UAE world's 16th largest foreign aid donor in 2012: OECD

An official report issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Commission (DAC) has shown an improvement in the UAE's international donor standing, placing it at the 16th position in 2012 in the proportion of the foreign assistance it provides in relation to its Gross National Income (GNI), advancing from the 20th global position in 2011, and the 26th in 2010.

Commenting on the report's release, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development said that the advanced rankings attained by the UAE over the past few years and the year on year improvements in the UAE's ranking among the world's foremost foreign aid donors is credited to the clear vision of the country's leadership under President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the constant supervision of General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to develop the country's foreign assistance programs and enhance their effectiveness and sound direction leading up to the UAE attaining recognition as the world's 16th largest provider of foreign assistance in 2012.

Sheikha Lubna pointed out that the culture of giving and helping poor peoples around the world is one that is deeply rooted in the UAE and its leadership - a culture that was greatly reinforced by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ever since the establishment of the Federation, she added.

Minister Al Qassimi commended the efforts that were undertaken by donor entities and UAE humanitarian institutions towards supporting international development and responding to humanitarian crisis, translating into reality the UAE leadership's wise vision.

She also stated that the UAE is the only Arab country that registers it foreign assistance data with the DAC's Creditor Reporting System (CRS) aid activity database, further underlining the country's commitment, and that of its donor institutions, to foreign assistance related international transparency standards.

The minister added that the UAE's approach contributes towards the integration of its efforts with other international efforts aiming at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and also contributes towards improving the effectiveness and sound allocation of the country's foreign assistance and its attainment of advanced positions amongst the world's top donors.

Concluding her statement, Sheikha Lubna said that the continuous improvement being witnessed in the UAE's ranking among the world's top donors is first and foremost attributed to the directives of the country's wise and sound leadership on matters pertaining to UAE foreign assistance, which entail an emphasis on the world's poorest countries and an understanding of the type of sectors that the UAE should target for development in the countries it assists.

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