Dubai Cares, the UAE-based philanthropic organisation formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC), has concluded 2024 with remarkable milestones in global education and humanitarian support.
Over the past year, Dubai Cares has expanded its reach, impacting millions of lives across 60 developing countries. Established in 2007, the organisation has consistently driven forward its mission of providing children and youth in developing countries with access to quality education, and 2024 marked another year of outstanding success in this endeavour.
Through its portfolio of 260 programs, 48 advocacy initiatives, and 40 research programs, Dubai Cares has reached over 116 million direct and indirect beneficiaries worldwide. With a firm commitment to improving education, health, and well-being, the organisation has spearheaded initiatives in deworming, school feeding, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools, as well as youth skills development and teacher training. The past year also saw a deepened focus on climate change education, with the release of the “Rewiring Education: The Climate-Education Nexus” report.
Reflecting on Dubai Cares' achievements, Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, expressed deep gratitude to the UAE community for their unwavering support. "This year, Dubai Cares saw remarkable growth, expanding our global reach and deepening our impact both locally and internationally. We came together to respond to crises in Gaza and Lebanon, launched transformative initiatives like Volunteer Emirates and Students for Students, and saw record volunteer participation. These collective efforts have provided vital aid, improved access to quality education, and brought hope to many children and families. Our progress this year underscores our commitment to building a better future, and we are excited to continue this journey."
A historic year for volunteerism
It was a record-breaking year for volunteer engagement, with over 9,700 volunteers mobilised to support both education and humanitarian projects. This surge in volunteerism underscores the increasing commitment of the UAE community to transformative causes, and highlights Dubai Cares' ability to harness collective power to address global challenges.
A standout initiative was the “Volunteer Emirates – Back to School” campaign, where volunteers packed essential school kits for children in need across the UAE. The success of this initiative reflects the strong sense of community within the UAE, as volunteers united to ensure children from low-income families had the necessary supplies to succeed academically.
Emergency relief to Gaza and Lebanon
Dubai Cares also showcased its role as a humanitarian leader by spearheading two critical crisis-response campaigns in 2024. The "Gaza In Our Hearts" campaign, launched during Ramadan, mobilised the UAE community in an overwhelming show of support for Palestinian families affected by the ongoing conflict. Through this campaign, Dubai Cares raised Dh15.65 million (USD 4.26 million) and provided 253,984 hot meals and 37,813 food baskets to families in Gaza.
In response to the crisis in Lebanon, Dubai Cares partnered with the "UAE stands with Lebanon" initiative, raising Dh39 million (USD 10.61 million) to provide emergency aid to displaced Lebanese families. This fundraising drive included contributions from individuals, businesses, and prominent figures, including a concert by Lebanese artist Majida El Roumi. The initiative continued to provide much-needed relief, including food, hygiene kits, shelter, and educational support.
Volunteerism played a central role in both of these initiatives. In October, Dubai Cares hosted volunteer events in Expo City Dubai, where over 6,000 volunteers helped assemble critical aid packages. These efforts contributed to a total of 450 tonnes of essential supplies sent to Lebanon, demonstrating the UAE community’s dedication to supporting those in need.
“Taste of Giving”
Dubai Cares introduced several new initiatives in 2024, with one of the most unique being the "Taste of Giving" campaign. This initiative engaged nearly 50 restaurants and food and beverage brands, where portions of proceeds from dining experiences and product sales were directed toward Dubai Cares’ educational programs. This campaign creatively combined community engagement with fundraising, offering the UAE’s vibrant dining scene a platform to support a noble cause.
Global partnerships
Dubai Cares also formed significant partnerships with both private and public entities. HRE Development, through its Dh30 million commitment, integrated charitable giving into homeownership by directing contributions from apartment sales to support education for underprivileged children. Similarly, UAE-based fashion brand The Giving Movement raised Dh5.1 million by donating a portion of each sale to Dubai Cares’ Gaza program, demonstrating the innovative ways that corporate philanthropy can drive global change.
Rewiring education
In a significant move towards sustainability, Dubai Cares released the “Rewiring Education: The Climate-Education Nexus” report. Presented at the RewirEd Summit during COP28, the report provides a set of actionable solutions to address the intersection of education and climate action, emphasising the importance of transforming global education systems to support sustainable development.
"Adopt" initiatives
Furthering its commitment to sustainable education, Dubai Cares launched its "Adopt a School" and "Adopt a Library" initiatives, which have seen substantial contributions to the construction and renovation of schools and libraries in underserved regions. In 2024, funds were raised to build eight new schools and libraries in rural areas across India, Malawi, Nepal, and Senegal, enabling children in these regions to access quality education and secure a brighter future.