120 countries benefit from Dhs2.80bn of UAE foreign aid disbursements and Dhs2.81bn of commitments in 2010

HH Sheikh Hamdan said, "With their constant support for foreign aid programs and initiatives, HH Sheikh Khalifa, and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have established the basis for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty, as well as providing urgent relief to those suffering the effects of natural disasters and man-made crises."

According to UAE Foreign Aid 2010, a report released today by the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA), under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan, the UAE disbursed a total of Dhs2.80bn ($0.76bn) of foreign aid and committed Dhs2.81bn ($0.77bn) in 2010, benefiting more than 120 countries across the world.

UAE Foreign Aid 2010, the second annual report on the UAE's humanitarian, development and charitable activities, draws together a huge range of facts and figures to give readers a clear picture of the UAE's foreign aid. The report is comprised of data from 31 UAE donor organizations, including the UAE government, foundations, the private sector and NGOs. Speaking about the report, HH Sheikh Hamdan also acknowledged the achievements of the donor organizations for their constructive cooperation with the UAE Office for Coordination of Foreign Aid, and for providing the office with their foreign aid records for 2010.

According to the report, the UAE's foreign aid is characterized by the breadth and range of its projects, as donors collectively disbursed Dhs2.80bn in 2010 towards providing shelter and food to the homeless, fostering conflict resolution, building dams, highways, hospitals and schools, combating malaria, promoting renewable energy and protecting biodiversity. The country's aid reached across the world, with Palestine, Yemen and Pakistan receiving the highest amounts of UAE foreign aid.

The majority, 79%, of the UAE's aid disbursements in 2010 were directed towards development programs. Having made great strides in its own development in the past 40 years, the UAE has been able to draw on its own successful experience to help other countries reach their development targets, giving increasing focus to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) such as universal primary education, the eradication of malaria and mitigating the effects of climate change.

The 2010 Report responds to several suggestions made by readers of the 2009 Report: the clear distinction between disbursements and commitments makes it easier for professionals in the sector to use, and feature stories illustrate the impact of the UAE's aid on beneficiaries in individual countries.

Other new features of the 2010 report include: exhibits, comprising charts, graphs and tables, which analyze the data in a variety of ways, including comparing the figures for 2009 and 2010 disbursements and highlighting the differences between the UAE's total foreign aid and the proportion that can be classified as Official Development Assistance (ODA). This has been made possible by improved reporting methods, the development of standards and guidelines and continuous training.

By transmitting information to international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS), UAE Foreign Aid 2010 will also help to further strengthen the UAE's ties with the international aid community and enhance the country's profile as a major global donor in the international aid arena.