Abu Dhabi: The UAE contributed Dh19.32 billion in development aid last year (2017) to 147 countries, which ensured that it retained its position as the ‘Top World Aid Donor’ for the fifth year in a row.
The UAE’s rank was confirmed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) development assistance committee. The nation spent 1.31 per cent of its gross national income on foreign development aid, which is almost twice the global target of 0.7 per cent set by the United Nations.
Mohammad Al Suwaidi, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading national entity for development aid provision, extended his congratulation to the UAE’s leaders on the occasion.
“The founding father of the UAE, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was and still remains an exemplary role model of humanitarianism and generosity. He instilled the culture of giving among the people of the UAE. At ADFD, we follow his noble legacy and efforts based on a vision to help communities across developing nations and the wider world achieve progress and prosperity,” Al Suwaidi said.
“Under the counsel of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of ADFD’s Board of Directors, the fund has executed thousands of development projects and programmes worldwide over the past 46 years. The ADFD’s development projects have spanned 88 developing countries and are valued at Dh80 billion,” he added.
Al Suwaidi also said the ADFD’s socioeconomic efforts in developing nations over the past four-and-a-half decades have helped the UAE to retain its position as the top development aid provider.
“The ADFD’s development funding has resulted in the implementation of infrastructure projects in vital sectors such as health, education, agriculture, industry, housing and renewable energy. Not only have these projects helped the international community in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but they have also addressed the most difficult development challenges, especially the alleviation of global poverty,” Al Suwaidi added.
