Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), ranked second in UAE foreign aid contributions during 2015, claiming Dh2.70 billion ($736.73 million) out of the total aid of Dh32.3 billion ($8.8 billion) 2015, a report said.

Government aid ranked first with 86.1 per cent of total aid spent amounting to Dh27.84 billion ($7.57 billion), said Emirates news agency WAM, citing  the report titled "UAE's Foreign Aid in 2015" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MoFAIC.

Remarking on the results, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, ADFD director-general, said, "Our leadership’s guidance, directives and vision has ensued the UAE’s leading role towards global development and humanitarian assistance. Their global outlook and perseverance in philanthropy has helped steer ADFD towards its mission; to support and fund sustainable socio-economic growth."

He lauded the fund’s Dh2.7 billion contribution in 2015 to maintain its commitment and dedication within the field of development work, explaining that alongside ADFD’s main objective of administering concessionary loans for developing countries, it also manages the UAE’s government grants.

He added that ‘development aid’ ranks first in UAE foreign aid segments; it totalled Dh29.75 billion, leading with 92 per cent over humanitarian and charitable aid.

Al Suwaidi also said that the fund, finances projects in key socio-economic sectors such as education, infrastructure, health and social services, agriculture, transport and renewable energy.

According to the report, Africa received the lion’s share; a total of Dh25.11 billion, a 70 per cent increase over 2014’s Dh14.67 billion. Countries on the Asian continent received Dh6.63 billion, whereas both Europe and the Americas totalled at Dh586.94 million.