Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has launched a national initiative to expand volunteering and strengthen the non-profit sector in the UAE, aiming to create 10,000 jobs and boost civic engagement.
The Volunteering and Community Engagement Ecosystem, announced at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, seeks to grow the country’s volunteer base to 600,000 people and increase the number of nonprofit organizations by 30 percent. A Dh100 million fund will support the effort, the UAE Government Media Office said.
“Our aim is to make volunteering easier, strengthen community participation and embed giving as part of our national identity”, Sheikh Mohammed said.
He added that the UAE’s progress is driven by “economy and co-operation and giving and solidarity".
The initiative is overseen by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs. It also aims to raise the UAE’s position in the World Giving Index from ninth to the top three and double the contribution of nonprofit organizations to society.
Key programs include the National Volunteering Strategy, which will establish a unified framework for voluntary work and develop new legislation to expand opportunities.
The updated Volunteers.ae 2.0 platform will match volunteers with roles that fit their skills and simplify participation. The 7 Over 7 campaign will promote skill-based volunteering across all seven emirates, while the Your Time Counts initiative will encourage federal government employees to volunteer, linking participation to performance systems.
Officials said the initiative seeks to embed a lasting culture of giving and social responsibility across the Emirates.