Dubai – Ministry of Community Empowerment – April 2025

The United Arab Emirates places strong emphasis on fostering a culture of volunteerism, recognizing it as a cornerstone of its vision to build a cohesive, compassionate, and empowered society. Volunteerism reflects the core values of the Emirati identity—generosity, selflessness, and a deep-rooted commitment to serving others, both within the nation and beyond its borders.

Integrated Ecosystem

The Ministry of Community Empowerment continues to lead efforts to strengthen the culture of volunteerism, recognizing it as both a moral and social duty—and a fundamental human right. The Ministry provides diverse opportunities for individuals and organizations to participate in humanitarian and charitable activities, both locally and internationally, thereby deepening their sense of social responsibility and civic engagement.

The National Volunteer Platform, Volunteers.ae, is a key pillar of the UAE’s efforts to foster a vibrant culture of volunteerism. Launched by the Ministry of Community Empowerment in collaboration with the Emirates Foundation, the platform aims to build a comprehensive and sustainable volunteer ecosystem by offering a wide range of specialized programs that serve diverse segments of society. It also reinforces the UAE’s global standing as a leader in humanitarian giving.

To encourage broad participation and elevate the value of volunteerism, the platform provides thousands of diverse opportunities for citizens and residents to give back to their communities and apply their skills in meaningful ways. To date, 649,848 volunteers have registered on the platform, with participation steadily increasing across all demographics.

Of these, 340,410 are women and 309,215 are men. The most active age group is between 16 and 35 years, representing 427,367 volunteers. Notably, 7,159 senior citizens aged 60 to 100 have also contributed to various volunteer initiatives across the country.

The platform also includes 32,552 young volunteers aged 5 to 18, as well as 5,942 People of Determination, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and engagement across all segments of society. In addition, 40,725 volunteers have taken part in international volunteering events and activities, further strengthening the UAE’s global humanitarian presence.

Diverse Fields of Volunteerism

Volunteers.ae offers opportunities across a broad spectrum of sectors, including education, humanitarian work, senior care, healthcare, culture, arts, sports, entertainment, environment, community service, international volunteering, and emergency response. The platform brings together government entities, private sector organizations, and third-sector institutions, all working collaboratively to offer and promote volunteering opportunities for registered citizens and residents.

Among the platform’s key features is its ability to match volunteers with opportunities that align with their interests and expertise. It also enables users to build personal volunteer profiles, receive nominations for innovative projects, access specialized and skills-based roles, and obtain certified documentation of completed volunteer hours—enhancing both personal growth and civic contribution.

As part of its ongoing efforts in this vital sector, the Ministry enacted Federal Law No. (13) of 2018 on Volunteering, positioning the UAE among the first countries globally to introduce legislation aimed at promoting a culture of volunteerism. The law outlines the conditions required to perform this national duty, raises awareness of its importance, and ensures the organization and development of volunteer work.

In addition, the law seeks to align volunteer efforts with government directions and national agendas, promote diversity and innovation in programs and initiatives, and establish a unified and transparent reference framework that enhances the governance and sustainability of volunteerism in the UAE.