UAE Red Crescent distributing aid in Aden, Yemen

Abu Dhabi: The UAE maintained its ranking as the world’s top development aid donor for the second consecutive year with Dh18.36 billion worth of development assistance in 2014, according to the final report released by the Development Assistance Committee at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The aid constitutes 1.26 per cent of the UAE’s gross national income.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation and Chairperson of the UAE Committee of Humanitarian Aid, said the UAE’s first rank as the world’s top development assistance donor is yet another evidence of the country’s commitment to its global humanitarian message.

It also bolsters its principles and its endeavour to establish the country as a humanitarian capital and a relief hub to help and support brotherly and friendly countries, she said.

This achievement is a testament of the sound and humanitarian policies adopted by the wise leadership as laid by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and continued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the follow up of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The following table ranks countries’ development assistance as a percentage of their gross national income.

Rank of countries (amount in millions):

1. UAE                   $5,080.37

2. Sweden              $6,232.72

3. Luxembourg        $423.22

4. Norway               $5,085.94

5. Denmark             $3,003.27

6. United Kingdom $19,305.7

7. The Netherlands  $5,572.97

8. Finland               $1,634.57