Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan prioritised local and international humanitarian and charity issues, and the amount of aid provided by the UAE till the end of 2000, as per his directives, totalled more than Dh98 billion, in the form of grants, loans and assistance.
Palestine
The Shaikh Zayed Suburb Project in occupied Jerusalem, worth nearly Dh15 million, is one of Shaikh Zayed’s critical projects in Palestine. His other projects include the reconstruction of Jenin Camp, which cost around Dh100 million, as well as the construction of Shaikh Zayed City in Gaza at the cost of Dh220 million, Shaikh Khalifa City in Rafah, and the Emirati neighbourhood in Khan Younis. He also launched many hospitals, schools, health centres and centres for the people of determination in Palestinian villages, camps and cities, in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The Gulf is in the heart
In 1981, Shaikh Zayed chaired a summit where the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was announced. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development provided Dh160 million loans to Bahrain to fund energy and industrial projects.
In 1972, Shaikh Zayed helped Yemen by launching San’aa Radio, and in 1974, he presented an additional amount of $1.71 million (Dh6.27 million) to maintain television and radio projects.
Under Shaikh Zayed’s directives, the UAE provided emergency aid worth $3 million (Dh11 million) to Yemen to reduce the effects of floods in the 1990s.
Egypt
Shaikh Zayed’s directives had a significant impact on Egypt, where he established numerous projects, including the construction of tourist and residential villages and cities, cultivating agricultural land, and providing financial support to medical centres and hospitals.
Following the October 1973 War, Shaikh Zayed paid for rebuilding of Suez Canal, Ismailia and Port Saeed, which were destroyed by the Israeli attack in 1967.
During his participation in the historic international celebrations in Aswan in 1990, Shaikh Zayed donated $20 million (Dh73.4 million) to revive the ancient library in Alexandria.
Morocco
Shaikh Zayed strengthened relations between the UAE and Morocco, by launching many initiatives and projects. These projects include the Shaikh Zayed Treatment Institution and the Mariam Children’s Centre, as well as the construction of integrated residential units.
In 1976, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development provided a loan of Dh40 million to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments of Morocco.
Sudan
Shaikh Zayed provided generous aid to Sudan to establish the medical college and Nasser Hospital in Wad Medani. He also gave $3 million (Dh11 million) to combat the effects of drought in Sudan. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development also provided a loan of Dh5.16 million towards a rural development project in Darfur, in western Sudan.
In 1999, a relief plane with 40 tonnes of food aid arrived in Khartoum, to help those affected by floods that swept through the Sudanese state of Dongola.
Reconstruction of Lebanon and supporting Syria
Shaikh Zayed paid for a demining project in Lebanon’s south. He also wanted the UAE to play a leading role in the rebuilding process in Lebanon after the war, and the country provided financial assistance, grants and loans to key development projects.
During the era of Shaikh Zayed, the UAE supported charity and development projects in Syria, and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development signed three agreements to fund three industrial projects, worth Dh911 million.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, three Islamic centres were established in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar by Shaikh Zayed to promote Islamic and Arab culture among Pakistanis. He also contributed to the paving and widening of the mountain road in Kharan, the construction of the Dali Mosque, digging of water wells and building of schools and houses in different parts of the country.
Shaikh Zayed donated $500,000 in 1982 to establish the Islamic Chamber for Commerce and Industry in Karachi. He also provided medical aid, scholarships and urgent assistance to earthquake and flood victims.
Foreign aid
Emirati charity projects during the era of Shaikh Zayed were not limited to Arab and Islamic countries. They also covered the developed world. In 1992, the UAE gave $5 million to the United States Disaster Relief Fund, to help the victims of Hurricane Andrew that hit the state of Florida.
Shaikh Zayed also supported Bosnia and Herzegovina. On April 26, 1993, he gave $10 million to help its people.
In May 1990, an agreement was signed to establish an Islamic printing house in Beijing, through a Dh3.1 million grant from Shaikh Zayed to support Chinese Muslims. He also donated $500,000 to the UAE-China Friendship Association.
The Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation provided 145 tonnes of food aid to those affected by famine in the Horn of Africa, and the UAE Cabinet offered emergency aid worth $100,000 to those affected by an earthquake in Guatemala.
International organisations
Shaikh Zayed keenly supported international and Islamic organisations, and donated $50,000 to support the activities of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) after establishment of the UAE. The UAE also donated $424,000 to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), $100,000 to Unicef, and $54,000 to the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
Shaikh Zayed also increased the capital of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development to $500 million.
In 1974, the UAE gave an interest-free loan of $2.4 million to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). In 1982, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development supported the Senegal River Basin Organisation with a loan of Dh259 million.
