ABU DHABI // The total amount of foreign aid given by the UAE since its formation is expected to run into tens of billions of dirhams, according to the federal body collating the data.
"We are talking about a huge amount," said Hazza al Qahtani, director general of the Foreign Aid Co-ordination Office (FACO).
"One organisation has reported donating Dh18 billion (US$4.9bn) between 2000 and 2008 alone."
In May, the FACO said it would calculate how much had been given in humanitarian aid since 1971, to help organise foreign aid better and set up a system to track future amounts given by Emirati donors, including organisations such as the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and Dubai Cares.
It is halfway through collecting information from local donors and humanitarian organisations, which is being entered into the database detailing all foreign aid activities. So far, the database contains 7,500 records.
Mr al Qahtani said he expected all the data to have been collected by the end of the year. That would be followed by a comprehensive report on the UAE's role in international humanitarian efforts since its federation.
The report will detail the total amount given, by which organisation, in what sector and to which country. The types of donations and nature of the projects will also be included.
Most organisations have been helpful in providing information but the FACO is still waiting for some organisations to comply.
"The problem is that there is no paved way to map the foreign aid sector here," said Mr al Qahtani. "Also, there is not enough awareness about our work."
The FACO has stressed to organisations the need for accurate information, which is cross-checked with data from annual reports.
"This is an ongoing process and we are working with our partners," said Mr al Qahtani. "It is not going to be done without a collective effort, and co-operation with the office and the Government."
One of the main aims, he said, was to better organise the humanitarian sector particularly for future planning, in addition to highlighting the UAE's role as a major international donor.
"Collecting the data will also give us a clear picture of the trends and patterns for the past four decades," he added. "Just looking at the map will tell each organisation where the focus has been and where they have not reached."
How much the UAE donates in foreign aid has been the subject of controversy, after claims made to the United Nations in 2008 that it gave away 3.6 per cent of the gross national product. The figure was disputed by Sir John Holmes, the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs.
However, when the FACO was set up this year, Sir John praised the idea of a co-ordinating body.
"We are hopeful that it will vastly improve the flow of information about the quantity and destination of assistance coming from the UAE and the level of co-ordination with the international community on key issues," he said at the time.
The UAE has become an increasingly active donor state, responding to disasters and needs around the world, including relief efforts this year for two million internally displaced people in Pakistan.
A donation by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation was described as one of the UN refugee agency's largest from the region.
The FACO is chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative to the Western Region, who is also RCA chairman.
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Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
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Rating: 3/5
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)