Remembering Zayed: UAE founder believed 'grace of wealth' must be shared

Remembering Zayed: The UAE's oil and gas were a gift from God, Sheikh Zayed thought, and during his rule the country donated an astonishing Dh90.5 billion in aid to 117 countries - including large amounts to other Arab countries.

The Children’s National Medical Centre and the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Children’s Medicine in Washington, DC. The centre was founded in 2009 following a US$150 million (Dh551m) gift from the Show more

While the late Sheikh Zayed has been described in many ways, one of the most notable was in the field of international aid and humanitarian giving, turning the UAE into one of the world's most charitable nations.

A report, published today by the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (Micad) reveals the full extent of that extraordinary generosity. Between the formation of the country, in December 1971, and Sheikh Zayed's death in 2004, the UAE donated an astonishing Dh90.5 billion in aid to 117 countries across the world.

This aid was given in various ways. According to statistics compiled by Micad, development aid topped the list, with over Dh89bn given during the period when Sheikh Zayed was President of the UAE.

Second came humanitarian aid at Dh1.1 bn, with another Dh267 million donated in charitable giving. Most development aid was used to build to infrastructure projects, including residential communities, dams, health- sector projects, schools and developing agriculture.

These donations, Micad says, have made a deep and positive impact on the development plans and strategies of countries and peoples around the world.

Although a new nation, the UAE ranked 16th globally in proportion to the amount of foreign aid it gave in relation to Gross National Income (GNI). A World Bank report in 2010, commended the UAE as one of the most generous countries, based on a four- decade study.

This legacy of giving has seen the Cabinet of the UAE designate the anniversary of Sheikh Zayed's death on the 19th day of Ramadan as Zayed Day for Humanitarian Work.

To mark the date, the Micad report reviews the most significant aspects of the country's foreign and humanitarian aid over 33 years.

"Although he passed away in 2004, the late Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy upon him, remains alive in our hearts," the report states. "We continue to be inspired by his actions, his good qualities and charitable philosophy. We promise to God that we shall walk in his footsteps."

The report also records the words of Sheikh Zayed: "We believe that the grace of wealth bestowed upon us by the Almighty must be unfolded to encircle our friends and brethren around the world."

That spirit is clearly embodied today by the over 40 local organisations working to help others who suffer from harsh living or humanitarian conditions to rebuild their dignity and meet their basic needs, the report adds.

From the moment of the creation of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed made a priorityof helping and assisting other countries establishing the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development in 1971.

"The inception of the fund marked a major milestone at that time and sent a strong message to the whole world that the United Arab Emirates cherished its philanthropic and charitable heritage. That this federation of seven emirates, even at its nascent stages, aspired to cooperation and integration for the benefit of all the peoples and the nations of the world," the report says.

The founding of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was followed by a number of initiatives launched by Sheikh Zayed to institutionalise the foreign aid sector, improve the viability of aid, and promote responsibility.

Today, the UAE is home to more than 40 donor organisations and humanitarian and charity foundations that provide aid to all countries and peoples in need.

Arab nations and Islamic identity were a priority. Egypt tops the list, with Dh15.9bn between 1971 and 2004.In the same period, Syria received Dh11bn, Jordan Dh5.5bn and Morocco about Dh6.6bn. About Dh3.7bn was donated to refugees and to support infrastructure for the Palestinian people.

Recalling Sheikh Zayed's role as a humanitarian, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation said: "Throughout human history, not so many men have stayed the course of philanthropy, because it is the harder and more challenging path, because it speaks just one language - striving to make others happy, regardless of their religion or nationality."

She added: "The late Sheikh Zayed was one of those greats."