Photos by Operation Chivalrous Knight 3
From the first moments of its creation, the United Arab Emirates set for itself a noble goal: to support the vulnerable. Humanitarian work became a cornerstone in the building of the state — a value deeply rooted in the history of the land and its people. The men of this nation were raised on the principle of standing up for humanity and extending a helping hand, or as we say, al-faz‘a — the swift rush to aid.
The UAE remains the “patron of faz‘a,” never hesitating to offer help and to hasten in doing good. It has become a shining beacon of generosity, illuminated by its humanitarian efforts, with its name echoing between the mountains of East and West, carried on the winds of its generosity and deep humanitarian spirit.
The UAE’s role as a shining beacon of goodness did not arise by chance. At its heart was “Zayed of Goodness,” the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, whose life was a model of charity and a true embodiment of humanity. We witnessed his values translated into action on all fronts — a legacy evident to both those near and far, and one that the world itself has borne witness to.
It is thanks to him that our country has become a model in humanitarian work, leading nations in this field as a continuation of his legacy — the seed that Zayed planted and carefully nurtured until we became what we are today. Among his memorable words were: “The rich must help the poor. God Almighty has granted us this wealth to develop our country, and at the same time, to contribute to the development of other nations.” With these words, which have been translated into a living reality today, our country continues on the path laid by Zayed of Goodness.
We cannot help but highlight the role of the UAE Armed Forces, whose contributions to humanitarian operations have stood out since 1976. This commitment was affirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, may God protect him, who stated: “Following the path of Zayed of Goodness, we will continue to strengthen our role among the world’s leading nations in providing developmental, humanitarian, and charitable assistance. We remain committed to extending a helping hand to communities around the world, regardless of religion, race or color.”
Notable Contributions
The UAE has played a prominent role in numerous contributions on various fronts. In Lebanon, the UAE participated as part of the Arab Deterrent Forces in 1976. In the sisterly State of Kuwait, the UAE did not hesitate to take part in the liberation operation alongside coalition forces in 1990. It also contributed to the Restore Hope mission in the Republic of Somalia in 1991 and was among the first to participate in peacekeeping forces in the Republic of Kosovo in 1999.
Moreover, the UAE took part in the demining operation in southern Lebanon in 2001. In 2003, it participated in the Force of Resilience in the State of Kuwait and promptly engaged in the Winds of Goodness mission in Iraq, as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The country’s involvement in maintaining security in Kosovo under the NATO umbrella stands out. This mission, which lasted from 1999 to 2001, represented the UAE’s first and longest military, humanitarian and relief operation in Europe. During this period, the UAE provided pioneering humanitarian services, starting with the establishment of a field hospital for treatment and medical evacuation, the distribution of relief supplies and humanitarian aid, the establishment of a full civil defense and first aid system, and the construction of Sheikh Zayed Hospital in the city of Vushtrri.
The UAE also arranged for the transportation to and treatment of Kosovar patients in UAE hospitals when treatment was not available to them locally. It reconstructed and built around 1,000 destroyed homes.
The UAE’s role has been comprehensive across a range of fields, all of which serve the interests of humanity, from providing food and medical relief to preserving, restoring, and maintaining buildings and facilities, and even establishing parks. The aid it provided was not confined to the usual provision of food supplies or medical treatment; rather, its efforts embodied the saying, “If any of you performs a task, let them perfect it.”
In 2003, the UAE Armed Forces contributed to the reconstruction of Iraq, after years of hardship caused by sanctions and war, which left behind destruction and insecurity. At that time, the UAE quickly responded to support Iraq in its ordeal, starting with naval supply operations by sending three ships to the port of Umm Qasr loaded with medicines, medical supplies and ambulances. In addition, 60 trucks were dispatched in five land convoys carrying relief materials, and an air bridge of 24 aircraft was established, delivering 395 metric tons of food and essential aid.
As part of its comprehensive humanitarian role, the UAE also completed several projects, foremost among them the Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. In just a few days, the hospital received 41,196 patients. Despite the tense and dangerous conditions, the hospital continued providing efficient services. Reflecting the leadership’s concern and direct follow-up, His Highness Lt. Gen. Pilot Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, visited Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad personally.
During his visit, he issued directives to rehabilitate and maintain numerous orphanages and elderly care homes. His Highness also ordered that a number of patients with critical conditions be transferred for treatment to hospitals within the UAE, where 300 Iraqis received medical care. The UAE’s role in Iraq left a lasting impact.
Relief Operations
In line with its clear humanitarian mission, the UAE has continued to launch relief operations, most notably the Chivalrous Knight operations. The first of these was in 2021, aimed at evacuating nationals of various countries from Afghanistan. The number of Afghans and nationals of friendly countries evacuated from Afghanistan reached 36,500 people. The UAE also agreed to host 5,000 Afghan citizens evacuated from Afghanistan while en route to third countries.
The UAE also immediately fulfilled its humanitarian duty in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey on February 6, 2023. For five consecutive months, the UAE carried out Chivalrous Knight 2, providing support to earthquake survivors, assisting with rehabilitation efforts and treating 13,500 injured.
The UAE also delivered 15,200 metric tons of humanitarian aid via an air bridge consisting of 260 flights, carrying 6,912 metric tons of urgent aid, including tents, essential food supplies and medicines. Furthermore, 8,252 metric tons of humanitarian aid were delivered using four cargo ships to transport relief and reconstruction materials to affected areas.
In Gaza, as the humanitarian crisis worsened, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence, in full coordination with UAE ministries and all humanitarian and charitable institutions, to launch the humanitarian operation Chivalrous Knight 3 to support residents of Gaza. This operation has played a pivotal role in easing the crisis, providing necessary supplies and leveraging available resources to deliver aid, including through the establishment of a field hospital.
The UAE’s humanitarian efforts, as embodied by our armed forces, go beyond material aid to represent values of tolerance, nobility and generosity. They are a path of “cooperation in righteousness,” a beacon for human development and a contribution to a dignified life for all, without labels or classifications.
These efforts stand as a beacon of goodness and continuous giving, driven by the principle of putting humanity first, the duty to protect dignity and safeguard the land, and the conviction that everyone deserves a good life, free from the devastation of war. This is a vision in which peace, security and stability prevail across the world, allowing nations to prosper with dignity.
A version of this article appeared in the UAE military magazine Nation Shield.