UAE begins food aid airlift to Gaza under Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge

The UAE commenced airlifting food aid to Gaza on Friday as part of the newly introduced Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge project. The ambitious initiative aims to provide over 10 million meals to Palestinians in the region. The endeavour was spearheaded by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in collaboration with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.

Flights took off from Al Maktoum International Airport, successfully delivering food parcels to the besieged territory. Sheikh Ahmed, the brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, passed away on September 21. To honor his legacy of generosity and philanthropy, the humanitarian bridge was launched.

A diverse group of volunteers, community members, and admirers of Sheikh Ahmed convened at Dubai World Trade Centre to prepare the aid packages for distribution to families and children in Gaza. The humanitarian bridge will execute its operations via air and sea transport, with seven consignments on the horizon. Six flights are earmarked to carry 450 tonnes of food parcels each, while a single vessel will transport an impressive 4,000 tonnes of supplies to address the basic nutritional requirements of the Gaza populace.

Hammoud Al Afari, the director of UAE relief operations under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, lauded the efficiency and expertise demonstrated by Emirati teams involved in the initiative. He emphasized that the launch of flights under the Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge underscores the high level of capability exhibited by the Emirati teams in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.

Al Afari added that the operation, initiated in November 2023 under President Sheikh Mohamed's guidance, has served as a crucial lifeline for Palestinians throughout the ongoing conflict. Its continuity and geographical scope have enabled the assistance to reach a significant portion of the population, helping them cope with the challenging living conditions they face.

Since its inception, the UAE has extended more than $4 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza, accounting for 46 percent of the global humanitarian assistance provided since 2023. This substantial support encompasses 130,708 tonnes of relief, medical, and food supplies delivered through 796 aircraft, 25 ships, and 14,483 lorries. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the region's largest humanitarian and community development foundation, reported exceeding a Dh2.3 billion expenditure in 2025, impacting an estimated 165 million beneficiaries across 122 countries.

Its humanitarian aid and relief programmes alone accounted for an expenditure of over Dh625 million, benefiting more than 53 million people worldwide. The activities of the foundation are organized under five main pillars: humanitarian aid and relief, healthcare and disease control, education and knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship, and community empowerment.

Today, MBRGI comprises more than 30 initiatives and institutions operating in the humanitarian, social, and development sectors, with a strong focus on disadvantaged countries and vulnerable communities.