Page 94 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
94
Foreign Aid Report 2022

The substantial support provided to Asia in the
form of UAE foreign assistance was primarily
driven by extensive programmes in Western
Asia during 2022. The projects in this region,
amounting to AED 4.11 billion (USD 1.12
billion), accounted for a significant 78% of the
total UAE aid directed to Asia in 2022. Jordan
and Yemen emerged as the most supported
countries.

A notable portion of the aid was also channelled
towards Southern Asia, with disbursements
reaching AED 765.6 million (USD 208.4
million). A significant portion of this funding,
48%, was directed towards Pakistan. Moreover,
the Maldives, classified as a Small Island
Developing State (SIDS), received 21% of the
total funding for this region.

In Central Asia, Uzbekistan emerged as the
main beneficiary with 41% of the region’s
AED 231.1 million (USD 62.9 million) in foreign
assistance funding. In South-Eastern Asia, with
disbursements reaching AED 167.6 million
(USD 45.6 million), Indonesia topped the list of
recipients, receiving over half of the region’s
allocations for 2022.

In terms of supported sectors of assistance,
general budget support formed a significant
part of the UAE’s bilateral aid to Asia, making
up 44% of the assistance. The construction of
low-cost housing was the second-largest aid
focus. Further, sectors such as social welfare
services, COVID-19 control, and emergency
health also received substantial support from
the UAE.