Dubai concluded the 21st edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) with record participation and a clear message: the UAE is shaping a new model that fuses humanitarian aid with industrial growth.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DIHAD 2025 drew over 18,000 participants from more than 160 countries. The event featured 1,063 humanitarian-focused organisations and 131 global experts, highlighting the UAE’s growing role in global relief efforts.
The Humanthropy 2025 Awards honoured key contributors across 12 categories. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director-General of Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, received the Humanthropy Personality of the Year Award. Other notable recipients included the UNHCR, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the Big Heart Foundation, and the Egyptian Food Bank.
A landmark agreement between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment and Al Jalila Foundation was also signed, boosting support for the Nabadat Campaign—an initiative offering life-saving heart treatments for children.
As humanitarian needs grow worldwide, the UAE is positioning its industrial sector as a critical force for sustainable development. Through Operation 300bn, the country aims to boost the sector’s GDP contribution to AED 300 billion by 2031, promoting local production to support relief efforts and strengthen supply chains.
Amb. Dr. Abdulsalam Al Madani, Chairman of DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Organisation, said aligning local manufacturing with humanitarian demand will open new markets, create jobs, and reinforce the UAE’s role as a global humanitarian hub.
This year’s DIHAD not only recognised humanitarian excellence but also showcased a forward-thinking strategy that ties industrial resilience to global aid delivery.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
