In 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) further cemented its role as one of the world’s leading humanitarian donors, offering substantial financial support, emergency relief, and long‑term development aid to communities facing conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and disaster. Its contributions were recognised globally, demonstrating a sustained commitment to human welfare beyond its borders.
UAE ranked among the top donors in 2025
According to data published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the UAE was the third‑largest global contributor of humanitarian aid in 2025, providing US $1.46 billion, about 7.2 per cent of all aid recorded worldwide. Only the United States and the European Union donated more.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, said this ranking reflects the UAE’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian work, a tradition guided by the values of compassion, cooperation and solidarity.
This considerable aid is part of a much larger legacy. Since the UAE began its global humanitarian efforts decades ago, it has reportedly provided more than Dh370 billion (approximately USD 100 billion) in assistance, reaching over one billion people across more than 200 countries.
UAE foreign aid in Gaza and Sudan
In regions where conflict and hunger reached critical peaks, the UAE provided an essential safety net. The nation’s response to the Gaza crisis was one of the largest in the world, with total relief valued at $2.57 billion.
This effort was not just financial; it was operational.
- Health and Nutrition: The UAE established a field hospital in Gaza that treated over 53,000 people and a floating hospital in Egypt that cared for nearly 21,000 patients.
- Daily Essentials: The nation produced bread for 76,000 people daily through 20 bakeries and distributed meals to 286,000 people every day through 50 community kitchens.
- Water Security: Six desalination plants were deployed, providing two million gallons of fresh water daily to serve one million residents.
Parallel to this, the UAE remained a leading supporter of the Sudanese people.
Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, the UAE has provided $784 million in aid, becoming the second-largest donor to Sudan globally.
In December 2025 alone, the nation allocated an additional $15 million to the UNHCR to assist refugees and displaced persons, bringing its 10-year total aid to Sudan to over $4.24 billion.
Mohamed bin Zayed water initiative
Beyond immediate conflict relief, the UAE took a bold stand against the "silent crisis" of 2025: global water scarcity. Through the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI), the nation spearheaded international efforts to address the fact that four billion people now face water shortages.
In partnership with the World Bank, the UAE hosted high-level roundtables during the 80th UN General Assembly to scale up water reuse technologies.
This initiative focuses on "reimagining used water as a resource rather than waste."
To drive innovation, the UAE also backed the $119 million XPRIZE for Water Scarcity, aiming to make desalination more affordable and accessible for the world’s most vulnerable urban centers.
Sharjah charity in Kenya
While the government handles large-scale crises, regional organizations like Sharjah Charity International (SCI) are working on the ground to build futures. In a new initiative launched in December 2025, SCI announced a Dh1.1 million project to build a modern school in Kenya.
This project is designed to change the lives of children in remote rural areas who currently study in deteriorating, overcrowded classrooms or face grueling daily journeys to reach a school. The new facility will include:
- 12 Fully Equipped Classrooms: Providing a safe and stable learning environment.
- 480 Student Capacity: Helping to reduce overcrowding and enhance the quality of education.
Mohammed Ibrahim bin Nassar, Director of Corporate Communication at SCI, stated that this project addresses an "urgent educational need." This initiative is part of a broader effort by Sharjah Charity, which has reached over 1.3 million beneficiaries worldwide in 2025, including funding life-saving heart surgeries for children in countries like Bangladesh.
$550 million commitment for 2026
As the year drew to a close, the UAE looked toward the future by pledging $550 million to the UN’s Global Humanitarian Overview for 2026.
This massive pledge is designed to protect the lives of 87 million people facing urgent shocks in the coming year.
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, emphasized that this support is a "profound belief in the necessity of international solidarity."
This forward-looking approach ensures that the UAE’s leadership remains constant. Whether it is responding to a cholera outbreak in Chad, providing medical evacuation for cancer patients from Palestine, or delivering earthquake relief to distant nations, the UAE has proven that its "DNA" is built on humanitarian action.