The UAE distributed more than Dh206 billion in international aid from 2010 to 2021, the latest government figures show.
The data was published in a report by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
It showed the country was ranked the world’s leading development aid donor for four consecutive years, and second and fourth during the same period in other years.
The UAE’s foreign aid falls under three main categories: development, humanitarian and charitable relief.
Development aid made up 87.7 per cent of the total, while humanitarian and charitable aid accounted for 9.9 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively.
Officials said 59.1 per cent of the development aid was in the form of grants, which recipient countries are not required to repay, while concessional loans accounted for 40.9 per cent.
The aid covered 25 sectors and 131 sub-sectors.
About half of the aid was sent to Africa, 40 per cent to Asian nations and 5 per cent to Europe, the Americas and Oceania. Five per cent of the total went to multilateral programmes and organisations.
UAE foreign aid supported the sustainable development goals set by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
The Emirates offered Dh110.46bn ($30.07bn) of foreign aid between 2016 and 2020.
Data showed Dh1.97bn of aid was used to support the renewable energy sector from 2010 to 2020. The UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund and the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund received $50m each.
More than Dh6.17bn ($1.68bn), 6.2 per cent of the total foreign aid budget, was allocated to women’s empowerment and protection programmes.
The UAE has sent more than 2,250 tonnes of medical aid to about 136 countries since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has supported the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme by providing half a million PCR test kits, valued at Dh36.7m ($10m).
International organisations based at International Humanitarian City in Dubai sent more than 955 aid shipments to 177 countries.
The country also helped to transport two field hospitals from Norway and Belgium to Ghana and Ethiopia at a cost of $4m. Field hospitals were also set up in Jordan, Guinea, Sudan, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sierra Leone.
In addition, the UAE backed the Global Partnership for Education, paying Dh367m ($100m) from 2018 to 2020 in three stages to support schooling in 90 countries.
In July 2021, the Emirates pledged to provide the same amount to support a strategic global partnership plan for education over the next five years.
UAE sends aid to Rwanda - in pictures
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
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Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
