The United Arab Emirates has launched a new national plan to expand volunteering and community work. The “Volunteering and Community Engagement Ecosystem” aims to promote the UAE spirit of giving and empower nonprofit organizations. It focuses on making volunteering easier, more effective, and accessible to everyone.
Announced at Qasr Al Watan, the initiative sets a target of 600,000 active volunteers. It also introduces a unified digital platform to connect individuals with nonprofit groups. In addition, a 100 million dirham fund will support community projects and nonprofit development across the country.
The goal is to make volunteering part of daily life and strengthen community values. The UAE spirit of giving continues to inspire generosity, cooperation, and national unity.
The initiative operates under the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council. It reflects the council’s mission to build strong social capital and promote collaboration. The plan includes eight strategic programs managed by the Ministry of Community Empowerment. These programs focus on promoting volunteer culture and supporting nonprofit organizations.
One of the main programs is the National Volunteering Strategy. It provides a clear framework for developing volunteering into a lasting national value. The strategy updates policies and laws to support both specialized and general volunteering. It also encourages every resident, student, and professional to take part in community work.
The new ecosystem features Volunteers.ae 2.0, a digital hub for volunteers across the UAE. The platform matches people’s skills with available opportunities and makes volunteering more organized. Another initiative, 7 Over 7, promotes skill-based volunteering across all seven Emirates.
Your Time Counts is another key program. It encourages federal employees to volunteer and links their contributions to performance goals. This step ensures that volunteering becomes a recognized part of public service.
The nonprofit sector will also see major benefits. The One Stop Shop will simplify licensing, while a 100M AED Fund will support sustainable initiatives. The Nonprofit Sector Launchpad will nurture new ideas. In addition, the Plug-in for Leadership Programs will train future leaders in nonprofit management.
These projects aim to double the sector’s contribution to GDP and create 10,000 jobs. They will also raise the number of registered nonprofit organizations by 30 percent. The UAE spirit of giving will remain central to all these efforts, shaping a stronger and more connected society.
