The Red Crescent Society is the only national institution that is recognised by the state. Like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent associations that are spread across the world, the Red Crescent Society is charged with regulating and handling all charitable and humanitarian work across the country.

 

Established as per UAE laws after the formation of the country, the society saw the merging of all societies and institutions that were involved in charitable work at the time. And as the UAE is a young state that is trying to catch up with the leading nations in the world, so is the Red Crescent Society, which is working to set itself up on the international stage in a very short time benefiting from the experience of more developed and advanced institutions.

The Red Crescent Society has developed a similar line of policy to the one adopted by the International Association of the Red Cross as both organizations have similar goals.

 

However, due to social and cultural differences and as a result of geographical and historical factors, the Red Crescent Society adopted its own policies, within the same framework of activities as the International Red Cross, and managed to develop its own strategies, plans and programmes. In fact, its budget for the last five years (1995-1999) clearly demonstrate that the society was working on two levels one with a local scope and the other with an international outlook.

 

 

LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES:

 

As the work of the Red Crescent Society focused on the provision of charitable and humanitarian assistance to the public, the society decided to focus its scope of work and dedicate its activities to focus on providing aid to poor families, orphans, handicapped, poor patients, students from poor families, prisoners and those in detention, elderly people, refugees and people who have been newly inducted in the Islamic faith etc.

 

Additionally, the society is working to assist mosques and religious centers, digging of water wells, providing training for the youth and supporting other service sectors across the country, as well as supporting women organizations. Moreover, in support of the Islamic faith and as per the guidance of the government, the society provides additional help and assistance in special events such as the holy month of Ramadan as well as Islamic festivals and celebrations and national holidays and at the start of studies period and the like.

 

The work of the society is based on volunteers and is non-profit oriented. The Society strives to provide its services to everybody regardless of nationality, colour, and sex in a regular and sustained manner. In fact, the society always seeks to recruit the services of the youth, both males and females, by spreading awareness of its activities and calling for the protection of the environment and safe health as part of its principles.

 

 

FOREIGN ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES:

 

The Red Crescent Soceity has been very active overseas providing its services following the directives of His Highness the President, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan AI Nahyan and based on the policies of the UAE government.

 

In fact, His Highness Sheikh Zayed responded to many calls for assistance from people suffering from catastrophes, with the Red Crescent Society rushing to assist stranded people in the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe and reaching more than 30 countries and eight follow-up bureaus. Also, the society celebrates various world days like the World Aids Day, the no-smoking day and the anti-drug day as part of coordinated international activities.

 

The Red Crescent Society was very keen to establish relations with other international organizations to share the experiences and learning by setting up relations with the Arabian Red Cross, the Red Crescent organizations across the GCC, the General Secretariat of the Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of the Red Cross and of the Red Crescent organizations as well as other charitable and humanitarian groups across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. 

Such active programme by the Society and its widespread support has earned it the first position in the Arab World and the seventh worldwide. In fact, the success of the society locally and abroad has made it a worthy recipient of the Sheikh Hamdan Charitable Award.