The UAE implements fully its official development assistance commitments to least developed countries. Its aid is neither governed by politics nor limited by geography, race, colour or religion of the beneficiary.
According to the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UAE has maintained its ranking as one of the 10 largest donor states in the Official Development Aid (ODA) in 2015.
The UAE posted the highest ODA to Gross National Income (GNI) ratio in 2015 at 1.09 percent, with the country's ODA accounting for AED 16.1 billion and over 52 percent of the aid, administered in the form of grants.
In 2016, the UAE spent AED15.23 billion worth of development assistance.
In 2018, the UAE spent over AED28.5 billion to 42 countries, exceeding the 0.7 per cent UN's ODA target for the sixth consecutive year by providing 0.93 per cent of ODA/GNI ratio.
In 2014, the UAE was named as a participant member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The position allows the UAE to attend high-level and senior-level meetings as well as meetings of the DAC subsidiary bodies. This status gives the UAE a seat at the table in international development forums and global recognition as a world-class donor.
Find the UAE's Annual Foreign Aid Reports on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Learn more about the UAE's humanitarian aid - WAM.
The UAE's aid has only humanitarian objectives. It is neither governed by politics nor is not limited by geography, race, colour or religion of the beneficiary. This is a practical application of the principle of tolerance and co-existence in the UAE. This policy was laid down by the founder President of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who stressed that foreign aid and assistance is one of the basic pillars of UAE foreign policy.
When formulating its approach to providing foreign aid, the UAE has adopted the idea of sustainable development and improving the welfare of all mankind.
In order to consolidate the impact of its foreign aid, the UAE Cabinet has formed the 'UAE Humanitarian Committee', which aims to channel and combine the collective expertise of UAE humanitarian responders in order to facilitate, oversee and coordinate the country's humanitarian aid.
According to the UAE Interact website, between 1971 and 2014, government and non-government organisations in the UAE contributed AED 173 billion in foreign aid to 178 countries across the world.
The 'UAE's Foreign Aid in 2015' report issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation mentioned that the UAE provided AED 32.34 billion (USD 8.8 billion) in foreign aid during 2015. This contribution was made as foreign assistance to 155 countries through 40 donor entities. Of the 155 countries, 120 were eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The UAE spends its foreign aid on developmental projects, humanitarian aid and charitable aid. In 2015, the majority of the aid (92 per cent) was disbursed to development projects, with 6.7 per cent disbursed to humanitarian aid and 1.3 per cent disbursed to charitable assistance.
The foreign aid targets priority areas such as: humanitarian assistance, elimination of poverty, support for children, global sectoral programmes such as transportation, infrastructure, governments support and empowerment of women. During 2015, most humanitarian aid was allocated to refugees and internally displaced people affected by crises and conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
According to geographical distribution, countries in Africa got the largest aid of AED 25.11 billion. Asian countries received AED 6.63 billion. Countries in Europe, North and South America, Oceania and others received AED 586.94 million.
The UAE's foreign aid in 2015 was in line with the country's policy of supporting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The UAE is currently involved in the efforts to achieve UN SDGs.
Check the charitable organisations in the UAE.
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