No port, airport or territorial access would stop His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s acts of charity. His honest and sincere intentions are translated into noble goals and objectives represented in charitable actions, following his wise leadership, clear strategy and plans. 

The humanitarian achievements of His Highness, the Emirates Ruler in Al Dhafrah Region, and the head of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority is no mean feat. His Highness has worked tirelessly in eradicating hunger, providing clean water, clothing and treatment to people in need: bereaved, disabled, oppressed and orphans across the globe.

His Highness knows very well all the details of the above-mentioned humanitarian charity works as an architect who does cartography. Aside from being an architect, he also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business Administration at the United Arab Emirates University. He is responsible for planning, directing, providing and distributing massive humanitarian aid that enable beneficiaries to absorb it in a short time through a professional global administration represented by the Emirates Red Crescent Authority (RCA). The latter contributes and enhances the importance of the humanitarian relief aspect through collective support, and "Fazaa" for the conflict-affected, the distressed, the disaster victims and the refugees, through specialized centers and various programs for follow-up and evaluation. His Highness is very privy to information that the RCA requies for the intended recipients based on a huge database that is constantly updated with details such as inventory of supplies, number of people, current and expected events, affected areas and facilities, and good neighborliness for organized and systematic delivery, authorization, supply and approvals.

Hamdan bin Zayed

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s aid to those in most need, entities and countries who are most vulnerable is evident through the following acknowledgements.

In 2007, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf awarded the Pakistan’s Crescent medal to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan in appreciation and in gratitude for his role in strengthening brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE.

In 2008, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences announced that HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emirates RCA, has won the “Hamdan Bin Rashid Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services.” The trophy was granted for his great role in providing significant voluntary services that had effectively contributed to relieving the pain of a large number of people who were exposed to exceptional circumstances such as calamities, epidemics, hunger, wars, natural disasters, etc.

In 2008, the Arab Giving Forum decorated HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the “Arab Knight of Giving Award” in appreciation of his efforts in humanitarian giving at all levels, especially health care for people, environmental protection and volunteer work.

Two films: (1) a'tharuhum a'la althlj (“Their Traces in the Snow”), and (2) dam’a min ajl almatar (“Tears for Rain”) - produced by the RCA - won international awards in documentary film production.

In 2014, the RCA opened two offices in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to maintain constant contact with the humanitarian situation there, and to implement projects and programs that meet the needs of the Palestinian arena and keep pace with humanitarian developments on an ongoing basis.

Mawjat alassa ("The Wave of Sorrow") produced by the RCA won a number of awards at the 2015 New York International TV and Film Festival.

In 2018, His Highness was awarded the International Charity Prize during the Third Sheikh Zayed International Peace Conference, in recognition of his efforts as Chairman of the Emirates RCA.

The Emirates RCA honored the educational institutions that won the Aoun Award for Community Service in its sixth session for the academic year 2019-2020.

The RCA instructed to foster the orphans and care for the families of victims of the 2020 Beirut explosion.

Instructions to provide urgent humanitarian aid to those affected by the floods that swept a number of Sudanese states in 2020.

His efforts in developing, constructing, modifying and contributing to the enhancement of a quality and urban renaissance infrastructure in Al Dhafrah region is a noteworthy triumph.

During his time, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road- Al Mafraq - Al Ghuwaifat International Highway- made the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest international road (approximately 327 km long) lit by LED technology. Moreover, he put the United Arab Emirates on the world map after its football team qualified in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy. He also honored, in an unforgettable humanitarian initiative, an elite group of veteran Gulf footballer stars, recognizing their role in reviving the sports movement. 

In addition to his interest in domestic and Gulf political affairs, his relentless unforgettable efforts to resolve the issue of the three occupied UAE islands, namely: Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb and Abu Musa should not be understated.

His environmental achievements locally, regionally and internationally, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, and his active role in enriching the heritage movement, are also remarkable.

Meanwhile, there are no limits to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan's efforts on the humanitarian front, provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color or religious belief. Indeed, the accolades do not measure the more than the great respect that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan enjoys for his limitless efforts to provide relief, care, aid and shelter to those in need. His Highness is a wise and skillful leader. May Allah protect him always. All the best to him!