisations recently created, are a mere reflection of the UAE's commitment to human solidarity.

The UAE's foreign aid is characterised by its breadth and reach, both geographically and thematically.

"Throughout its history the UAE has been a generous donor, providing assistance to communities worldwide stricken by conflict, natural disasters, poverty and under-development," Hazza Al Qah'tani, Director General of the Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid, told Gulf News.

Over the years, crises have significantly evolved and the UAE has responded to global challenges and delivered aid effectively. "As many as 40 separate entities, including the UAE Government and foundations, are currently engaged in foreign aid activities. Their projects range from providing shelter and food aid to the homeless, fostering conflict resolution, building dams, highways, airports, hospitals and schools, combating malaria, promoting renewable energy and protecting biodiversity," he added.

This endeavour led the country's leadership to establish the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) in 2008 to be in charge of mapping the UAE's foreign aid activities and help donors improve the delivery of their programmes worldwide. OCFA has made significant progress in documenting the foreign aid provided by UAE-based donor organisations and raising the UAE's profile around the world.

Biggest recipient

According to the "UAE Foreign Aid 2009" report launched on June 30, 2010 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE disbursed Dh4.66 billion and committed Dh4.95 billion to humanitarian, development and charitable projects in 97 countries across the globe.

The biggest recipient of aid was Yemen, where renewed conflict and chronic poverty led to a dramatic increase in humanitarian needs in 2009, prompting UAE donors to give Dh550 million, and also to commit an additional Dh2.9 billion in assistance to be delivered in future. Other major recipients of the UAE's aid include Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Territories.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was then the largest UAE donor, donating Dh644 million and committing a further Dh4.95 billion in grants and loans, which together amounted to more than half of the total aid. The government was the second largest donor, disbursing Dh3.09 billion. The UAE Red Crescent Authority remains the UAE's largest donor of emergency relief aid in response to disasters. Working with national partners and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, RCA disbursed assistance worth Dh453 million to 66 countries in 2009.

Major donors

Other major donors featured in the report include the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Al Maktoum Foundation, Dubai Cares, International Humanitarian City and Noor Dubai. These foundations disbursed more than Dh388 million in assistance to 73 countries mobilising aid personnel, emergency supplies and medical support for victims of earthquakes, storms, floods and famine in Indonesia, the Philippines, Haiti, Pakistan and Somalia, and for the victims of conflict in Yemen and Libya.

In early 2011, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) identified the UAE as the 14th most generous donor country in the world in 2009. The UAE also ranked first among countries that are not members of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The UAE is ranked above some of the world's most prominent donor countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and Japan.

This recognition is the result of implementation of Shaikh Zayed's vision and desire for the UAE to use its affluence to support less fortunate people across the globe.