UAE has pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid to Socotra since 2015

Significant investment in key services has helped improve the lives of people living on the island

Fishermen wade in the water off Shoab beach on Yemen's Socotra Island. All photos: AFP

A flowering bottle tree, or desert rose, at Homhil in the northeast of the Yemeni island of Socotra, part of the flora found only in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

A lagoon is pictured outside Hadibo, the main city on Socotra island.

Detwah Lagoon, on the far west of Socotra island, is listed as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention.

A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain, Socotra island.

Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island.

Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain on Socotra Island.

A Dragon’s Blood Tree provides shade on the Diksam Plateau in the centre of Socotra island, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago.

An endangered Egyptian Vulture perches on the dead branches of a Dragon’s Blood Tree in Socotra.

Socotra boasts an abundance of Frankincense trees and fresh water springs.

Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.

The UAE has delivered $110 million of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni island of Socotra since 2015, helping authorities to improve the lives of its residents.

The vital financial contribution over the past six years has bolstered a series of crucial public services, from the health and education sectors to construction and transport, state news agency Wam reported.

The financial aid has been delivered by organisations such as Emirates Red Crescent, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Foundation and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre.

Key investment has restored Socotra's airport and paid for the construction of two solar power stations, the establishment of four power plants and the installation of power generators in remote villages.

The UAE's relief mission has been integral to the island's health sector by providing medical equipment and ambulances, establishing a fully equipped emergency centre and two surgery rooms, and donating 13 beds and an intensive care unit, in line with international standards.

The aid has also expanded Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, increasing its number of beds to 42 and adding four to the ICU.

The UAE has also offered university scholarships to help 80 students continue their education in Egypt, while 40 received scholarships to UAE University.

It also launched various education projects, including the restoration of schools and the creation of new classes, as well as the opening of the Socotra Institute for Consultancy and Training.

The Emirates has ensured the education sector has the tools to succeed by recruiting teachers from overseas and hiring 440 local teachers.

It has printed 227,000 text books, established the Socotra International University and opened two colleges.

In June, the UAE sent 60,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Socotra to help tackle the pandemic.

The Emirates Red Crescent worked with health authorities in Socotra to vaccinate people free of charge at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital.