The UAE was elected as a member of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme

The United Arab Emirates was elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Program for the period 2026-2028, with an unprecedented escalation in global food security challenges, the continued near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting risks that could push tens of millions into acute hunger.

The UAE’s election to membership in the Executive Board of the World Food Program reflects its pivotal role in the global humanitarian work system.

Dubai is home to the United Nations’ largest humanitarian logistics center, located within the vicinity of Jebel Ali Port, and the global supply chain support center, which allows humanitarian aid to be redirected when sea lanes are disrupted.

The country also took the initiative to activate land corridors and launch an international air bridge that contributed to the delivery of vital supplies to more than 100 countries during the “Covid-19” pandemic.

In a related context, the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai continues to activate alternative land, sea and air corridors to ensure the delivery of life-saving aid to affected populations in Asia and Africa, amid delays that impede the arrival of tens of thousands of tons of aid.

The UAE’s accession to the Executive Council of the World Food Program represents a transition from the role of the main donor to the role of an effective strategic partner, embodying its vision towards a world free of hunger, linking humanitarian response with sustainable development, and building more resilient food systems.

The Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohammed Abu Shehab, said: “Our membership in this Council enhances the UAE’s role in drawing up the strategic directions of the World Food Programme, and through it we will work to make innovation, logistical efficiency, and building more resilient food systems at the core of the international response, today and in the future.”

The UAE’s accession to the Executive Council comes at a very important time, as the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has declined – due to Iran’s treacherous attacks on countries in the region and its increasing threats to the security of international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz – by more than 90% since February 28, 2026.

The Strait is considered one of the global strategic corridors, and through it passes about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, one-third of the fertilizer trade, 25% of natural gas, 20% of the world’s oil, and 70% of the world’s needs for petrochemicals originating from the Gulf countries. Likewise, 33% of the world’s fertilizers are exported from the Gulf countries, which makes any threat to the Strait directly affect global food security. Unlawful attacks on civilian ships and obstruction of an international waterway constitute a clear violation of international law.

The United Nations has warned that the continuation of the current conditions may push an additional 45 million people into the clutches of acute hunger, in addition to the possibility of an additional four million people in the Arab world sliding into poverty.

The UAE stresses its commitment to participate in all relevant multilateral forums, to confront the illegal actions carried out by Iran, with its readiness to join any international initiative to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and keep it open, as the UAE believes that protecting freedom of navigation is a collective responsibility, to ensure the stability of the global economy and prevent the escalation of crises, and to ensure that food reaches those in need, before the global food security crisis worsens as a result of the disruption of supply chains and the decline in production.

The UAE asserts that using sea lanes as a pressure card or tool for economic blackmail represents economic war, piracy, and unacceptable behavior that goes beyond the borders of the region to threaten the stability of the global economy and supply chains.

Iran bears the full consequences of obstructing the Strait of Hormuz during its brutal terrorist attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and sister and friendly countries, during which it targeted civilians and infrastructure and threatened international sea lanes, which represents a blatant violation of international law that cannot be justified or tolerated.

As a member of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, the UAE will lead efforts to ensure that food reaches those who need it most, regardless of the challenges facing global supply chains or threats to food security.

In a related context, the UAE was elected, for the second time in a row, on April 8, 2026, to membership in the Executive Council of UN Women for the period 2026-2028, in a step that reflects its commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls everywhere. The UAE was also elected, along with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India and China, to membership in the Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations for the period 2027-2030.

Muhammad Abu Shehab:

• Through membership, the UAE will work to put innovation, logistical efficiency and building more resilient food systems at the heart of the international response, today and in the future.

• Our membership in the Executive Council of the World Food Program enhances the UAE’s role in shaping the strategic directions of the World Food Programme.

• Dubai is home to the United Nations’ largest humanitarian logistics center and the Global Supply Chain Support Center, which allows humanitarian aid to be redirected when sea lanes are disrupted.