UAE's $100b foreign aid impact: Over a billion lives touched in 206 countries

 International organizations have praised the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its leading role and unwavering efforts in global humanitarian work, highlighting the contributions of its leadership, government, people, and local humanitarian partners, including the private sector.

According to international reports, since its establishment in 1971 and up to the end of 2024, the UAE has provided more than $100 billion in foreign aid, benefiting over one billion people across 206 countries worldwide.

During an event marking World Humanitarian Day 2025 in Dubai, officials from these organizations emphasized that the UAE’s humanitarian vision and generosity extend beyond being one of the world’s top donors. The country is consistently present on the ground during crises, ensuring life-saving assistance reaches those in need.

The United Nations stated: “We are proud to work side by side with the United Arab Emirates to advance humanitarian efforts worldwide.” The organization praised the UAE’s spirit of generosity and its deep commitment to the principles of humanitarian action—solidarity, compassion, and service—values that lie at the heart of World Humanitarian Day.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that more than 80% of the UAE’s foreign aid is dedicated to development projects, with the remainder distributed among humanitarian and relief efforts.

Rashid Al Hemeiri, Director of Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry, said these official figures reflect the UAE’s pivotal role in responding to global humanitarian appeals.

He stressed that the UAE is a key player in humanitarian assistance worldwide, citing its support in Yemen, Sudan, Gaza, and other crisis-affected regions. He noted that since the beginning of the current conflict in Gaza, the UAE has provided over 45% of all humanitarian aid delivered to the Strip, using land, sea, and air routes to ensure aid reached civilians.

Al Hemeiri added that the UAE’s humanitarian efforts extend globally, from firefighting teams currently deployed in Albania to relief missions across Africa and Asia. “Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the nation will continue to stand with vulnerable communities to alleviate suffering,” he said.

Dubai Humanitarian Celebrates World Humanitarian Day

On the occasion, Dubai Humanitarian, in partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, hosted a commemorative event to honor humanitarian workers and show solidarity with crisis-affected communities.

The event gathered more than 100 humanitarian leaders and featured personal testimonies of courage from aid workers at the national and international levels.

Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, said: “Today, we honor the courage and dedication of humanitarian workers who devote their lives to helping those in need. Tragically, the list of aid workers killed while serving continues to grow, and we share a collective responsibility to protect their safety and wellbeing. They should never be targeted.”

Global Participation and UN Recognition

The program also included a panel on protecting humanitarian workers and civilians, with contributions from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Food Programme (WFP), Dubai Cares, UNHCR, and others.

UN Resident Coordinator to the UAE, Bérangère Boëll, reiterated: “The UN is proud to work alongside the UAE and Dubai Humanitarian to support humanitarian action worldwide.”

20 Years of Partnership with WFP

Stephen Anderson, WFP Director for the UAE and Representative to the GCC, highlighted the two-decade strategic partnership with the UAE that has enabled the rapid delivery of food and aid across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

He noted that Dubai’s advanced logistics infrastructure and strategic location allow WFP shipments to reach destinations within hours. In 2025 alone, nearly 60,000 metric tons of WFP aid were dispatched from the UAE, including 27 shipments to Gaza and additional consignments to Sudan and Asian nations.

WFP also launched its “Humanitarian Pioneers” initiative, with six Emirati nationals joining as key advocates to strengthen the program’s regional and global impact.

National Commitment to Humanitarian Values

Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, stressed that the UAE leadership encourages collective action by individuals, governments, international organizations, and civil society to strengthen humanitarian efforts, especially amid today’s growing crises and natural disasters.

“On this day, we salute humanitarian workers—the unsung heroes who embody peace and tolerance across nations,” he said.

Rising Threats to Humanitarian Workers

The UN reported that 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with 280 fatalities, while preliminary figures for 2024 already indicate worsening trends, including 176 aid workers killed, 93 injured, and 64 kidnapped.

In Gaza alone, since October 2023, more than 224 humanitarian workers have been killed, alongside over 40,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, according to UNRWA data.

Dubai Humanitarian’s Reach

Official data showed that in the first half of 2025, aid shipments facilitated through Dubai Humanitarian warehouses reached 81 countries, totaling 502 consignments valued at $49 million.

The current stock of aid stored in its facilities amounts to $210 million, across more than 150,000 square meters of dedicated space, reaffirming Dubai’s status as a global humanitarian hub.

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