The Ministry of Community Empowerment launches the “Empowerment Fund for Public Benefit Institutions” worth 100 million dirhams

The Ministry of Community Empowerment launched the “Public Benefit Institutions Empowerment Fund” worth 100 million dirhams, as part of a national trend aimed at empowering public benefit institutions and enhancing their role as an active partner in supporting society and contributing to achieving national priorities.

The Fund provides two types of financing to public benefit institutions according to the institution’s stage of development. Funding for the founding stage provides support of up to 500 thousand dirhams for newly established institutions, with the aim of building their operational capabilities and establishing the foundations of their work, while expansion financing provides support of up to 5 million dirhams for existing institutions to enable them to expand their programs and maximize their impact.

The launch of the fund comes within the framework of activating the system of volunteer work and community participation approved by the Council of Ministers, which reflects the keenness of the wise leadership to develop the public benefit sector and enhance its contribution to the prosperity of society.

This came during the media meeting organized by the Ministry at Dubai Future Accelerators in the Emirates Towers building, in the presence of Minister of Community Empowerment Shamma Al Mazrouei, Minister of Family Sanaa Suhail, Head of the UAE Government Media Office Saeed Al Eter, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai Hessa bint Issa Buhumaid via video call, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Empowerment Aisha Yousef, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Benefit Institutions Sector Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, and Director General of the Community Contributions Authority “Together” Abdullah Humaid. Al Ameri, the CEO of the Emirates Foundation, Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, and the CEO of the Board of Directors of the Chalhoub Group, Patrick Chalhoub, along with a number of ministry leaders, officials, and members of public benefit institutions.

Minister of Community Empowerment, Shamma Al Mazrouei, said that the Public Benefit Institutions Empowerment Fund embodies the vision of the wise leadership to enhance community resilience and consolidate the values ​​of cohesion and solidarity that characterize the UAE, noting that public benefit institutions play a pivotal role in establishing community cohesion and supporting national priorities, and that the Fund comes to enable them to expand the scope of their impact and maximize their contribution to building a more cohesive society and the ability to face challenges.

In its first phase, the Public Benefit Institutions Support Fund focuses specifically on supporting initiatives that contribute to enhancing stability and community cohesion, providing targeted qualitative support to individuals and families, and doubling societal impact in line with national priorities.

The scope of support includes a number of priority strategic sectors, including education, health and quality of life, community development, support for individuals and families, empowerment of public benefit institutions and volunteer work, environment and animal welfare.

The applications received by the Fund are subject to a clear evaluation mechanism supervised by a specialized committee in the Ministry, according to criteria that include institutional efficiency, expected impact, and financial feasibility. Entities selected on the final short list are also invited to submit their offers before the committee.

The Ministry also called on all public benefit institutions registered in the country to apply to benefit from the opportunities provided by the Fund, which represents a strategic platform to enhance the role of the public benefit sector in advancing community development. The window for submitting support requests is open until May 31, 2026, where eligible entities can submit their applications through the digital platform designated for the Fund.