he country continuously extends its financial and humanitarian aid to several countries, whether through development programs, infrastructure projects, or offering aid to countries suffering from wars and natural disasters directly or indirectly, through the UAE's membership in the donor countries' group in the OCHA, as well as contributing to other UN programs and with other organizations in the fields.

Overall, during the last three-and-a-half decades, the UAE has contributed more than Dh255 billion (US$70 bn) in loans, grants and assistance for development projects in nearly 100 countries around the world. While much of the assistance is provided on a government-to-government basis, the country is also a major contributor to international agencies, having made Dh100 billion (US$27 bn) available through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The Government has established a new body to coordinate all the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the UAE. Called the UAE Foreign Aid Coordination Office (FACO) and set up in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the new forum is chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This will lead to the UAE becoming more involved at the multilateral level rather than focusing on support through traditional bilateral means.

The UAE has also set up various foundations to undertake this major humanitarian role, including the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, the Khalifa Charity Foundation, the Red Crescent Society, the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation, Noor Dubai Initiative which was launched recently with the objective of treating one million people suffering from eye diseases in Africa and Asia.

This is a contribution towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of providing primary education to every child by 2015. Similarly, Noor Dubai – administered by the Dubai Health Authority – cooperates with the World Health Organisation and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in their mission to treat and prevent blindness.

The UAE Government also participates in a number of other multilateral aid-giving institutions, including the International Development Agency, OPEC Fund for International Development, Arab Gulf Fund for the United Nations, Arab bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Abu Dhabi-based Arab Monetary Fund and Islamic Development Bank. In recent years, however, the emphasis has been on humanitarian assistance for those affected by natural disasters or conflict and poverty.