BAE will celebrate Zayed Humanitarian Day tomorrow.

ABU DHABI, March 7, 2026 (WAM) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commemorate Zayed Humanitarian Day, celebrated annually on the 19th of Ramadan, which coincides with the anniversary of the passing of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Zayed Humanitarian Day highlights the deep commitment to the legacy of the UAE's founding leader, demonstrating how this leader has become a global symbol of charity and humanitarian aid. Under his leadership, the UAE emerged as one of the leading donor countries providing humanitarian and development assistance, strengthening its position as a significant supporter of those in need worldwide. In 1971, Sheikh Zayed established the Abu Dhabi Development Fund as a testament to his commitment to global development and aid. In 1992, he launched the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, now known as the Zayed for Good Foundation, which continues its humanitarian work both domestically and internationally. These efforts reflect Sheikh Zayed's boundless generosity and leave a significant mark in various humanitarian fields, as corroborated by data. From 1971 to 2004, the UAE provided approximately 90.5 billion AED in humanitarian and development aid to countries around the world. For his humanitarian contributions, Sheikh Zayed received numerous honors and awards, including the Gold Document from the International Organization for Foreigners in Geneva in 1985, the Man of the Year Medal in Paris in 1988, the Arab League's Development and Environment Award in 1993, and the Gold Medal for Arab History from the Moroccan Historians Association in 1995. Sheikh Zayed's humanitarian and charitable legacy continues to thrive, with the UAE carrying on the path of generosity he established through various humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives, including food aid, development projects, refugee support, empowerment of vulnerable communities, and strengthening health and education sectors in less fortunate countries. This year's events coincide with the UAE's continuation of numerous major humanitarian initiatives throughout the month of Ramadan, reflecting Sheikh Zayed's legacy of giving. Among these initiatives is the 11.5 campaign aimed at saving five million children from hunger worldwide, and Ramadan programs organized by the UAE Red Crescent, which are expected to benefit more than 1.5 million people within the UAE and in 44 countries this year. The UAE is also continuing to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In February, during the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council, the country announced it would provide an additional 1.2 billion USD in support to Gaza through the council. According to data from the Financial Tracking Service platform of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UAE has ranked as the largest donor to the Gaza population during 2024 and 2025, contributing over 4.2 billion USD, which accounts for approximately 50% of total international aid. The UAE is also maintaining its commitment to delivering vital basic needs to civilians affected by the devastating civil war in Sudan, recently pledging 500 million USD to meet urgent humanitarian needs. This support adds to the UAE's assistance to Sudan over the past decade, which has exceeded 4.24 billion USD, with humanitarian aid provided since 2023 amounting to 800 million USD.

(Source: WAM.ae)