Princess Haya visits Australia, discusses aid programme

Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, visits Australia this week and discusses country’s aid programme. Wam

Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited Australia this week as part of an official UAE visit.

During the three-day trip, Princess Haya, known for her humanitarian work, discussed the country’s aid programme with several government ministers, including Governor General Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove, and Julie Bishop MP, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs development programme.

As Chairperson of the International Humanitarian City, Princess Haya also participated in a roundtable at the Lowy Institute for International Affairs, Australia’s primary think tank where she was joined by the UAE’s Ambassador to Australia, Dr Obaid Al Ketbi, as well as delegates from the Institute and Australian NGOs. Top of the agenda for discussion were global humanitarian issues including delivery of aid, as well as the humanitarian needs of conflict zones and those affected by famine.

“As the world goes through a turbulent time, the scale and need for humanitarian aid is growing. Now more than ever, Governments and the international community must unite to address the magnitude of the issues and find new and innovative ways to address crises across the globe,” said Princess Haya.

In her capacity as Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Princess Haya, and ambssaador Dr Obaid Al Ketbi, visited the Smith Family Charity in Sydney, the Lifeline Charity in Canberra, and paid official visits to Canberra’s Centenary Hospital for Women & Children and the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

As an avid campaigner for children’s health worldwide, these visits allowed her to share her experiences and also learn about the fantastic work these hospitals do in local communities, as well as their research and education initiatives.