What Noor Dubai Foundation does

Noor Dubai Foundation is a Dubai-based charitable non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. It was launched on September 3, 2008 as an initiative by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and was formally constituted by Law No. (18) of 2010, operating today under the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) umbrella. The foundation serves underserved populations in the UAE, particularly nationals and residents with limited means, alongside beneficiaries in 17+ countries across Asia and Africa reached through its international outreach mobile eye camps. Programs span curative treatment (cataract and diabetic retinopathy care), preventive screening, and capacity-building through training of local medical personnel.

The foundation's core programs include the UAE Mobile Eye Clinic, equipped with Humphrey visual field analyzers and non-contact tonometry; an International Outreach program of mobile eye camps covering 32 cities; the iBSAR Teleophthalmology Program, which uses the eyeSmart digital platform to link 15 primary eye centers with 2 tertiary hospitals in Nepal (with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh and LV Prasad Eye Institute); the Trachoma Elimination Program in Ethiopia with The Carter Center; the Barisal Eye Care Program in Bangladesh with the Fred Hollows Foundation; the Katsina Eye Care Program in Nigeria; and the Dubai Visual Impairment Survey conducted with the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Statistics Centre. Operational standards are anchored by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22301:2012 and ISO 26000 certifications, and the foundation was the first NGO to win the Dubai Government Excellence Award (2016). Reach to date exceeds 33 million people.

Funding flows through tiered one-off donations (AED 50/100/500/1000), corporate sponsorships (Rivoli, Aster Opticals, Moorfields Eye Hospital), SMS gateways (Etisalat 4565, DU 4849), mobile-app donations via DubaiNow and Etisalat Smiles, retail point-of-sale markers, bank transfers, and the Sukuk Al Noor Islamic investment product. Execution is run by a small team of approximately 12 employees plus a 7-member Board of Trustees, with program delivery heavily reliant on partner organizations — the IAPB network (150+ members), the NNN alliance (70+ NGOs), and clinical partners including LV Prasad, Moorfields, Fred Hollows Foundation, and The Carter Center. The foundation holds observer or member status in multiple global health coalitions, and its leadership overlaps with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA Director General as Board Chair), embedding it within the UAE public-health system.

Name

Noor Dubai Foundation

Legal name

Noor Dubai Foundation

Website

https://noordubai.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Noor Dubai Foundation is a Dubai-based non-profit, established by Law No. (18) of 2010 under Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's patronage, that delivers curative and preventive eye-care programs — including mobile clinics, international outreach camps, and the iBSAR teleophthalmology platform — to underserved populations in the UAE and 17+ countries across Asia and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Eye Care Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (621320), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Blindness prevention programs
• Charitable eye care
• Mobile eye clinics
• Teleophthalmology services
• Humanitarian health foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through bank transfers, SMS donations (Etisalat 4565, DU 4849), credit card payments, and retail point-of-sale donation boxes. Donation tiers include AED 50, 100, 500, 1000 and Sukuk Al Noor investment products.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor mobile eye camps, donate funds, and provide in-kind support including optical equipment, glasses, and pharmaceutical supplies. Companies like Rivoli, Moorfields, and Aster Opticals are partners.
3. Mobile Eye Camp Sponsorship: Companies and organizations can sponsor specific mobile eye camps to support eye care services in developing countries where healthcare infrastructure is absent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Noor Dubai Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that delivers free eye care services globally to prevent avoidable blindness. It operates a Mobile Eye Clinic across the UAE, conducts international mobile eye camps in developing countries, runs the iBSAR Teleophthalmology Program in Nepal using the eyeSmart digital platform, and partners with The Carter Center on a Trachoma Elimination Program in Ethiopia. Programs are organized around three pillars: Treat (surgeries and treatment), Prevent (screenings and early detection), and Educate (training and awareness).

Product overview

Noor Dubai Foundation operates as a charitable non-profit organization fighting preventable blindness globally. The organization offers a portfolio of eye care programs including the Mobile Eye Clinic (mobile screening unit), National Treatment Program, and International Outreach Program (mobile eye camps across Asia and Africa). Innovative programs include the iBSAR Teleophthalmology initiative using the eyeSmart digital platform, while specialized elimination efforts focus on Trachoma in Ethiopia. Research initiatives include the Dubai Visual Impairment Survey. The programs are structured around three pillars: Treat (surgeries and treatment), Prevent (screenings), and Educate (training and awareness).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iBSAR - Teleophthalmology Program: A pioneering global tele-ophthalmology initiative developed in partnership with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) and LV Prasad Eye Institute, implementing across two provinces in Nepal and targeting a population of 11 million.

Products and services

• Mobile Eye Clinic A fully-equipped mobile eye clinic bus that travels across UAE communities providing free eye screenings, early detection, and glaucoma testing (via non-contact tonometry and Humphrey visual field machine added in 2018). Launched in 2014; won Dubai Government Excellence Award 2016.
• National Treatment Program UAE treatment program providing medical treatment for residents with limited financial capability suffering from critical eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy, cataract surgeries, and eye injuries, delivered in partnership with Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, Al Zahra Hospital, and Medcare Eye Centre.
• International Outreach Program Mobile eye camps deployed to remote areas in developing countries across Asia and Africa providing screening, diagnosis, surgeries, and glasses distribution. To date, camps have been organized in 32 cities across 17 countries with 263,438 individuals screened, 26,600 surgeries performed, and 62,034 glasses distributed.
• iBSAR Teleophthalmology Program Global tele-ophthalmology initiative developed with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) and LV Prasad Eye Institute, using the eyeSmart digital platform to connect 15 primary eye centers with 2 tertiary hospitals, enabling real-time consultations and remote diagnoses for a population of 11 million in Nepal.
• Trachoma Elimination Program Collaboration with The Carter Center to eliminate blinding trachoma in Ethiopia's Amhara region using the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy, including distribution of 121+ million doses of medicine, 356,620+ surgeries, training of 151,013+ individuals, and construction of 300,000+ latrines.
• Dubai Visual Impairment Survey First population-based visual impairment survey for Dubai Emirate, conducted in partnership with Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Statistics Centre, targeting persons 40 years and older to generate data for strategic eye healthcare development.
• Katsina Eye Care Program 4-year integrated comprehensive eye care program in Nigeria's Katsina state, in partnership with the state government, addressing eye care needs of 25,000+ blind and 100,000+ visually impaired residents in a state with only 4 ophthalmologists.
• Barisal Eye Care Program 5-year program (2021-2025) in Bangladesh's Barisal division in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation, targeting 25,000 school children, 25,000 adults, 25,000 diabetic patients, and 4 million people for awareness, while establishing 2 women-led eye care enterprises.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 million+ people reached with eye care services globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Fred Hollows FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20215-year program (2021-2025) in Barisal division of Bangladesh to reduce avoidable blindness through strengthening eye healthcare systems, delivering gender-equitable and disability-inclusive eye care services.
• The Carter CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Long-term partnership for Trachoma Elimination Program in Ethiopia's Amhara region. Implements WHO's SAFE strategy. Over 121 million doses of medicine distributed, 356,620 surgeries, 151,013 trained, 300,000 latrines constructed.
• Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for iBSAR teleophthalmology program. Partner with LV Prasad Eye Institute to implement across two provinces in Nepal targeting 11 million population.
• LV Prasad Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for iBSAR teleophthalmology initiative, bringing expertise in eye care delivery systems for remote communities.
• International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization with 150+ members including NGOs, charitable eye hospitals, universities, and research institutions. Works toward comprehensive eye health globally.
• NTD NGO Network (NNN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 70+ NGOs contributing to global surveillance, management, and elimination of neglected tropical diseases including trachoma.
• International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of NGOs, donors, private sector, and academic institutions working to eliminate trachoma by 2020 following WHO's GET2020 strategy.
• Dubai Health AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain government partner for national programs, mobile eye clinic operations, and Dubai Visual Impairment Survey. DHA HQ serves as foundation's headquarters location.
• Moorfields Eye Hospital DubaimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for treating UAE patients with critical eye diseases. Provides specialized eye care services for foundation beneficiaries.
• Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerData analysis partner for Dubai Visual Impairment Survey, providing expertise in population-based eye health research.
• Rivoli GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing eye care products and services. Supporter of visual impairment programs.
• Albasar InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye care products and services partner supporting international outreach programs.
• Dubai Statistics CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dubai Visual Impairment Survey providing statistical expertise and population data for the first population-based survey in Dubai.
• Etisalat UAEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTelecommunications partner enabling SMS donation service (4565) for AED 50 donations.
• du (UAE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTelecommunications partner enabling SMS donation service (4849) for AED 50 donations.
• National BondsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSukuk Al Noor investment product partner enabling Sharia-compliant charitable investment options.
• Dubai PoliceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment partner supporting foundation operations and community outreach.
• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment utility partner providing operational support.
• Katsina State Government (Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for 4-year integrated comprehensive eye care program. Foundation has established a Nigerian office in Katsina state.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CBM (Christian Blind Mission): International development organization focused on disability inclusion and eye health, running comparable inclusive eye health programs in low-income countries with similar beneficiary-base demographics (women, children, persons with disabilities).
• L V Prasad Eye Institute: Indian eye care institute serving as Noor Dubai's direct technical partner on iBSAR teleophthalmology in Nepal; operates comparable pyramid eye care delivery model (vision centres → tertiary hospitals) and trains personnel across underserved regions.
• Orbis International: Global eye health nonprofit operating the Flying Eye Hospital and telemedicine platform Cybersight—directly comparable to Noor Dubai's Mobile Eye Clinic and iBSAR teleophthalmology programs, targeting avoidable blindness in low-income countries.
• Sightsavers: International NGO focused on eliminating avoidable blindness and supporting disability rights, with overlapping programs in trachoma elimination, cataract surgery, and refractive error correction across Africa and Asia—closely aligned mission and geographic footprint with Noor Dubai.
• The Carter Center: Major US-based NGO running disease elimination programs, including a direct core partnership with Noor Dubai on the Trachoma Elimination Program in Ethiopia's Amhara region (121M+ doses distributed). Operates comparable field-deployment and surveillance models in neglected tropical diseases.
• Fred Hollows Foundation: A leading global eye health NGO that, like Noor Dubai, runs large-scale blindness prevention programs in developing countries, including a direct 5-year co-implementation partnership with Noor Dubai in Bangladesh (Barisal program). Operates similar trachoma elimination, cataract surgery, and screening models across Africa and Asia.
• Light for the World: Austrian-founded international NGO focused on inclusive eye health and disability, with overlapping trachoma and cataract programs in Africa and Asia; similar regional footprint and donor-supported operating model.

Broad incumbents

• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB): Umbrella alliance of 150+ member organizations working in eye health, of which Noor Dubai is itself a member. Sets sector-wide strategic direction (WHO 2030 targets) and convenes global campaigns like World Sight Day—directly shaping the environment Noor Dubai operates in.

Emerging players

• Brien Holden Vision Institute (now part of Brien Holden Vision): Global eye health organization focused on refractive error correction, optometry workforce development, and vision care delivery in underserved communities—comparable beneficiary focus and programmatic approach to Noor Dubai's refractive error screening initiatives.
• Himalayan Cataract Project: US-based non-profit focused on high-volume cataract surgery and eye care infrastructure in underserved regions, particularly the Himalayas and sub-Saharan Africa—directly comparable model to Noor Dubai's surgical outreach and capacity-building mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/noordubai
• Facebookfacebook.com/noordubaifoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/noordubai/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/noor-dubai-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Noor Dubai Foundation