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UAE’s Human Face

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

Most recent the United Arab Emirates celebrates its 44rd National Day on December 2, 2015. It proudly celebrated its so many going humanitarian assistance programs in different parts of the world. It upheld its human face. Its human face consists of unconditional generous humanitarian assistance drives, programs, policies. Its human face is based its national policies of anti-hatred and anti-discrimination. It is also based on its national policies of tolerance, interfaith harmony and dialogue.
UAE’s human face is blessed with the strategic vision of its wise leadership. It promotes a holistic approach to resolve the “conflict”. It stands for dialogue, diplomacy and development. It speaks for equal human rights; rule of the law and above all love to humanity etc. In the times of crises its human face always stands first to reach the struggling people for their needs.

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Concept of qualitative life has been institutionalized in the UAE’s national policy. Schooling, clean drinking water, health and sanitation have been provided at the door steps of its people since inception. Policies are people’s friendly. Moreover, its bureaucracy is very cooperative. It can also be verified from the World Competitiveness yearbook (2014-15) which judged the UAE 1st globally in the field of government efficiency, the quality of government decisions, the absence of bureaucracy, and good management of public funds.

No Human Rights Violations

Not a single incident could be reported/surface in all the seven Emirates since 1971 on the issues of human right violations, gender discrimination, violence against the weaker segments/factions of the Emirati Society due to strategic vision of its successive leadership and generational development of human values among its people at large.

Now UAE is the home of more than 200 different nationalities (faiths, beliefs, cultural identities, sects, factions etc.) working together. It has largest churches in the GCC and MENA. UN International Organization for Peace, Care and Relief for (2014-15) ranked UAE 1st globally in peaceful coexistence among nationalities, with people from over 200 countries.

Optimal Utility of UAE Anti-Discrimination Law No. 02 of 2015

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Most recently His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a new “Anti-Discrimination Law No. 02 of 2015”. It is indeed a way forward to curb hatred, discrimination, racism, incitement, and terrorism from the country. It promotes true human values. It is anti-conflict, division, and destruction. It promotes harmony peace and love. UAE has set an example in dealing with the racism.

i. True Reflection of Multiculturalism

It is the reflection of multiculturalism. It stands for globalization. It stands for togetherness. It has introduced a new social contract in the Emirates. The UAE has rightly taken measures and decisions in shape of No.02 of 2015, which is the safeguard against all negative factors that can lead to in-fighting and discrimination. Furthermore the law secures peaceful co-existence among the people in the country with their different religions, sects and ethnicities.

ii. Anti-Hatred

It aims to safeguard people regardless of their origin, beliefs or race, against acts that promote religious hate and intolerance. It promotes broad-mindedness and acceptance. It provides a sound foundation for the environment of tolerance.

iii. Consolidation of the Principles of Freedom & Tolerance

It also aims to consolidate the principles of freedom, tolerance and acceptance of others and respect for the views, ideas, beliefs and values of others, as adopted by the UAE since its inception. The UAE guarantees, protects and defends these principles by the force of law.

The purpose of said law is not the mere application of sanctions or sentences. It serves to establish a proper system/relation between members of society and install civil peace. The protection of societies and their rights is not a matter left to the wishes of the people.

UAE’s generous Humanitarian Assistance

The Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (Micad) December 2015 published its latest report which indicated that the UAE has provided Dh173 billion in foreign aid to 178 countries and geographical areas between 1971-2014.

The report noted that the UAE ranked as the world’s most generous donor in 2013 and 2014 and became an international role model of relief and assistance of millions of people affected by natural and man-made disasters and crises.

UAE’s foreign aid was provided by governmental and non-governmental organisations and charitable and humanitarian institutions as part of generous initiatives carried out on the instructions of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, and President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who continue the humanitarian legacy of the late founding father.

UAE stands for its generous humanitarian assistance which is being delivered without any prejudice of religion, faith, belief, color, faction, and caste around the globe. From the deserts of Mali and Ethiopia to snowy fields of Bosnia and New Zealand, from ranchers of Australia to watery places of many Far-East countries, from mountainous areas of Pakistan and Nepal to barren plains of Africa UAE’s humanitarian assistance and development projects are everywhere indicating its firm belief in humanity, service, positivity and universalism.

UAE’s Foreign Aid (1971-2014)

Different Institutions/Organizations Foreign Aid (Dh)
government institutions 129 billion
Abu Dhabi Development Fund 30.5 billion
Emirates Red Crescent 5.7 billion
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation 2.9 billion
Source: Micad, (December 2015)
Most recently, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) and Head of the UAE Committee for Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, said that the UAE’s foreign aid to 140 countries touched AED60 billion (US$16 billion) from 2010-2014.

Sheikha Lubna stressed that the humanitarian assistance provided by the UAE to the all peoples worldwide is unconditional, being part of the UAE people and leadership values and culture to assist those in need.

She noted that the UAE’s aid is distributed through its humanitarian bodies, such as Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), which operates in many countries to provide assistance to the underprivileged. It also co-operates with other international humanitarian bodies such as UNICEF, UNRWA and others the refugee host countries.

Continents Foreign Aid (Dh) Areas of Utility
Asia 79.4 Development projects, roads, bridges etc.
Africa 75.4 Development projects, housing, schooling, power generation.
Government/Public Sectors
Government ‘Sector/Civil Society 80.6 billion
Public Programs Support” Sector 22.5 billion
Humanitarian and relief aid Dh7.7 billion.
Source: Micad, (December 2015)
Ranking/Organizations Details
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development It ranked UAE first. UAE donated development aid in proportion to its gross national income, the UAE’s up to Dh18 billion, or 1.17 per cent of GNI.
Mohammed bin Rashid Charitable and Humanitarian Establishment It sent two 2,464 tonnes of in-kind assistance since the beginning of this year through 29 sea and air shipments to 18 sisterly and friendly countries, where the aid was distributed to the needy categories.
UAE Red Crescent (ERC) More than Dh300 million in charity and aid has been given so far by the Emirates Red Crescent. It carried out humanitarian, charitable, relief and development programmes worth Dh349.23m, with Dh300.75m of that going overseas. The ERC offered Dh11.9m to 4,327 families locally as well as Dh9m to 922 patients. It also offered Dh9.7m to 2,477 students. About 8,000 families with 40,000 members had benefited from the ERC’s humanitarian and development programmes, and more than 94,000 orphans were sponsored within and outside the UAE.
UAE’s Initiative for Orphans and Minors It has facilitated procedures enabling individuals and families to volunteer to help this section of the populace.
Source: Different Dailies of the UAE (2014-15)

UAE is now iconic country of infrastructural development, green buildings, eco-projects and the last but not the least, social development. It has been ranked first for its outstanding infrastructures, roads and buildings for so many years in so many regional and international reports/data/figures.

UAE is also famous for its sky-high buildings, world class aviation, free economic zones, hotel industry, religious heritage, seaports, and dynamic people but core strength of UAE is based on its “Human Face/Qualities”

UAE’s Foreign Aid to Countries in Crises

Countries Details Foreign Aid (Dh)
1971 to 2015
Yemen Largest donor to Yemen. It plays a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian crises in Yemen and promoting development.
2014-15: Dh 1.3 billion, including Dh 844.2 million in direct humanitarian aid and Dh 494.7 million for planned infrastructure rehabilitation projects. 6.65 billion
Syria UAE provided aid to help 1.5 million internally-displaced people and refugees in Syria and host countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt. The UAE also pledged US$460 million.
Mrajib Al Fhood refugee camp: UAE also established the UAE-funded Mrajib Al Fhood refugee camp and the UAE-Jordanian field hospital in Jordan, and collaborated with a number of countries, including the United Kingdom and Norway, to implement aid projects
Emirati Red Crescent camp: it also established a camp in northern Iraq.
Employment: It granted around 100,000 visas for Syrians since the start of the crisis in Syria in 2011. About 242,000 Syrians currently reside in the UAE, where the majority were accommodated in schools and universities and found jobs Dh2.14 billion
Palestine It continues to provide in-kind and financial assistance to support the Palestinian people and strengthen Palestinian institutions in the occupied territories. Dh736 million
Egypt It has always been helping Egypt. 47.3 billion
Pakistan The UAE Project to Assist Pakistan implemented development and humanitarian projects are going on in different areas of Pakistan. US$320 million
Source: Micad, (December 2015)

development-aid

The above table clearly shows UAE’s human commitments towards different regional countries trapped in war. Conflict of interests does not stop the UAE to extend its humanitarian assistance to struggling people, weaker factions/sections, children and women. It confirms UAE’s human faith, obligations and holistic approach to resolve conflicts.

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