A UAE newspaper has said that the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue has praised the UAE’s leadership and international excellence in charitable aid work, based on an index of the level of international giving of charity associations, issued in 2016, which reviewed the charity activities of 140 countries.

"Marking the annual International Day of Charity on 5th September, the centre highlighted that the UAE has provided Yemen with humanitarian and development aid [valued at] over US$2 billion between 2015 and 2017, and the Palestinian people with over $200 million, with part of this amount being donated through charity work," said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Thursday.

"The father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan once said, 'Foreign aid and assistance is one of the basic pillars of our foreign policy. For we believe that there is no true benefit for us from the wealth that we have unless it also reaches those in need, wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality or beliefs.' "The leadership well deserves the accolade as to this day the nation has meticulously retained the admirable spirit of benevolence advocated by Sheikh Zayed, winning hearts across the globe. Development aid in 2014 alone amounted to as much as $4.9 billion.

"According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, the UAE became the world’s largest donor of Official Development Assistance, ODA, in 2013 and held that distinction for a second consecutive year in 2014.

"The UAE jumped from the 19th position in 2012 to top the OECD’s largest donors in 2013 in terms of ODA as a share of Gross National Income. In 2013, the UAE’s official development assistance amounted to $5.2 billion, in addition to resources used to support other aid projects.

"As pointed out by Dr. Hanif Hassan Al Qassim, Chairman of the Board of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, extreme poverty remains one of the major challenges facing the world. Over 767 million people around the world are said to be suffering from extreme poverty.

"The fundamental purpose of the UAE aid has always been to reduce poverty and help those in need. It is heartening that the country has continued to remain a crucial global donor to this day.

"With continued support for the underprivileged everywhere, the UAE foreign aid certainly represents a global model to follow in terms of humanitarian and development work," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.