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Abu Dhabi / WAM
Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), on Tuesday extended his congratulations to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the UAE retained the title of the “Top World Aid Donor” in the field of official development assistance for the fifth year in a row.
He also congratulated His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The endorsement, as reported by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, exceeded the United Nations’ target of 0.7 percent official development assistance in proportion to its Gross National Income, GNI, ratio by donating AED19.32 billion, a growth of 18.1 percent over 2016, representing 1.31 percent of its GNI for official development assistance in 2017.
Speaking on the occasion, Al Suwaidi, said, “The founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was and still remains, an exemplary role model of humanitarianism and generosity. He instilled the culture of giving among the people of the UAE. At ADFD, we follow his noble legacy and efforts based on a vision to help communities across developing nations and the wider world achieve progress and prosperity.
“Under the support of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of ADFD’s Board of Directors, the fund has executed thousands of development projects and programmes worldwide over the past 46 years. ADFD’s development projects have spanned 88 developing countries and are valued at AED80 billion.”
ADFD’s development funding has resulted in the implementation of infrastructure projects in vital sectors such as health, education, agriculture, industry, housing and renewable energy. Not only have these projects helped the international community in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but they have also addressed the most difficult
development challenges, especially the alleviation of global poverty.