The United Arab Emirates has solidified its reputation as a top humanitarian donor in 2025, delivering more than US $1.46 billion in aid across multiple crises. From the war‑torn streets of Gaza to the drought‑stricken plains of Sudan, the UAE’s contributions are reshaping the landscape of international relief. This article examines the scale, strategy, and strategic implications of the emirate’s unprecedented humanitarian outreach.
Why the UAE Is Ranked Among the World’s Largest Humanitarian Donors
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Financial Tracking Service, the UAE now sits as the third‑largest donor worldwide. The key drivers behind this ranking include:
- A US $550 million pledge to the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview, a cornerstone of the UN’s US $33 billion financing goal for 2026.
- Strategic coordination through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MIRI), which blends emergency relief with long‑term development.
- Targeted investments in health, education, infrastructure, and climate‑resilient projects that go beyond short‑term aid.
These factors illustrate a deliberate shift from ad‑hoc assistance to a comprehensive, forward‑looking humanitarian model.
Key Regions Benefiting from UAE Humanitarian Aid in 2025
Gaza: Multi‑Dimensional Support for a Prolonged Crisis
By the end of December, the UAE had injected AED 9.4 billion (≈US $2.6 billion) into Gaza. The assistance package includes:
- Over 100,000 tonnes of essential supplies, ranging from medical kits to construction materials.
- Two million gallons of potable water delivered via mobile purification units.
- The evacuation of 3,000 patients and relatives to UAE hospitals, coordinated through air‑medical services.
- Operation of a field hospital treating approximately 54,000 patients and a floating hospital in Al Arish with more than 21,000 consultations.
These interventions have mitigated secondary health threats, such as water‑borne diseases, that often follow prolonged sieges.
Sudan: A Decade‑Long Commitment to Stability
The conflict in Sudan has prompted the UAE to allocate US $784 million since the start of 2023, bringing the cumulative total to US $4.24 billion over ten years. Funding has been directed toward:
- Food distribution and cash‑based assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur and the Blue Nile.
- Shelter rehabilitation projects that restore homes and community facilities.
- Capacity‑building programs that empower local NGOs to manage relief logistics.
Yemen: Energy Security as a Pillar of Reconstruction
In Yemen, the UAE’s humanitarian strategy emphasizes energy security. A US $1 billion commitment funds renewable‑energy plants in Aden and Shabwa, projected to power over one million households. Complementary aid includes:
- Ramadan food parcels for vulnerable families.
- Flood relief for 960 households, providing temporary shelters and sanitation kits.
- Educational support for school‑age children to curb malnutrition and school dropout.
- A WHO‑backed nutrition programme on Socotra targeting acute malnutrition in children under five.
Ukraine: Humanitarian Mediation and Child Welfare
Beyond material aid, the UAE leveraged diplomatic channels to facilitate humanitarian outcomes in Ukraine. Emirati mediators helped orchestrate the exchange of 4,641 prisoners, a confidence‑building step praised by both Kyiv and Moscow. Additionally, a US $4.5 million agreement funds the creation of orphanage care centres, underscoring a focus on child welfare in conflict zones.
Rapid‑Response Relief Across Continents
The UAE’s emergency response teams have been active in a wide array of crises, delivering targeted aid such as:
- 700 tonnes of food aid to famine‑prone regions of Somalia.
- More than 1,000 tonnes of supplies to Chad, assisting 150,000 flood‑displaced persons.
- Winter relief kits—including heating equipment, blankets, and nutrition supplements—for Albania and Bangladesh.
- Medical and logistical support in Myanmar, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
- A US $10 million pledge for the Asia‑Pacific region to strengthen disaster‑response mechanisms against climate‑induced emergencies.
Building Long‑Term Capacity: Hospitals, Endowments, and Skills Development
Health Infrastructure Projects
2025 saw the UAE sign several landmark health‑care agreements:
- A US $20 million contract to build a fully integrated eye hospital in Uganda, expanding ophthalmic services to underserved communities.
- A US $64.5 million grant for Al‑Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, ensuring continuity of specialized medical care.
- Plans for the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Hospital and a dialysis centre in N’Djamena, Chad, addressing chronic disease management in a region with limited health facilities.
Domestic Endowments and Food‑Security Initiatives
Within the UAE, the government launched ambitious programs to bolster food security and sustainable philanthropy:
- The “Father’s Endowment” program, in partnership with the UAE Food Bank and the “Ne’ma” initiative, aims to redistribute surplus food and produce one million meals for vulnerable households.
- The AED 4.7 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Endowment District, described as the region’s first integrated endowment community, reflects a long‑term commitment to sustainable charitable financing.
Education and Skills Academies for Africa
Through the ATAYA Initiative, the UAE’s Digital School launched “Skills Academies,” targeting the training of five million African youth in market‑relevant competencies such as digital literacy, vocational trades, and entrepreneurship. This effort aligns with the broader goal of creating resilient human capital capable of driving post‑crisis recovery.
Strategic Implications of the UAE’s Humanitarian Leadership
The scale of the UAE’s 2025 aid portfolio carries several strategic dimensions that extend beyond pure philanthropy:
Soft Power Amplification
By consistently positioning itself as a reliable donor, the UAE cultivates goodwill that can translate into diplomatic leverage, especially in regions where it seeks economic or security partnerships.
Diversification of Aid Instruments
The blend of cash grants, infrastructure projects, and capacity‑building programmes illustrates an evolution from traditional aid to a nuanced, development‑oriented model that addresses both immediate needs and long‑term resilience.
Influence on Multilateral Funding Architecture
The substantial pledge to the UN Global Humanitarian Overview not only fills a critical financing gap but also provides the UAE with a seat at the table for priority‑setting within the UN system, potentially steering resources toward projects aligned with its strategic interests.
Regional Stability and Economic Vision
By tackling root causes of displacement—such as energy scarcity in Yemen or health‑system deficits in Sudan—the UAE contributes to long‑term stability, supporting its broader vision for a resilient Gulf region and fostering environments conducive to trade and investment.
Climate‑Resilience Focus
Earmarked funds for disaster response in the Asia‑Pacific and renewable‑energy projects in conflict zones demonstrate an awareness that climate change is an accelerator of humanitarian need, prompting the UAE to integrate climate‑adaptation into its aid strategy.
Looking Ahead: The Blueprint for Future Humanitarian Assistance
As the global community confronts an increasingly complex humanitarian landscape—marked by protracted conflicts, climate‑driven disasters, and pandemic‑related setbacks—the UAE’s 2025 record offers a compelling case study. The forthcoming US $33 billion target for 2026 will test the durability of this model. Success will hinge on sustained political will, transparent coordination with multilateral bodies, and the flexibility to adapt aid delivery to evolving threats.
If the UAE can maintain its momentum, the result could be a more balanced humanitarian architecture where emerging donors share the burden traditionally shouldered by a handful of Western powers. The data from OCHA, combined with the myriad on‑the‑ground projects, illustrate a clear trajectory: the United Arab Emirates is not merely a donor in the ledger of aid; it is an architect of relief, a builder of health infrastructure, and a catalyst for human‑capital development across continents.
Whether this translates into lasting peace and prosperity for the millions it seeks to help remains to be seen, but the scale of its commitment in 2025 sets a high bar for the years to come.
