Abu Dhabi Launches Mother of the Nation Initiative for Orphan Care
New endowment campaign under the patronage of UAE leadership aims to strengthen social cohesion and support orphan care during the Year of Family.
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In a major philanthropic push, Abu Dhabi has unveiled the Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans, a new initiative designed to establish a sustainable funding source dedicated to supporting orphan care across the United Arab Emirates. The campaign was announced on 18 February 2026 by the Endowments and Minors’ Funds Authority (Awqaf Abu Dhabi) under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The initiative seeks not only to provide long-term financial backing for orphans’ needs, including education, healthcare, and living expenses, but also to strengthen social cohesion and encourage community participation in charitable giving. By promoting the concept of endowment as a tool for community development, the programme aims to turn one-time contributions into a lasting framework of support for vulnerable children.
Named in honour of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, the endowment reflects her longstanding advocacy for family welfare, compassion, and humanitarianism. It also builds on the UAE’s deep-rooted tradition of philanthropy and social solidarity, which was championed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The launch of the initiative coincides with the Year of Family, a national focus on strengthening family values, social balance, and sustainable community development. The UAE government has emphasised that such efforts are crucial amid demographic shifts, including a declining birth rate and an ageing citizen population, trends that have prompted broad initiatives to support families and social wellbeing.