Establishment of Dubai Humanitarian
Founded in 2003 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, through the merger of Dubai Aid City and Dubai Humanitarian City.
Dubai Humanitarian is the only non-profit, independent, humanitarian free-zone Authority hosting a community of around 80 members comprised of UN organisations, non-profits and non-governmental organisations, in addition to commercial companies. The International Humanitarian community in Dubai consists of about 500 people representing more than 68 nationalities.
Due to Dubai’s strategic geographic position on the path between Middle East, Asia and Africa, and Dubai Humanitarian being located only 10 minutes away from the Jebel Ali seaport and Al Maktoum airport, it enables the humanitarian community to reach, within 4-8 hours, two-thirds of the world population living in hazard-prone areas.
The Dubai Humanitarian community has been able to dispatch and serve populations affected by disasters in the Pacific Islands as well as into the Caribbean, hence proving its international role.