MBRG initiatives benefitted 91m people in 97 nations: VP
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the annual results of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) for 2021, a year in which 91 million people in 97 countries were helped by its various initiatives, projects, programmes and campaigns.
Over the 12 months, the MBRGI also spent Dhs1.1 billion on various humanitarian relief, development, community, knowledge, cultural, sports and empowerment initiatives.
Despite the challenge of COVID-19, whose impact continued to be felt globally during 2021, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives was able to increase the number of beneficiaries of its initiatives by 8 million people compared to 2020, and to expand the provision of its programs, campaigns and relief and community initiatives to an additional 15 countries – confirming its position as the largest regional system for humanitarian relief, development and community work.
The announcement of the results came during a special event held at Shindagha Majlis in Dubai, in which Sheikh Mohammed chaired the meeting of the initiative’s Board of Trustees, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MBRGI; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai
Sports Council; Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, member of the Board of Trustees of the MBRGI; Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-general of the MBRGI; as well as a number of members of the Board of Trustees and executives of the MBRGI.
Sheikh Mohammed also honoured the “1 Billion Meals” initiative major donors and partners who are playing an active role in achieving the humanitarian goals of the initiative.
The list of major donors included: Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai World, Khalaf Al Habtoor, Azizi Developments, Al Rostamani Group, Tiger Group, Emirates Islamic, Abdul Qader Al Sankari, Dubai Duty Free, Mohammad Ibrahim Obeid Allah, Emirates Group, Aldar Properties, Mubadala Investment Company, AW Rostamani Group, Hussain Sajwani – Damac Foundation, ADQ and Dar al ber Society, ADNOC, and Dubai Islamic Bank.
Also, the list of honoured partners included: Etisalat, Du, Abu Dhabi Police, The roads and transport authority (RTA), and Emirates Auction (EA).
In a tweet on his official twiter account, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today, I chaired the board meeting of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives.. We reviewed the 2021 annual report... 91 million people in 97 countries benefited from MBRGI’S initiatives... Dhs2.3 billion the total spend during the 2 years of pandemic. Our team was up to the responsibility.”
Sheikh Mohammed said: “I am proud of the 145,000 volunteers who contributed with us in the work of the initiatives during the year 2021... I am proud of Noor Dubai which reached 33 million beneficiaries... I am Proud of the Reading Challenge, which reached 22 million students... Proud of Dubai Cares, Suqia UAE, our Humanitarian & Charity Establishment, our awards, our societal, knowledge and humanitarian conferences.”
Sheikh Mohammed noted that the UAE will continue its journey of giving and goodness. His Highness added: “Our humanitarian, relief and community initiatives are continuing. We will continue our work for the sake of people...”
Sheikh Mohammed reviewed the most important stages and achievements of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in 2021 through 35 institutions under its umbrella, and Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on many new and sustainable programmes that have been implemented to improve the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
Sheikh Hamdan said: “The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives has become a comprehensive system to empower individuals and societies, based on Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision that humanitarian work is an investment in a more stable and prosperous future for humanity.”
Sheikh Mohammed announces annual results of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, honours partners and major donors of the ‘One Billion Meals’ initiative.
DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the annual results of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives for 2021, a year in which 91 million people in 97 countries were helped by its various initiatives, projects, programs and campaigns. Over the 12 months, the MBRGI also spent Dhs1.1 billion on various humanitarian relief, development, community, knowledge, cultural, sports and empowerment initiatives.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, said: “The success of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in reaching more than 91 million people around the world in just one year under the cloud of the Covid-19 pandemic would not have been possible without the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which focused on the need to institutionalize humanitarian work and launch sustainable initiatives, projects and programs.”
Al Gergawi stated that “the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives builds today on its successes over recent years by designing and implementing excellent initiatives, enhancing its capabilities and expertise, continuing innovation in humanitarian relief and development work, and strengthening its pillars, thus enshrining the UAE’S status in this vital sector on the international level.”
HONOURING THE DONORS
The launch event of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives 2021 report included a review of the most prominent achievements and also highlighted some of the most inspiring stories of its work around the world.
The event also witnessed a presentation about the One Billion Meals Initiative, in addition to the unveiling of the “Humanitarian Team” mural, which includes pictures of all institutions affiliated with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum then signed the mural in a gesture of appreciation for the efforts of the employees and volunteers.
Sheikh Mohammed also honoured the “1 Billion Meals” initiative major donors and partners who are playing an active role in achieving the humanitarian goals of the initiative. The list of major donors included: Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai World, Khalaf Al Habtoor, Azizi Developments, Al Rostamani Group, Tiger Group, Emirates Islamic, Abdul Qader Al Sankari, Dubai Duty Free, Mohammad Ibrahim Obeid Allah, Emirates Group, Aldar Properties, Mubadala Investment Company, AW Rostamani Group, Hussain Sajwani – Damac Foundation, ADQ and Dar al ber Society, ADNOC, and Dubai Islamic Bank. Also, the list of honored partners included: Etisalat, Du, Abu Dhabi Police, The roads and transport authority (RTA), and Emirates Auction (EA.
ENHANCING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
While the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives witnessed further enhancements in its operational efficiency and utilization of resources in 2021, it was able to raise the number of beneficiaries of its initiatives to 91 million people in 97 countries, with a total volume of expenditure of Dhs1.1 billion, reaching its largest number of beneficiaries in a single year.
In addition to its 571 employees, the initiative’s various campaigns atracted a record number of volunteers in 2021. In total, 144,936 volunteers, an increase of 23,260 over 2020, supported the implementation of many humanitarian relief, health, knowledge, cultural as well as community projects, programs and campaigns.
To encourage charity, humanitarian, development, relief and community work, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives presented in 2021 appreciation and incentive prizes for charity, humanitarian and development work with a total value of Dhs17.7 million.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Global Initiatives includes 35 organizations and institutional initiatives that implement hundreds of projects, programs and campaigns, within five main work pillars: Humanitarian Aid and Relief, Healthcare and Disease Control, Spreading Education and Knowledge, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Empowering Communities.
HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF PILLAR
Some 22.9 million people benefited from the programs and initiatives of the Humanitarian Aid and Relief pillar during 2021, with the volume of spending on various initiatives, projects and programs under this pillar amounting to Dhs417 million, an increase of Dhs35 million from the Dhs382 million spent in 2020. Initiatives that fall under the Humanitarian Aid and Relief pillar include The International Humanitarian City, the UAE Food Bank, the Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy.
It also included the “100 Million Meals” campaign, which was launched from the UAE on the eve of Ramadan in 2021 and provided the equivalent of 220 million meals in 47 countries. It succeeded in more than doubling its declared goal through the support of 385,000 donors from 51 nationalities, along with a large number of institutions and companies.
The UAE Food Bank raised the total quantities of food it provided in 2021 to 10,018 tons in support of the needy. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment succeeded in increasing the number of beneficiaries of its programs and projects to 3.3 million people during 2021. The contribution of the International Humanitarian City to the World Health Organization’s response to Covid-19 epidemic reached 80 percent, while the relief campaigns organized by the International City, based in Dubai, benefited about 1.1 million people during the year.
HEALTHCARE, DISEASE CONTROL PILLAR
The pillar of Healthcare and Disease Control is one of the most important pillars of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, based on the premise that combating infectious diseases is an essential step in building healthy societies. The initiative extended a helping hand to 14.6 million people in 2021, spending Dhs51.2 million, marking an increase of Dhs1.6 million over 2020.
Falling within the pillar of Healthcare and Disease Control are the Noor Dubai Foundation and the Al Jalila Foundation to support education and research in medical fields, which work to advance the levels of healthcare, medical sciences and scientific research.
The year 2021 witnessed the collection of Dhs350 million in donations dedicated to the establishment of Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital, which falls under Al Jalila Foundation, as the first hospital of its kind in the UAE to care for cancer patients who are unable to afford treatment costs.
Al Jalila Foundation also forged significant partnerships to develop and fund medical research at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. In addition to securing Dhs8 million annually, they have been able to continue the medical scholarship program and organize awareness events that present inspiring stories for cancer survivors.
For its part, Noor Dubai Foundation provided more than 14.5 million doses of antibiotics against trachoma in 2021, helping to combat one of the most prevalent infectious eye diseases that cause blindness. They also trained 25,000 public health workers on the procedures of drug care to combat trachoma.
Noor Dubai also continued to provide its eye health and comprehensive care services in remote areas of African and Asian, including Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and Bangladesh, through a number of treatment camps.
EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE PILLAR
The Spreading Education and Knowledge pillar of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Global Initiatives Foundation recorded a remarkable increase in the number of beneficiaries in 2021. Its programs managed to reach 48.4 million people, marking an increase of 2.9 million over 2020, while the total volume of spending on various initiatives and knowledge and cultural projects reached Dhs253 million.
Under this pillar are Dubai Cares, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, the Knowledge Summit, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, the Madrasa Plaform for Arabic e-learning, the Digital School, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award, and the Arab Reading Challenge.
In 2021, Dubai Cares increased the number of beneficiaries of its programs to 21 million people, and launched six new programs covering youth skills, the future of work, health and school nutrition.
Dubai Cares’ pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai atracted tens of thousands of visitors and 58 delegations as part of 47 events organized by the Foundation to explore the future of learning and education.
The number of beneficiaries of the “Recovery and Return of Education” program implemented by Dubai Cares in Iraq reached 154,000 people, while its “Safe and Supportive Education” program in Egypt impacted more than 39,000 students.
BIL ARABI
The “Bil Arabi” initiative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation launched a digital campaign under the slogan “Arabic is the language of knowledge”, in which 700,000 people participated during 2021.
The number of beneficiaries of the school plaform affiliated with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in 2021 reached 2.9 million people, and its free educational content on its Youtube channel recorded 58 million views.
In 2021, the Digital School Initiative, the first integrated digital school in the Arab region, completed various preparations and experiments for its official launch, puting digital education within the reach of 20,000 students in the region, in preparation for reaching 1 million digital learners within five years.
During the year 2021, the preparation for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library continued to provide 1.5 million paper, audio and video titles to be a beacon of knowledge in the UAE and the region.
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
As a vital field within the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship pillar registered a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries of its programs and projects, reaching 2.9 million people in 2021 compared to 1.3 million people in 2020. The total amount of spending in its various initiatives and programs came to Dhs337 million.
Under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship pillar are the Museum of the Future, the One Million Arab Coders initiative, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SME, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.
The year 2021 witnessed the completion of all the operational work necessary for the opening of the Museum of the Future, which constitutes a new beacon for future innovation in Dubai.
The year 2021 also saw the conclusion of the activities of the One Million Arab Coders initiative, ater the successful training of one million young women and men from 80 countries.
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
83 projects benefited from the services of the Hamdan Center for Creativity and Innovation, increasing the number of beneficiaries of its services since its establishment until 2021 to 690 entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, the Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy assisted 5,776 people during the year 2021.
Also, 33 companies from the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council won the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award in 2021 for their contribution to achieving sustainable development in the region. Last year, there were also 228 international nominations for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES PILLAR
Under the Empowering Communities pillar, the number of beneficiaries reached 2.1 million people, an increase of 1 million over the year 2020. The total amount spent on the initiatives of this pillar in the year 2021 came to Dhs88.7 million, an increase of Dhs9.2 million compared to 2020.
The Empowering Communities pillar, a backbone of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, includes the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, the Arab Media Forum, the Arab Journalism Award, the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit and Award, the Dubai International Sports Conference, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Creativity, the Arab Strategy Forum, the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development, and Arab Hope Makers.
During the year 2021, 32,400 people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds benefited from the initiatives and activities of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding.
The number of participants in the executive education programs of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum School of Government reached 2,692 during the year 2021.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development celebrated the graduation of the fourth batch of the “Impacful Leaders Program” during the year 2021, in addition to the graduation of the first batch of the “Dubai Leaders” program.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government continued to offer Masters’ programs affiliated to the “Future Government Programs” in college, where it registered 132 graduates in 2021, while the number of beneficiaries of the government knowledge portal launched by the Emirates Center for Government Knowledge affiliated with the college reached 12,000 people.
In developing the capabilities and skills of young people, 1,364 people atended training sessions in the Real Madrid Academy, which was launched in 2019 in partnership between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Real Madrid Foundation.
Also, the Dubai International Sports Conference 2021 registered more than 500 people, while 28 athletes were honored with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Creativity in 2021. The number of followers of the publications of the Arab Strategy Forum of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives reached 30,000 people in 2021.
The year 2021 also witnessed the establishment of the 20th session of the Arab Journalism Award, which was awarded to 15 personalities from various disciplines in professional journalistic work in the Arab world.
Over the 12 months, the MBRGI also spent Dhs1.1 billion on various humanitarian relief, development, community, knowledge, cultural, sports and empowerment initiatives