Zayed: Humaneness without borders

The Emirati Humanitarian Work Day is held each year in his loving memory and aims to inculcate the spirit of giving and philanthropy he exemplified. This initiative was launched by the UAE Cabinet to highlight the key role played by the late Shaikh Zayed in supporting global charitable events and his acts of goodness and kindness for future generations to appreciate and emulate, according to a report by the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development.

The whole world recognises Shaikh Zayed’s huge influence in fostering goodness.

He was a man who gave without expecting anything in return, one who translated every good thing he knew into action. He directed assistance to all countries and peoples suffering from poverty or lack of decent living conditions regardless of race, sex, language or religion.

His vision always extended beyond the borders of the UAE and prioritised moral values, as reflected in his untiring support for charity and philanthropy. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his brother, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, all the other Rulers of the emirates, and all UAE citizens and residents have continued to walk in the footsteps of the late leader. Because of Shaikh Zayed’s generous vision, the UAE is now regarded as one of the world’s most charitable countries.

History stands witness to the brilliant decisions of Shaikh Zayed, one of which was his passing of a resolution to establish the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) in 1971. At a time when he was still laying the foundations of the UAE’s union, charity and giving occupied his mind. The inception of the Fund marked a major milestone at that time and sent a strong message to the whole world that the UAE cherished its philanthropic and charitable heritage. That this federation of seven emirates, even at its nascent stages, aspired to cooperation and integration for the benefit of all peoples and nations of the world.

The figures clearly indicate the success of the directives of Shaikh Zayed in supporting development and providing humanitarian aid. From 1971 to 2004, the UAE gave Dh90.5 billion worth of aid in various forms to 117 countries around the world.

Government aid accounted for the largest percentage at over Dh73 billion, followed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, an autonomous institution owned by the Abu Dhabi Government to help developing countries achieve growth and development through assistance in the form of concessionary loans, at Dh15.3 billion.

Another major source of aid, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, accounted for Dh1.3 billion, followed by the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation with over Dh450 million, and the Al Maktoum Foundation with Dh295.3 million.

The founding of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was followed by a number of initiatives launched by Shaikh Zayed to institutionalise the foreign aid sector, improve the viability of aid, and promote responsibility. Today, the UAE is home to more than 40 donor organisations and humanitarian and charity foundations that provide aid to all countries and peoples in need.

Despite being a relatively young nation, the UAE managed to be ranked 16th globally in the proportion of foreign assistance it provides in relation to its Gross National Income (GNI). This is a remarkable feat that reflects global recognition of the exceptional path of goodness laid out by Shaikh Zayed. It highlights the genuine charitable values he instilled in us and is the fruit of his passion for rescuing the needy and developing the capacities and resources of other countries.

Culture of Giving

Human and social development experts may conclude that Emirati society was established on the fundamentals of giving and brotherhood, with the culture of giving deeply engraved in individuals and businesses. This spirit of helping is attributed to the extensive efforts of Shaikh Zayed to broaden Emirati thinking and instill future generations with a genuine love for values and traditions.

Shaikh Zayed once said: “We believe that the grace of wealth bestowed upon us by the Almighty must be unfolded to encircle our friends and brethren around the world.” This is clearly embodied today by the over 40 local organisations working to help those who suffer from harsh living or humanitarian conditions.

Based on this culture of uplifting the value of the human being wherever he or she may be, the UAE now embraces a wide and diverse network of organisations offering dedicated humanitarian services. Members include Noor Dubai which aims to eradicate preventable forms of blindness, Dubai Cares which focuses on children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries, and other foundations offering quality-oriented and first-of-its-kind services.

The culture of giving further extends to the UAE’s economic and investment community, which has generously supported scholarships and developed intensive social engagement initiatives. Local energy companies such as Masdar have got in on the act as well through the establishment of clean-energy projects in developing countries.

Arab countries

Firmly believing in the Arab and Islamic identity, Shaikh Zayed always gave serious consideration to Arab countries and peoples, helping them to establish development projects such as residential cities, water projects, bridges, roads, educational institutions and many more. Egypt, for one, received a total of Dh15.9 billion in foreign aid from the UAE between 1971 and 2004 to accommodate its growing population and meet its development plans. Statistics show that aid from Shaikh Zayed to Egypt increased during the October 1973 war, to help the country maintain its economy during the harsh times.

The total amount of aid given to Syria from 1971 to 2004 is estimated at over Dh11 billion; while Morocco received around Dh6.6 billion and Jordan Dh6.5 billion.

Considering it an Arab-wide concern, Shaikh Zayed also directed around Dh3.7 billion in financial aid for the Palestinian conflict during the same period. Most of those funds were directed to the Palestinian peoples under Israeli occupation to provide support for refugees and help build residential cities and infrastructure.