Abu Dhabi grants Dh1.4b aid for 9 countries

Development fund’s assistance to 88 nations touched Dh83b last year

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading national entity for development aid, yesterday announced that it financed 11 development projects worth Dh1.4 billion in 2017, benefiting nine developing countries.

More than Dh646 million, covering four of the 11 projects, was allocated as concessionary loans to Egypt, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Maldives, ADFD said in a press release.

The remaining seven projects were funded via development grants amounting to Dh754 million, aiding Colombia, Yemen, Comoros, Eritrea, Somalia, Palestine and the Maldives.

This brings ADFD’s cumulative development expenditure and investments as of end-2017 to Dh83 billion — a Dh3 billion increase over 2016 — and expands ADFD’s reach to 88 countries.

Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of ADFD’s board of directors, said that these programmes assist developing countries in alleviating poverty and achieving sustainable development.

He noted that the UAE’s efforts have helped consolidate its status as the largest donor of official development aid (ODA) relative to national income worldwide and reinforces its significant contribution to supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over the years, Shaikh Mansour said, the UAE has actively supported socioeconomic development projects in more than 140 countries. He pointed out that since its inception in 1971, the fund has enabled 88 developing countries to pursue their economic growth priorities and improve the standards of living for their people.

Mohammad Saif Al Suwaidi, director-general of ADFD, said: “As the leading national entity for development aid, the fund has contributed to bolstering the status of the UAE as a respected and valued member of the international community, and a key global provider of development assistance.”