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UAE Tops World’s Foreign Aid Chart for second year in a row

By Bright Tse
Middle East UAE Tops Worlds Foreign Aid Chart  for second year in a row
APR 16, 2015 LISTEN

ABU DHABI - The United Arab Emirate (UAE) topped the official 2014 foreign development-aid list, as world's largest donor, according to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

A press statement issued by Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of International Cooperation and Development (Micad) and Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, revealed that the Gulf state UAE gave Dh18 billion ($4.89 billion) in 2014, equivalent to 1.17 per cent of its gross national income (GNI) to top the global aid chart.

The statement quoted the Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum paying tribute to the generous spirit of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan., that, "this confirms the UAE's commitment to its global development mission and to the principles on which UAE was founded. We will continue to reinforce our position as a global hub for humanitarian relief for all those in need of our help," He said.

Responding to the new report, that ranked the UAE number one globally for a second consecutive year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid pointed out that besides its strong levels of official development aid, the UAE is also home to numerous humanitarian and charitable institutions, and a global humanitarian city. He emphasised that the UAE does not offer assistance conditionally, and cares only to promote welfare and stability for all people.

"The UAE was founded on the principle of doing good. Its leaders have always been passionate about helping people. We expect nothing in return for we are driven and guided by the principles of Islam and our Emirati national values," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said.

According to data released on Thursday, 9 April 2015, Sweden is in the second position, providing 1.10 percent of its national income, Luxembourg is third with 1.07 percent, followed by Norway in the fourth position providing 0.99 percent. Denmark came fifth with 0.85 percent, while the UK ranked sixth with 0.71 percent and Netherlands in seventh position, with 0.64% of its national income.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, issued a statement on the occasion of the naming of the UAE as the biggest foreign aid provider in the world, relative to its gross domestic income. He said the UAE had made several achievements in humanitarian and charitable works, and contributed, both alone and alongside U.N. authorities and organizations in providing aid for areas hit by crisis and disaster in accordance to the footsteps of the founder of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs congratulated the Emirati community on its proud achievement and leadership, and pledge UAE's continues effort to supporting healthcare projects in developing countries to aid eradicate diseases and epidemics particularly with regards to polio and malaria that threaten the lives of millions of people.

By Bright Tse
[email protected]

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