Abu Dhabi: The Founding Father of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed had set up the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development well before the establishment of the UAE to help developing countries achieve growth and development through assistance in the form of concessionary loans, developments grants and equity participation, a top official said on Monday.

Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, and Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, said that Zayed Humanitarian Day serves as a reminder to follow the example of a leader who was ahead of his time when it came to taking up humanitarian causes.

Shaikha Lubna told the audience at the majlis of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, that Shaikh Zayed truly represents the spirit of generosity and giving and is the one who has instilled a love of giving in the hearts of his people.

Shaikha Lubna said people must remember Shaikh Zayed on this day for his humanity and generosity to all, which made the Emirates a global humanitarian platform.

Shaikha Lubna said that the UAE, under the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had always followed the legacy of Shaikh Zayed in providing support for the needy worldwide.

Shaikha Lubna added that the UAE was named the world’s largest donor of official development aid during 2014, relative to its national income, for the second year.

The UAE was named the world’s largest donor of official development assistance for two years running after it offered Dh18 billion, representing 1.17 per cent of Gross National Income, and Dh19.84 billion, representing 1.34 per cent of its Gross National Income, respectively, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of OECD commended the UAE’s efforts to enhance and support international development.

The report highlighted the merit of the UAE’s achievement as the world’s biggest donor nation in proportion to the Gross National Income (GNI), noting that none of the DAC member states had made such a large contribution for 50 years.

The UAE exceeded the UN’s target of a contribution of 0.7 per cent of GNI, providing 1.34 per cent of its GNI as Official Development Assistance in 2013.

From 1971 to 2004, the UAE has given Dh90.5 billion worth of aid in various forms to 117 countries around the world.

Government aid accounted for the largest percentage at over Dh73 billion, followed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, an autonomous institution owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, to help developing countries achieve growth and development through assistance in the form of concessionary loans, at Dh15.3 billion.

Shaikh Zayed was also very committed to the Palestinian cause. A pan-Arab nationalist, he continuously voiced his concern and discontent at the state of affairs of Palestinians, repeatedly calling upon the international community to help find a fair and just solution to the Middle East conflict.

If during the early 1970s Abu Dhabi’s financial reserves were modest, it was because Shaikh Zayed dedicated a significant portion — running into hundreds of millions of dollars — to Arab states confronting Israel. During the 1973 October War, Shaikh Zayed supported King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, who pledged significant financial support to both Egypt and Syria. Not only that, Shaikh Zayed also supported the oil embargo on the United States and Netherlands after Richard Nixon authorised a massive military transfer to Israel. “Arab oil is not dearer than Arab blood,” Shaikh Zayed said at the time.

Shaikha Lubna said the UAE foreign aid covered all continents, with Africa receiving the largest share — Dh21.7 billion between 2009 and 2013. Asia came second with Dh13.4 billion.