UAE at a Glance - UAE Interact

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UAE AT A GL ANCE 2008 @ www.uaeinteract.com/governmentaffairs
Foreign Aid
Since the establishment of the UAE, the country has played an active role in the provision of aid
to developing countries and has been a major contributor of emergency relief to regions affected
by conflict and natural disasters.
One major initiative, launched by Vice President and Prime Minister HH Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum in October, was the 'Dubai Cares' campaign, Dubai’s contribution to
drive the UN Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education by 2015.
However, the focus of the country’s emergency relief programme during much of 2007 was, not
surprisingly, on Lebanon and Palestine. A major US$300 million soft loan programme was
announced by the UAE during the January 2007 Lebanon donors' conference in Paris, to
supplement aid provided earlier. Individual projects have also been funded by a number of UAE
agencies operating under the aegis of the UAE Project for Supporting and Reconstructing of
Lebanon. The help included extensive work to repair houses, schools and other facilities.
Continuing support has also been given to the people of Palestine, Sheikh Khalifa
demonstrating his own personal interest by funding a major housing programme, Sheikh Khalifa
City, in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Early in 2007, the UAE Red Crescent completed its biggest project
to date in Palestine, the Dh100 million (US$27.2 million) reconstruction of the Jenin refugee camp.
Overall, the UAE Red Crescent and other UAE bodies have now contributed over Dh2 billion
(US$544 million) to humanitarian projects in Palestine. During 2006, the UAE Red Crescent
disbursed a total of Dh250 million (US$68 million) outside the Emirates. Overall, between
1999 and late 2006, it has provided over Dh2.7 billion (over US$730 million) in humanitarian
operations, both at home, and, much more extensively, overseas.
While the UAE Red Crescent is the country's main aid and relief agency, it is, by no means, the
only body active in the field. The Zayed Foundation not only responds to urgent needs arising out
of natural disasters, but also contributes to infrastructure projects, like hospitals, health care
institutions and schools. Overall, according to Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, the UAE has now provided over US$70 billion in loans, grants and assistance for
development projects in some 95 countries.