Charities & Volunteering in Dubai
How to give back in Dubai — from IACAD-licensed charities to beach cleanups and Ramadan giving. All fundraising must be channelled through officially approved organisations.
IACAD Licensing — Unlicensed Fundraising Is a Criminal Offence
All charitable fundraising in the UAE must be licensed by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD). Collecting money for charity without a valid IACAD licence — whether in cash, via social media campaigns, or through unofficial bank transfers — is a criminal offence under UAE law and can result in fines or imprisonment. Always donate through officially recognised organisations listed on the IACAD approved charity list at iacad.gov.ae.
Major Licensed Charities in Dubai
The following organisations are IACAD-approved and widely recognised across the UAE. Each has transparent donation channels and established track records.
Dubai Cares
Global education for children in developing countries
Online donations at dubaicares.ae, UAE Exchange drop boxes, corporate partnerships, and annual fundraising campaigns including UAE Walk.
Emirates Red Crescent
Humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and community welfare globally and within the UAE
Donate via redcrescent.ae, SMS donations, ATM collection drives, and in-person at their offices. Accepts zakat and sadaqah.
MBR Global Initiatives
Humanitarian and development programmes under Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's patronage
Partnership and donation requests via mbrglobalinitiatives.com. Primarily accepts corporate and institutional giving.
Al Jalila Foundation
Medical research, healthcare education, and patient support in the UAE
Online donations at aljalilafoundation.ae. Supports specific medical research projects and patient assistance funds.
Beit Al Khair Society
Direct support for low-income families, widows, orphans, and people with disabilities in the UAE
Cash donations, food baskets, Ramadan programmes, zakat distribution. Visit beitalkhairdubai.ae or drop-off centres in Deira.
Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWC)
Shelter, counselling, and rehabilitation for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking
Monetary donations and volunteering via dfwac.ae. They also accept in-kind contributions (household items, clothes).
How to Donate Safely
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| IACAD Approved List | Verify any charity at iacad.gov.ae before donating. The approved list is updated regularly. |
| Online Portals | Use official charity websites with HTTPS and clear VAT/charity registration numbers displayed. |
| UAE Tax-Free Giving | Donations are not tax-deductible in the personal tax sense (there is no income tax), but corporate donors can often claim CSR deductions. All giving is free of VAT if to an approved charity. |
| Employer Matching | Many multinational employers in Dubai offer donation matching schemes. Check with your HR department — common among banking, tech, and consulting firms. |
| Avoid Social Media Fundraisers | Informal GoFundMe-style campaigns run by individuals are not IACAD-licensed and are illegal in the UAE, even if the cause is genuine. |
Check Before You Give
Volunteering in Dubai
The UAE Government runs a dedicated national volunteering portal at volunteerinuae.gov.ae where residents can browse opportunities by cause, location, and time commitment. Registration is free and opportunities span environmental, social, animal welfare, and educational causes.
Fridge Dubai
Community fridges across Dubai allow anyone to donate or take food. Help maintain fridges, collect donations, or spread the word.
fridgedubai.com
UAE Food Bank
Distribute food to workers and families in need. Drives and events especially active during Ramadan.
uaefoodbank.ae
K9 Friends Dubai
Dog rescue and rehoming. Volunteers needed for fostering, adoption events, and fundraising.
k9friends.com
Stray Dogs Centre
Walk, socialise, and help care for rescued stray dogs while they await adoption.
sdcdubai.com
Volunteer beach cleanups
Regular beach cleanup events organised by the community and Dubai Municipality. Check VolunteerInUAE portal for upcoming events.
volunteerinuae.gov.ae
Teach / Mentor
Tutoring programmes for underprivileged children, English conversation practice, and skills-based mentoring via local NGOs.
volunteerinuae.gov.ae
Ramadan Giving
Zakat
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam — an obligatory annual donation of 2.5% of your total savings (held for a full lunar year above the nisab threshold, currently approximately AED 6,000 in gold value) to eligible recipients. It is paid by Muslims and distributed through approved channels such as Emirates Red Crescent or Beit Al Khair.
Non-Muslims are not required to pay Zakat but are welcome to contribute to Ramadan charity campaigns.
Sadaqah
Sadaqah is voluntary charitable giving — any amount, at any time, for any approved cause. Ramadan is considered the most spiritually rewarding time to give sadaqah. Many charities run special Ramadan campaigns including iftar meal sponsorship (feeding a fasting person costs approximately AED 10–20/meal), food parcel distribution, and Eid gift programmes for orphans and low-income families.
Community Fridges
Community fridges (Fridge Dubai) multiply during Ramadan, especially in Deira, Karama, and Satwa. Anyone can fill them with food; anyone in need can take from them — no questions asked.
Iftar Meal Programmes
Many mosques, hotels, and charities run nightly iftar distributions for workers and low-income residents. Volunteers help set up, serve food, and distribute water and dates at large gatherings.
Eid Gift Drives
Charities like Beit Al Khair organise Eid gift collections for children of low-income families. Toy and clothing donation drives are popular among expat communities in the weeks before Eid.
Corporate CSR in Dubai
Corporate Social Responsibility is well-established in Dubai, and the government actively encourages businesses to participate in charitable initiatives. Key frameworks include:
UAE CSR Law
Certain public joint stock companies (PJSC) listed on UAE exchanges are required by law to allocate a percentage of net profits to social responsibility. All businesses are encouraged to register CSR activities with their respective free zone authority or the Ministry of Community Development.
Volunteering Leave
Some Dubai employers — particularly in banking, hospitality, and tech — offer paid volunteering days as part of their CSR policy. Check your employment contract or HR policy. The volunteerinuae.gov.ae portal has a corporate registration pathway for companies to organise group volunteer activities.
Dubai Cares Corporate Partners
Dubai Cares operates one of the most active corporate partnership programmes in the UAE, enabling businesses to co-fund education initiatives globally, co-brand fundraising campaigns, and participate in their annual UAE Walk fundraiser. Contact them via dubaicares.ae for corporate partnership enquiries.
Key Resources
- IACAD Approved Charity List: iacad.gov.ae
- National Volunteering Portal: volunteerinuae.gov.ae
- Emirates Red Crescent: redcrescent.ae
- Dubai Cares: dubaicares.ae
- Beit Al Khair: beitalkhairdubai.ae
- UAE Food Bank: uaefoodbank.ae
- Fridge Dubai: fridgedubai.com