Emirates Foundation

The Emirates Foundation was set up by the Government Abu Dhabi to facilitate public-private funded initiatives to improve the welfare of youth across the UAE. It oversees a range of programmes, from community volunteering, financial literacy training and youth science forums, to an online job portal to help young Emiratis into work.

Related sustainable development goals

  • No Poverty
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Partnerships for the Goals

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Education
    • Education services
      • Computer literacy
      • College preparation
    • Vocational education
  • Humanitarian
    • Youth development
      • Community service for youth
      • Youth services
      • Youth mentoring
      • Civics for youth
  • Legal and courts
    • Abuse prevention
  • Philanthropy
    • Venture philanthropy
    • Voluntarism
  • Public affairs
    • Leadership development
  • Science
    • Technology
    • Engineering
    • Mathematics
    • Biology

Focus populations

  • Adolescents
  • Emergency responders
  • Low-income people
  • Students
  • Unemployed people
  • Young adults

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • United Arab Emirates

Programmes

  • Dawamee
    Helping UAE nationals connect to remote and part-time job opportunites with a focus on low income individuals and people living with disabilities.
  • Esref Sah
    A fiancial literacy programme to educate young people about better money management through training, workshops and volunteering.
  • Kafa’at
    Helping young Emiratis become "job ready" through skills developmemt, coaching, and mentoring. Participants are also connected to local private sector companies.
  • Mental Health support line
    A free telephone and digital support service for young people with mental health challenges.
  • Sanid
    The National Emergency Response Volunteer Programme for the UAE offering training on basic safety and emergency preparednes, deploying emergency response volunteers to support local and overseas crises and disasters.
  • Takatof (UAE Volunteers)
    A social initiative linking volunteers to organisations / facilities needing volunteers across the UAE. Opportunities range from delivering food and helping out in schools, to marshalling at mosques
  • Think Science
    A programme hosting a regional science fair to inspire, educate, and connect future scientists.

Financials

Funding model

  • Foundation-administered programme awards
  • Grants to Individuals
  • Grants to organisations
  • Programme related investment
  • Volunteering

Operations

Key staff

  • CEO, Ahmed Al Shamsi

Board members

  • Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair, Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair
  • Frauke Heard-Bey, Frauke Heard-Bey
  • Mohamed Hamed Ghanim Al Mehairi, Mohamed Hamed Ghanim Al Mehairi
  • Mohammed Ali Rashed Al Abbar, Mohammed Ali Rashed Al Abbar
  • Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi
  • Muna Al Gurg, Muna Al Gurg
  • Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy
  • Reem Yuosif Al Shemari, Reem Yuosif Al Shemari
  • Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazroui, Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazroui
  • Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair
  • Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan
  • Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed Al Nahyan

Contact details