Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives: 91 million humanitarian aid beneficiaries

The Sheikh of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the results of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) charitable foundation in Dubai at the end of April. Through its aid campaigns, mainly marked by the COVID challenge, the foundation has reached 91 million people in 97 countries with more than 1.1 billion Emirati dirhams, equivalent to 299 million US dollars. 

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) is a foundation established in 2015 by the Sheikh of Dubai to carry out charitable and development work. Compared to 2020, the foundation's works have increased the beneficiaries of its grants by 8 million. MBRGI has also reached 15 new countries, making it the largest humanitarian organisation in the region, according to the statement. 
 

The event was attended by the foundation's top leaders, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Rashid al Maktoum, vice-chairman of the MBRGI Foundation's board of trustees.

The MBRGI is distinguished by having a number of important humanitarian and development organisations under its umbrella. As well as the religion of Islam, the MBRGI boasts 5 pillars, or 5 focal points on which it concentrates its activities through its various subsidiaries. 
 

"Humanitarian", "Health", "Education", "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" and finally "Community Empowerment" are the five pillars of which the organisation boasts, and which bring order to the 35 foundations that make up the social work of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

At the ceremony presided over by Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emirati Prime Minister dedicated a few words of thanks, not only to all the donors of the aid that has been distributed around the world, but also to the teams of volunteers and development workers who have made it possible for all the development projects to go ahead. After his speech, he signed a mural dedicated to the annual results of the MBRGI. According to the information provided by the foundation, 571 workers shape and make possible the humanitarian development projects of the 5 pillars. They are supported by a network of more than 144,000 volunteers worldwide. 

Of all the projects of the 35 development and cooperation agencies that make up the MBRGI, one stands out in particular because of the words of the sheikh of Dubai. It is the "100 Million Meals", a food campaign launched for the first time at the beginning of Ramadan in 2021. It aims to deliver up to 220 million lunches in 47 countries. 

The United Arab Emirates is thus fulfilling one of its international agenda of expanding its presence in the humanitarian sector. The outbreak of the COVID pandemic in 2020 was an opportunity to increase investments with this commitment, which is not only a state initiative of the country, but also of its leaders. 

It has also been a surprise that humanitarian aid from the UAE is reaching Iran. In 2020, a large shipment of aid arrived in the capital, Tehran, in the midst of the worst of the COVID crisis that hit the country hard. A humanitarian hand extended even to the UAE's regional rivals.