A Gulf statistical report showed that, in 2025, the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries provided relief aid worth $6.1 billion, or approximately 21.7 percent of the total relief aid in the world.
The Statistical Center for the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council countries said on Sunday that the volume of relief aid provided by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries during the year 2025 amounted to 6.1 billion US dollars. This represents approximately 21.7 percent of total global relief aid.
The Center added in a report it issued on Gulf relief aid on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, which falls on August 19 of each year, that “this indicator reflects the growing Gulf role in the humanitarian and relief work system at the international level.”
He explained that it also comes within the framework of the importance that the GCC states attach to protecting humanitarian workers and people who depend on aid to obtain food, health care and protection, and enhancing human solidarity in the face of crises.
He stated that the relief aid provided by the GCC countries is characterized by “diversity and inclusion,” pointing out that it is not limited to responding to immediate needs during emergency situations, but rather extends to a number of vital sectors aimed at supporting the recovery of affected communities, enhancing stability and achieving sustainable development.
Regarding the shares of relief sectors, he stated that the “basic services” sectors accounted for 77.8% of the total Gulf aid during the year 2025, and included a wide range of fields, most notably health, early recovery, services, water, governance, rule of law, environment, and reintegration of displaced persons, in addition to other basic sectors, such as education and food security.
In this context, the center indicated that the field of “health” topped the list with a rate of 33.4 percent, and “early recovery” with a rate of 23.2 percent, while the share of “food security” reached 15.3 percent, and “education” 7 percent, and the contribution of other sectors reached 22.1 percent.
He pointed out that these numbers “confirm the breadth of the Gulf contribution to humanitarian work, as it combines urgent relief, support for recovery paths, and rebuilding capabilities and basic services, in a way that enhances the ability of affected communities to overcome crises and restore stability in the long term.”
He stressed that the GCC countries are among the most prominent international actors in the field of humanitarian and relief work, and their development policies and rapid response to crises have contributed to consolidating their position as one of the largest global donors of official and voluntary humanitarian aid.
It is noteworthy that the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, based in the Sultanate of Oman, was established in 2011 to be the official authority for data, information and statistics related to the GCC countries, in addition to its role in strengthening the statistical and information work of the national statistical centers and planning bodies therein.
Today, Saturday, the Central Bank of the Emirates announced a special and urgent inspection of the branches of the Bank of Egypt operating in the country, which includes an in-depth review of corporate banking transactions mentioned in a statement issued by the American authorities, against the backdrop of a proposal to take a special measure related to the bank’s branches in the Emirates as a financial institution operating outside the United States with major concerns related to money laundering.
The UAE Central Bank said that it reviewed, on Friday, the statement issued by the US authorities regarding the special measure proposal related to the “Bank of Egypt” branches operating in the Emirates, stressing that these branches are subject to the laws and regulations in force in the country.
He explained that the Central Bank expects all banks licensed in the Emirates not to expose the country's financial system to reputational risks, in addition to respecting the laws and regulations of countries that use their financial institutions to conduct transactions, and not to abuse the advanced financial infrastructure of the Emirates.
The bank indicated that it conducts periodic inspections of procedures for combating money laundering and combating terrorist financing in banks operating in the Emirates. It also verifies the efficiency of electronic systems related to examining sanctions and others, and requires banks to make the necessary improvements to these procedures and systems in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations.
With regard to the branches of the “Bank of Egypt” specifically, the Central Bank decided to conduct a special and urgent inspection, which includes an in-depth review covering the period referred to in the statement of the American authorities, with a special focus on the banking transactions of the companies mentioned in the statement.
The UAE Central Bank confirmed that it is currently studying the options available regarding the bank’s situation, if it is decided to take the appropriate measure against it after completing the procedures in accordance with American laws.
He added that he would take the appropriate decision in this regard at the time, taking into account Banque Misr’s obligations towards its clients in the UAE.
