Philanthropy in UAE: Global initiatives and community interaction
The United Arab Emirates has succeeded in deepening the concept of philanthropy and turning it into a societal feature and a solid moral base, benefiting from the moral heritage of members of society.
The UAE joins the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Charity, which falls on September 5 of every year. It has a distinguished and rich history in this field, through which it has contributed to alleviating the suffering of those in need and extending a helping hand to them at all times and in all places.
Federal Law No. 3 of 2021 regulates the collection of donations in the United Arab Emirates, protects the funds of donors and their legitimate presentation, and establishes controls on the collection, receipt and distribution of donations from licensees and authorized fundraisers.
The United Arab Emirates has become the starting point for many charitable initiatives and assistance campaigns announced by the relevant authorities amid continuous popular interaction, such as campaigns to address diseases and health problems, campaigns to build mosques and dig wells, charitable assistance related to emergency relief for people and countries affected by disasters, as well as campaigns to help those in need and others.
Philanthropy is a societal behavior in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates attaches great importance to charity as a human value based on giving and giving in all its forms. Today, it is one of the few countries that has translated the meaning of wealth into human thought and participation that encompasses the entire world, without favor or investment in narrow interests.
Charitable work in the United Arab Emirates draws additional strength and impetus from the contributions of members of society, including citizens, residents and expatriates. The institution of charitable work in the United Arab Emirates has been strengthened to transform it into a culture and a social behavior that is firm and sustainable in character.
This is evident in the donation campaigns and humanitarian initiatives launched by the UAE leadership to provide relief to the afflicted and needy in many countries of the world.
Dozens of charities and foundations operate in the UAE, helping people in need in different countries of the world, especially in times of crisis and emergency. The most prominent of these charities are the Emirates Charitable Gate, the UAE Red Crescent, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Affairs and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.
Dubai-based charities are: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global initiatives, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s foundations, Al Maktoum Charitable Organization, Zakat Fund, Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai, Dar Al Ber Association, Beit Al Khair Association, Emirates Foundation and Sharjah Charitable Association.
In addition to the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, the International Charity Organization – Ajman, the Ras al-Khaimah Charitable Society, the Ihsan Charitable Association in Ajman, the Sheik Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research in Ras al-Khaimah, the UAE Suqia, and the Volunteering Platform.
The United Arab Emirates develops a regulatory and legislative framework for contributing to charitable work through means such as volunteering, donating and paying zakat. Those who wish to contribute to charitable and humanitarian work in the United Arab Emirates must resort to one of the established channels for charitable work.
UAE citizens can apply to establish a charitable foundation through the website of the Ministry of Community Development. Residents can submit their applications to the Ministry only through their country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE. The Ministry considers the application and examines it before referring it to the Cabinet, which makes the final decision.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates clarifies the governmental bodies responsible for social and humanitarian action, namely the Ministry of Community Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, the General Authority for Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, the Zakat Fund, the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Action, the Community Contributions Authority, Sharjah Community Responsibility and the Sharjah Social Services Service.
UAE legal framework for charity work
Returning to the legal framework for charitable work, the law restricts fundraising to licensed and concerned entities in accordance with the rules and requirements for any entity wishing to collect or provide donations in the United Arab Emirates, including free zones. The law also aims to protect the activities of donations from the risks of exploitation in the financing of terrorism and illegal organizations.
Traditional or digital fundraising activities are limited to licensed entities, namely charities, federal, local and private bodies and institutions whose decrees or decisions allow the collection, receipt and submission of donations. No other entity may establish, organize or perform any act aimed at collecting donations except with the authorization of the competent authority.
According to WAM, raising funds from the public to help some humanitarian cases through any means of advertising, whether through social media or through websites, is a punishable crime under the law.
Non-profit organizations that want to raise funds in the UAE must first obtain a license from the Ministry of Community Development, or the competent local authority in each emirate, and fundraising must be done through a recognized charity or humanitarian organization in the UAE.
The applicant for approval to collect donations for the Charitable Society shall also indicate the purpose of the fund-raising, the names and identities of the fund-raisers, the beneficiary or parties, the means or means by which the contributions are to be collected, the locations in which they are to be collected, the duration of their collection and the period of their submission to the recipient or recipients, and the proportion of operational and administrative expenses to be charged to the Charitable Fund-Raising Association.
