According to Khaleej Times, a recent poll conducted by Gallup, revealed that 52% of UAE residents donated money to charity in 2024, surpassing the global average of 33%. This finding highlights the remarkable generosity of individuals living in the UAE, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, a time known for charitable giving. Residents are encouraged to donate through registered charity groups to ensure that their contributions are utilized for the intended humanitarian purposes

Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently launched the Fathers’ Endowment campaign. This initiative is designed to honor fathers by allowing donations to be made in their name, while also promoting values such as compassion and solidarity. It aims to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in charitable and humanitarian efforts, further establishing the importance of charitable endowments.

The Gallup data also indicated that 60% of UAE residents helped a stranger or someone they didn’t know in the past year, which is higher than the global average. However, this number reflects a decline compared to previous years. As the UAE’s population has grown, largely due to an influx of new expats, the trend of helping strangers has seen a decrease. In 2024, 56% of adults worldwide reported assisting a stranger, marking a six-percentage-point drop from the previous year.

Moreover, 37% of UAE residents volunteered their time to an organization last year, significantly higher than the global average of 26%. Gallup noted that while there has been a decline in charitable giving worldwide in 2024, overall levels of generosity remain higher than they were a decade ago, indicating a long-term trend towards increased global philanthropy.