UAE donates Dh5.83b in aid to 137 countries

The UAE Foreign Aid 2012 report was presented to His Highnesss Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Lt-Gen Shaikh Saif bin Zayed, Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed and Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi during the presentation of the UAE Foreign Aid report at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. — Wam

Shaikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction with the report, prepared by the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD), noting the country’s full commitment to its humanitarian message and its pioneering role as role model in helping the needy in the international community, state news agency Wam reported.

The UAE was ranked sixth among the biggest donors in 2012.

“The UAE does not provide conditional aid or wait for a return, as the motivating stimulus to provide humanitarian aid is its strong keenness to contribute to achieving stability and providing a dignified life for all peoples, regardless of their race or religion,” Shaikh Mohammed said.

Speaking about the report, Shaikha Lubna said, “The report gives detailed data on UAE grants and loans provided by 43 donors, charitable and humanitarian organisations, including 22 Emirati government entities.”

Similar to previous years, the UAE government was the largest foreign aid donor giving Dh2.62 billion ($712.2 million), which accounts for nearly 45 per cent of the country’s total foreign assistance.

“President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a pioneer in humanitarian work without peer in the country, as aid provided by him alone stood the highest among all government or private institutions in the country,” commended Shaikh Mohammed.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) followed, disbursing Dh1.28 billion ($348.9 million) or nearly 22 per cent of the total aid. According to Shaikha Lubna, the ADFD has further committed Dh5.59 billion ($1.52 billion) for future developmental projects in several countries.

The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation was third at 9.6 per cent, donating Dh563.06 million ($153.30).

The report also highlighted the generosity of the UAE’s private sector and individuals, as well as, the private contributions that enabled the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and other organisations to offer significant humanitarian relief assistance to countries and populations in need.

The top recipient of the UAE’s aid was Asia, receiving more than 50 per cent — Dh3.24 billion ($882.1 million) — of the total disbursements. Of this, the largest portion of Dh2.24 billion ($610.6 million) was allocated to countries in Western Asia, mainly Jordan, Palestine, Yemen and Azerbaijan.

According to the report, Western Asia has been the primary destination of UAE assistance for three consecutive years since 2010.

The countries receiving the most assistance were Jordan (Dh966.9 million or $263.2 million), Palestine (Dh507.2 million or $138.1 million), Afghanistan (Dh366.8 million or $99.9 million), Pakistan (Dh354.1 million or $96.4 million) and Yemen Dh208.8 million or $56.8 million).

Africa, meanwhile, received more than 20 per cent of the aid in 2012 (Dh1.26 billion or $343.0 million).

Of the Dh5.83 billion, 78.2 per cent or Dh4.56 billion ($1.24 billion), was estimated as Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated for the least developed, low, lower-middle and upper-middle income countries; a notable increase of 52.2 per cent from 2011. Ninety-nine countries, including 35 least developed countries, were eligible to receive ODA.

On assistance category, majority of the UAE’s aid, 87 per cent or Dh5.07 billion ($1.38 billion), was distributed for developmental projects such as infrastructure, health, education, social services, water and sanitation and agriculture while Dh404.4 million ($110.1 million), 6.9 per cent, was for humanitarian assistance used to help alleviate the suffering of people in Syria, Yemen and 49 other countries and territories.

A total of Dh356.2 million ($97 million), 6.1 per cent, was dedicated for charitable projects including religious sites and education, support to individuals and small communities. -olivia@khaleejtimes.com