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The UAE has unveiled an ambitious new initiative designed to expand its volunteer base to 600,000 people, strengthen the nonprofit sector, and embed giving as a core national value.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of the UAE Volunteering and Community Engagement Ecosystem on Wednesday, October 29. The comprehensive national strategy aims to reinforce the impact of volunteerism, empower nonprofit organisations, and enhance their contribution to sustainable development.
“From Qasr Al Watan, we launched the UAE Volunteering and Community Engagement Ecosystem a national initiative that includes a comprehensive strategy to grow the country’s volunteer base to 600,000. It also introduces a unified digital platform and supports the third sector and public benefit organisations,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
He added that the initiative includes a Dh100 million fund and seeks to increase the number of nonprofit organisations by 30 percent through a single services portal, community project incubators, and leadership programmes.
“The UAE is a country of progress and prosperity, but also of generosity and compassion. It builds with one hand and gives with the other,” Sheikh Mohammed said, thanking the team led by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed for developing the strategy.
Supported by the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council, the ecosystem reflects the UAE’s commitment to fostering social responsibility and advancing the role of the nonprofit sector as a key pillar of sustainable development.
Under the Ministry of Community Empowerment, the initiative features eight strategic programmes across two tracks: promoting volunteer culture and empowering nonprofit entities.
Among the highlights is Volunteers.ae 2.0, a redesigned digital hub that connects individuals with volunteering opportunities nationwide. The upgraded platform aims to make volunteering more accessible, effective, and impactful.
Other notable projects include 7 Over 7, a national campaign encouraging skill-based volunteering across the seven emirates, and Your Time Counts, which integrates volunteering into the federal government workforce through the performance management system.
To support nonprofit organisations, the initiative introduces a One Stop Shop digital services platform, a Dh100 million Empowerment Fund, and the Nonprofit Sector Launchpad, designed to help transform community-focused ideas into licensed entities. Additionally, the Plug-in for Leadership Programmes will prepare future leaders to guide the nonprofit sector in alignment with national development goals.
The overarching targets for the next five years include positioning the UAE among the world’s top three nations in the World Giving Index, doubling the nonprofit sector’s contribution to GDP, creating 10,000 new jobs, and increasing licensed nonprofit organisations by 30 percent.
Ultimately, the UAE’s new volunteering ecosystem aims to cultivate a culture of giving, cooperation, and shared purpose solidifying the nation’s global reputation as a leader in humanitarian and community-driven progress.
