What is Zayed Humanitarian Day?


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Zayed Humanitarian Day falls on Wednesday. It is marked each year on Ramadan 19, the date UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died in 2004.

The annual event celebrates Sheikh Zayed's humanitarian legacy. It is also an occasion to announce the launch of humanitarian and charitable programmes through official community events in the Emirates.

Since the death of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE has celebrated Zayed Humanitarian Day to commemorate his legacy and continue his journey of giving.

Sheikh Zayed was a symbol of giving and provided aid to needy people around the world. The Abu Dhabi Development Fund was established in 1971, while the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation was founded in 1992.

Under Sheikh Zayed, from 1971 to 2004, UAE aid was distributed to 117 countries, which amounted to about Dh90.5 billion, state news agency Wam reported. The Founding Father received awards and recognition from many countries for his humanitarian achievements.

What are the priorities on Zayed Humanitarian Day?

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Zayed Humanitarian Day focuses on these areas:

  • Create humanitarian initiatives, following in the footsteps of the Founding Father
  • Organise charity events and activities sponsored by the UAE government and communal institutions
  • Preserve and revive the humanitarian legacy of the Founding Father
  • Emphasise the importance of humanitarian works in the development of human societies
  • Strive to alleviate suffering
  • Extend humanitarian work at local, regional, and international levels
  • Uphold the position of the UAE in the field of humanitarian work
  • Encourage creative contributions in the field of humanitarian work
  • Inspire and incentivise individuals and government and non-government entities to take part in humanitarian projects and initiatives
  • Maintain the UAE’s leading position among international donor countries, according to the Economic Co-operation and Development’s 2017 report
  • Promote and enhance the role of the UAE’s multiple humanitarian organisations, such as Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Al Maktoum Foundation, Dubai Cares, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and many others

Last year, President Sheikh Mohamed announced the launch of a Dh20 billion ($5.44 billion) initiative to support humanitarian projects around the world. The Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Initiative seeks to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable communities.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday also shared news of his initiative’s humanitarian efforts.

Writing on X, he said he led a meeting of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation to review the results of the previous year. It showed that total expenditure amounted to Dh2.2 billion ($599 million) across the relief, health, education and community sectors.

The number of beneficiaries reached 149 million people in 118 countries, he added, noting that 170,000 volunteers supported the foundation.

Memories of the UAE Founding Father – in pictures

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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: March 19, 2025, 10:48 AM`