UAE Vice President Unveils Comprehensive Volunteering and Community Engagement Initiative

The UAE has launched a major volunteer and community engagement system aimed at building a network of 600,000 active volunteers and boosting public benefit organizations by 30%. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the initiative with a 100 million dirham fund to support community organizations and position the UAE among the world's top three countries for charitable giving.

The system includes eight strategic initiatives split across two main tracks. The first focuses on volunteer work, while the second aims to strengthen public benefit organizations. This launch coincides with the Year of Community and reflects national efforts to build stronger social bonds and expand volunteer activities.

"We want to enable volunteering, enhance community participation, and institutionalize good deeds in our country," Sheikh Mohammed said during the launch at Qasr Al Watan. "The UAE is a nation that builds with one hand and gives with the other."

The volunteer track introduces four key programs. The comprehensive national volunteering strategy creates a unified framework to embed volunteering as a core social value. A new digital platform called "UAE Volunteers 2.0" will match skills with available opportunities, making volunteer work more accessible and effective.

The "7 Volunteer Opportunities in 7 Emirates" initiative encourages specialized volunteering across all UAE emirates. Meanwhile, the "Blessing in Your Time" program targets federal government employees to promote volunteering within public sector workplaces.

For public benefit organizations, the system creates a unified digital gateway that consolidates services and procedures into one platform. The 100 million dirham support fund transforms traditional funding into sustainable national investment with measurable impact.

Public benefit accelerators will work as incubators, turning ideas into licensed and influential organizations. The system also includes a public benefit component in leadership programs to prepare a new generation of leaders who understand these organizations as strategic development partners.

The Ministry of Community Development will implement these initiatives alongside the Emirates Foundation, various government entities, public benefit organizations, and private sector partners.

The UAE has set ambitious five-year targets. The country wants to reach the top three globally in the World Giving Index and expand its volunteer base to 600,000 active participants contributing 15 million volunteer hours annually.

Economic goals include doubling the contribution of public benefit organizations to GDP and creating 10,000 new jobs within this sector. The number of licensed public benefit organizations should grow by 30%.

This initiative represents a significant shift in how the UAE approaches community development. By creating formal structures and substantial funding, the government is treating volunteer work and charitable organizations as essential infrastructure for national development, not just social activities.

The timing aligns with broader regional trends where Gulf nations are diversifying their economies and strengthening social cohesion. For the UAE, building a robust volunteer sector supports its vision of becoming a global hub not just for business and tourism, but also for social innovation and community engagement.