UAE leads world in humanitarian assistance

As the world celebrates the World Humanitarian Work, the UAE has maintained its global leadership as the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance, covering 147 countries in 2017.

For the fifth straight year, the UAE has been named the world’s largest donor of development assistance in proportion to its gross national income. The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development bestowed the honour.

In total, the UAE donated Dh19.32 billion to 147 beneficiaries in 2017, exceeding the United Nations’ target of 0.7 per cent official development assistance in proportion to the country’s gross national income.

The UAE development aid in Asia last year accounted for 43 per cent (Dh8.28 billion) of the total foreign assistance, followed by Africa with 28 per cent of the total, or Dh5.44 billion. Of the total development assistance to the Asian continent, more than a third was allocated to Yemen (Dh2.97 billion) to support its citizens and help reestablish the security and stability of the country.

Development projects, including multi-sector ones, by the UAE have been carried out across multiple countries including Yemen, Egypt and Pakistan, along with various other nations in the continents of Asia and Africa.