Abu Dhabi's international aid fund will spend Dh44 million ($12m) on education and culture projects in Palestine, the latest commitment in a 20-year drive that has seen almost Dh1 billion spent on community work. The move to support programmes in East Jerusalem will "drive socio-economic growth as well as elevate living conditions," said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. “Together with the Jerusalem Council for Development and Economic Growth, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will work towards studying a number of programmes and development activities that aim to improve the living conditions of the residents of Jerusalem," he said. The fund's involvement in Palestine dates back to 1999, when it began a series of projects including the construction of Zayed City in Gaza and the roads, sewage, infrastructure and phone lines that came with the residential area. It was completed in 2005 at a cost of Dh227m ($62m) and is now home to about 6,000 people. Among the 17 projects to date include building community centres and funding the salaries of staff at Al Quds University. "We look forward to further constructive cooperation, particularly in financing development projects and programmes that are in line with the needs of the Palestinian people," Mr Al Suwaidi said.