Continuing its dynamism and being a catalyst for social endeavours, Dubai will now extend its Golden Visa to pioneers involved with humanitarian services. The long-term residency visa programme was introduced by the UAE in 2019, allowing foreigners to live, work and study in the country for a renewable period of up to 10 years without the need of a local or corporate sponsor.

The announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, came in appreciation of humanitarian workers and to remember their services and sacrifices as the Arab world’s second-largest economy observed World Humanitarian Day.

“Having always paid tribute to hope makers, the UAE extends its commitment to global cooperation to include the humanitarian sector’s pioneers, groups, specialists and workers — for Golden Visas — so that the UAE can become a second home to these individuals”

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

The day is observed on August 19 in memory of the 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Iraq’s capital city Baghdad that killed 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the UN General Assembly formalised the day as World Humanitarian Day.

Sheikh Mohammed remarked: “Aid workers are ambassadors of the UAE and role models instilling pride in us all. Giving is embedded in the fabric of Emirati society and culture, and we aspire to be the most vibrant humanitarian destination in the next 50 years. The UAE has always led impactful humanitarian initiatives and empowered those implementing them. In the year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, we aspire to become a world leader of humanitarian efforts in the next five decades.

“Having always paid tribute to hope makers, the UAE extends its commitment to global cooperation to include the humanitarian sector’s pioneers, groups, specialists and workers – for Golden Visas – so that the UAE can become a second home to these individuals.”

Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City, a non-profit, non-political and non-religious free zone set up by Dubai in 2003, says it will help further consolidate the city-state’s global position in charitable and humanitarian aid world.

Demand for humanitarian aid is now at its highest level worldwide since World War II. The UAE is an economic and humanitarian hub, Sheikh Mohammed said. This year’s theme for World Humanitarian Day is ‘Race for Humanity‘ and ‘Supporting the Real Heroes’.

The UN had called upon the international community to support workers in the relief and humanitarian domains by providing them with a safe and supportive environment as there will be 235 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection by the end of this year, with one person in every 33 around the world needing humanitarian assistance.

In service of humanity, UAE leads the way

· Dubai set up Dubai International Humanitarian City (IHC) in 2011 as an example of its efforts to lead humanitarian causes. The largest humanitarian destination in the world, IHC hosts over 80 members comprising UN organisations, non-profits and non-government organisations, and commercial companies.

· The UAE has been supporting communities and countries across the globe through development projects and humanitarian response to disasters and crises, to sustain stability and prosperity in collaboration with regional and international partners and UN agencies working in the humanitarian and development fields.

· The UAE is the world’s largest donor of foreign aid to the world with its total spending touching Dh320 billion across 201 countries since 1971.

· Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, the country had sent out 2,154 metric tonnes of medical aid, respiratory and examination devices and personal protection equipment, along with aid to 117 countries from the warehouses of the international organisations in the IHC.

· The UAE was named the world’s largest humanitarian donor in January 2015 in a report by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Of 137 countries, UAE stood out at the top.

· Since 2014, the UAE government has been the world’s top humanitarian aid donor by GDP, according to the OECD Development Assistance Committee.

· The country provided 1.34 per cent of its GNI as overseas development assistance, exceeding the UN target of 0.7 per cent for donor countries.

Dubai’s International Humanitarian City

· The IHC relocated from Business Bay in 2012 to its current location near the Al Maktoum International Airport and close to Jebel Ali Port to double its space to store supplies in warehouses.

· Besides subsidised space, IHC offers benefits like reduced paperwork in working with the UAE government agencies and preferential rates for airlines and hotels, among other cost reductions for personnel.

· In January 2017, Dubai commissioned works to triple the size of IHC to streamline and strengthen operations to support aid agencies.

· Upon completion, the IHC is now stretched a further 300,000 square feet, totalling 404,000 square feet.

· The IHC strategy is to make it a leading organiser, facilitator and host of annual regional and world humanitarian events.

Humanitarian aid workers

· In 2008, ALNAP, a network of humanitarian agencies put the total number of humanitarian aid workers around the world at 210,800, with roughly 50 per cent from NGOs, 25 per cent from the Red Cross/ Red Crescent and 25 per cent from the UN system.

· In 2010, the humanitarian fieldworker population increased by 6 per cent a year over the previous 10 years.

UAE’s Golden Visa

The Golden Visa system is long-term residence visas, of five to 10 years duration, and is automatically renewed for people who fall into any of certain categories including investors, doctors, entrepreneurs, scientists, creators, inventors, researchers in various branches of science, technology and innovation, and outstanding students.