UAE Aid Agency commits US$3 million to support Afghan returnees
A significant humanitarian cooperation agreement will provide climate-resilient housing for nearly 3,000 people across Afghanistan, reflecting the Emirates' broader commitment to sustainable recovery in crisis-affected regions.
The UAE Aid Agency has undertaken a substantial commitment to the reintegration and protection of those returning to Afghanistan, signing a US$3 million cooperation agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The initiative will deliver permanent, climate-resilient housing for 2,950 people across the provinces of Kabul, Herat and Kunduz, with particular attention to the needs of women and children.
The agreement emerged from the agency’s participation in AIDEX 2026, the humanitarian aid and disaster relief exhibition and conference held in Geneva in late October. At its dedicated pavilion, the UAE presented its distinctive approach to foreign assistance, showcasing the breadth of its humanitarian programmes. Among these, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in the Gaza Strip continues to provide essential relief, whilst the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women advances economic and social empowerment across displaced communities.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, articulated the Emirates’ vision for humanitarian engagement. He emphasised the necessity of deepening international partnerships, developing innovative financing structures, and investing in sustainable solutions that strengthen communities’ capacity to withstand and recover from crises. This commitment reflects an understanding that lasting recovery requires more than immediate assistance; it demands the building of resilience and self-sufficiency.
Beyond the formal agreement, the agency engaged in substantive bilateral discussions with leading international bodies including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. These conversations centred on expanding cooperation, enhancing crisis response, and exploring how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies might forecast disasters and mitigate their impact.
A particular focus emerged through a roundtable discussion organised jointly with UNHCR, titled Housing Solutions After Displacement: From Temporary Shelter to Recovery and Integration. Participants explored the essential transition from temporary shelter assistance to sustainable housing solutions, recognising that true recovery requires stable foundations and the partnership of both private sector actors and committed donors.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
The UAE’s sustained engagement in humanitarian response, as demonstrated through this Afghan housing initiative and broader partnerships forged at AIDEX, reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a centre of compassionate global leadership. The commitment to climate-resilient housing reflects the Emirates’ understanding that humanitarian aid must address both immediate need and the longer-term environmental challenges facing vulnerable communities.
This initiative exemplifies the strategic approach the UAE has developed towards international cooperation, where pledges translate into concrete projects that improve lives across crisis-affected regions. The partnerships formed at AIDEX, from discussions with the ICRC and WHO to collaborations advancing innovative disaster risk reduction, strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position within the international humanitarian architecture and its ability to drive meaningful, sustainable change.
Source: WAM