Page 250 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
250
Foreign Aid Report 2022

Bilateral and Multilateral ODA

In 2022, the landscape of the United Arab to addressing fundamental challenges and driving
Emirates’ Official Development Assistance sustainable change in beneficiary countries.
(ODA) reflected an emphasis towards bilateral
contributions. While a portion of its ODA In terms of a broader support to and through the
went towards supporting the core budgets of multilateral system, in 2022, the UAE provided
international organizations, including that of AED 678.0 million (USD 184.6 million) of gross
the United Nations (UN), this multilateral ODA ODA to the multilateral system, or 10% of the total
constituted a mere 3% of the total. In stark ODA disbursements. Of this, AED 176.5 million
contrast, the overwhelming majority, a substantial (USD 48.1 million) was core multilateral ODA.
AED 6.31 billion (equivalent to USD 1.72 billion), Non-core ODA contributions, or those earmarked
was channeled bilaterally. for a specific country, region, theme or purpose
reached 501.5 million (USD 136.5 million).
This total bilateral ODA highlights the UAE’s
strategic approach in fostering direct relationships More than half (56%) of the UAE’s total
with beneficiary nations and entities. These contributions to multilateral organizations in 2022
bilateral funds encompassed a broad spectrum of was allocated to the United Nations (UN) system.
initiatives and beneficiaries, ranging from direct Of the AED 381.0 (USD 103.7 million) to the UN
support to governments and technical assistance system, the top three UN recipients of the UAE’s
to projects spearheaded by UAE’s own donor support were the World Food Programme (WFP)
institutions. It further embraced contributions to with AED 237.8 million (USD 64.7 million), World
non-governmental organizations and civil society Health Organization (WHO) with AED 50.4 million
groups. (USD 13.7 million), and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with AED
More than half (55%) of the UAE’s bilateral ODA 30.0 million (USD 8.2 million).
was provided to the public sector. AED 501.5
million (USD 136.5 million), or 8% of gross
bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral
organizations, including the United Nations (UN).
Technical cooperation made up 3% of the UAE’s
gross ODA in 2022. Meanwhile, national NGOs
and civil society organizations received AED
106.0 million (USD 28.9 million) in gross ODA
from the UAE.

A deeper dive into the UAE’s bilateral ODA in 2022
unveils a focus on key sectors, underscoring the
nation’s priorities in global assistance. Primary
sectors benefitting from these disbursements
included general budget support, health,
commodity aid, and food aid. By targeting these
crucial areas, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment