What Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives does

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) is a Dubai-headquartered non-profit foundation established in 2015 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. It functions as an umbrella organization coordinating more than 30 humanitarian and development initiatives across five pillars: humanitarian aid and relief, healthcare and disease control, education and knowledge dissemination, future innovation and entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. It does not sell products or services; all programming is funded through charitable donations, corporate contributions, government grants, and waqf (Islamic endowment) income. Programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, while donor and partner activity is driven by high-profile Ramadan campaigns, charity auctions, and the personal branding of Sheikh Mohammed across social media. The foundation reported expenditures of AED 2.3 billion in 2025 and has spent AED 16.1 billion cumulatively since inception, reaching 165 million beneficiaries across 122 countries in 2025.

The portfolio's core products are programmatic rather than commercial. In education, the Madrasa e-learning platform delivers 7,800+ Arabic-language videos to K-12 students with 183 million views across 80+ countries, while The Digital School provides 35,000+ digital lessons in 7 languages to 850,000+ students in 40 countries, and the Arab Reading Challenge engages 40+ million students from 138,000 schools in 60 countries. In healthcare, the Noor Dubai Foundation runs mobile eye clinics, surgical programs, and the Ibsar tele-ophthalmology program (expanding from 10,178 to 63,747 beneficiaries in Nepal between 2024 and 2025), and Al Jalila Foundation supports gene therapy and the AED 143 million Aoun Programme (3,605 patients). Major endowments include the Fathers Fund (AED 3.72 billion raised for healthcare), Mothers Fund (AED 1 billion for education), the Edge of Life campaign (AED 2.8 billion raised in Ramadan 2026 for childhood hunger), the One Billion Meals Endowment, and the AED 4.7 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endowment District. Distribution is routed through UN partnerships (UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, UNDP), agreements with Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, and CIFF, and the Dubai Humanitarian logistics hub capable of reaching two-thirds of the global population within 8 hours.

The revenue model is donation- and endowment-led, not commercial. Primary inflows are charitable donations and grants from individuals, corporations (notably Emaar Properties AED 100 million, Azizi Developments AED 200 million, du telecom, and an anonymous AED 35 million donor), and proceeds from waqf endowments and charity auctions (e.g., AED 91.4 million from "Most Noble Number" auctions). Endowments such as the AED 4.7 billion Endowment District generate recurring investment returns directed back into programs. Volunteer mobilization is a critical operational asset, with 185,670 volunteers supporting implementation in 2025. As of 2025, the operating footprint is 990 full-time staff across more than 30 wholly-owned subsidiary entities (Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai, Al Jalila Foundation, Suqia UAE, Emirates Food Bank, Dubai Humanitarian, Madrasa, The Digital School, Great Arab Minds, One Million Arab Coders, Arab Hope Makers, and others), giving MBRGI the structural depth of a regional platform while preserving each initiative's mission-specific identity.

Name

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives

Legal name

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation

Website

https://almaktouminitiatives.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives is a Dubai-based charitable foundation coordinating 30+ humanitarian, healthcare, education, innovation, and community initiatives across 122 countries, funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and Islamic endowments (waqf).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC), Logistics, Supply Chain & Humanitarian Air/Sea/Land Transport (BPADADAF)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid
• Charitable foundation
• Healthcare programs
• Education initiatives
• Community empowerment

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

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from charitable donations, corporate contributions, and grants from individuals, businesses, and government entities. The Edge of Life campaign alone raised AED 2.8 billion with 44,000+ contributors. The Stop Father (Fathers Fund) waqf raised AED 3.72 billion.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Strategic partnerships with corporations like Emaar (AED 100 million), du telecom, and individual philanthropists (AED 35 million anonymous donor) provide significant funding for humanitarian campaigns and initiatives.
3. Wa�f (Endowment) Income: Sustainable endowment model including the AED 1 billion Father Stop waqf, the AED 1 billion Mother Stop waqf for education, and the AED 4.7 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Residential Waqf, which generates returns supporting education and healthcare globally.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) is a non-profit charitable umbrella foundation established in 2015 that coordinates more than 30 humanitarian and development initiatives operating across five pillars: humanitarian aid and relief, healthcare and disease control, education and knowledge dissemination, future innovation and entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. Programs are provided free of charge to beneficiaries in need and funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and sustainable waqf (endowment) structures, reaching 165 million beneficiaries in 2025 across 122 countries.

Product overview

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) is a large umbrella charitable organization established in 2015 comprising more than 30 humanitarian and development initiatives operating across five core pillars: Humanitarian Aid and Relief, Healthcare and Disease Control, Education and Knowledge Dissemination, Future Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Community Empowerment. The portfolio includes educational platforms like the Madrasa E-Learning Platform (7,800+ Arabic educational videos) and The Digital School (800,000+ students globally), literacy initiatives like the Arab Reading Challenge (40+ million participants), humanitarian campaigns like Edge of Life and One Billion Meals Endowment, healthcare organizations like Noor Dubai and Al Jalila Foundation, water provision through Suqia UAE, and various innovation and talent development programs. MBRGI functions as a platform connecting multiple specialized initiatives rather than a single unified product, with each entity maintaining distinct operations while sharing the common mission of building hope and sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Edge of Life Campaign (حد الحياة) Global humanitarian campaign to rescue 5 million children from hunger worldwide, particularly in disaster and conflict zones, launched in Ramadan 2026 with AED 1 billion minimum fundraising target and implementation through UNICEF and Save the Children.
• Arab Reading Challenge Largest competitive literacy initiative in the Arab world targeting students from Grade 1-12 to cultivate reading habits and Arabic language proficiency, with over 40 million participants from 138,000 schools across 60 countries.
• Madrasa E-Learning Platform (منصة مدرسة) Largest Arabic e-learning platform providing 7,800+ free educational videos covering Sciences, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Arabic language for grades K-12, with 183 million+ views across 80+ countries.
• The Digital School First integrated digital school providing remote education globally, reaching 800,000+ students from 39 countries with 35,000+ digital lessons in 7 languages, partnering with Arizona State University.
• Fathers Fund (وقف الأب) Healthcare endowment fund launched to honor UAE fathers, directing proceeds to provide treatment for underprivileged patients and support healthcare systems in less developed communities.
• Mothers Fund (وقف الأم) AED 1 billion education endowment fund launched to honor UAE mothers, supporting education for millions of individuals globally in sustainable partnership with humanitarian organizations.
• Suqia UAE (مؤسسة سقيا الإمارات) Water provision foundation providing clean water to underserved communities through wells, pumps, and water purification equipment, benefiting 15 million people in 37 countries.
• Noor Dubai Foundation (مؤسسة نور دبي) Eye care foundation operating across 25 countries providing treatment and preventive programs to combat blindness and visual impairment, especially in underserved regions of Africa and Asia.
• Al Jalila Foundation (مؤسسة الجليلة) Medical education and research foundation investing in education and medical research to establish UAE's global standing in medical innovation, supporting 47 medical scholarships in 2025 plus 3,605 patients through Aoun Programme (AED 143 million).
• One Billion Meals Endowment (وقف المليار وجبة) World's largest food endowment initiative providing food security safety net for underprivileged populations, distributing 1 billion meals across 65 countries.
• Dubai Humanitarian (دبي الإنسانية) Global humanitarian hub hosting UN agencies and NGOs, facilitating international relief operations with logistics capabilities reaching two-thirds of world population within 8 hours.
• Dubai Cares (دبي العطاء) Education foundation providing quality education opportunities for children and youth in developing countries, reaching 117 million beneficiaries in 60 countries with AED 1.27 billion in grants.
• One Million Arab Programmers (مليون مبرمج عربي) Initiative equipping Arab youth with programming skills through specialized training courses to enable them to join advanced technology sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 165 million beneficiaries reached in 2025 across 122 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered implementation partner, academic partner, government partner, key partner, primary partner, charitable partner and technology partner.

• Noor Dubai Foundationimplementation partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2026Noor Dubai implements the 3-year river blindness elimination program targeting 7 million beneficiaries in vulnerable tropical communities under MBRGI umbrella.
• Arizona State Universityacademic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026ASU collaborates on Digital Teacher Preparation Programme in Mauritania, providing academic framework and Global Digital Teacher Academy platform access.
• Mauritania Ministry of National Educationgovernment partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Government partnership for Digital School expansion, with 340 teachers joining Digital Teacher Preparation Programme at Teacher Training Institute in Nouakchott.
• du (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications)key partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 March 2026du joined as strategic partner of the Edge of Life campaign to rescue 5 million children from hunger. As part of partnership, du renamed its network to EdgeOfLife, sent SMS promotions, and auctioned premium phone numbers at charity event on March 7, 2026.
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)key partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026UNHCR's Islamic Philanthropy report highlights MBRGI contributions to housing, water infrastructure, and cash assistance programs across 25 countries, with $39 million raised in 2025.
• UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund)primary partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026UNICEF is a key implementation partner for the Edge of Life campaign targeting 5 million children from hunger. Campaign aims to raise AED 1 billion+ with UNICEF providing program expertise and global reach.
• Save the Childrenprimary partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026International humanitarian organization partnering on Edge of Life childhood hunger campaign, providing operational capacity and child welfare expertise.
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)key partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026UK-based foundation contributing to Edge of Life campaign with focus on child nutrition interventions and program effectiveness measurement.
• Action Against Hungerkey partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026International NGO specializing in hunger and malnutrition programs, partnering on Edge of Life campaign implementation.
• World Health Organization (WHO)key partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026WHO 2021-2030 roadmap alignment for eliminating neglected tropical diseases guides river blindness elimination program in Ghana targeting 7 million direct and 35 million indirect beneficiaries.
• Varkey Foundationcharitable partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026Partnership with Varkey Foundation on MrBeast's '1 Billion Acts of Kindness' initiative to build a village in Ghana as part of 1 Billion Followers Summit.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundationkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide vaccines and medicines to communities in need, supporting healthcare initiatives under MBRGI's health pillar.
• Microsofttechnology partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide digital education and develop technical skills for youth in developing countries.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercy Corps: Major global humanitarian and development organization operating in 40+ countries. Comparable in integrated humanitarian-development programming, multi-pillar approach, and corporate partnership model, though structured as a US-headquartered INGO rather than a state-affiliated foundation.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest private foundation globally focused on global health, education, and poverty. Directly comparable as an active MBRGI partner with overlapping priorities in child nutrition, disease elimination, and digital education in developing countries.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: Faith-inspired humanitarian NGO operating in 40+ countries across emergency relief, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. Comparable in five-pillar programmatic structure, Muslim-majority donor base, and waqf-style sustainable funding elements.
• King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief): Saudi state-backed humanitarian foundation operating across health, education, and emergency relief in 90+ countries. Most direct comparable as a Gulf state-affiliated umbrella humanitarian organization with similar scale, multi-pillar structure, and diplomatic backing from a head of state.

Emerging players

• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): UK-based major philanthropy focused on child health, nutrition, and climate. Directly comparable as an active Edge of Life co-funder with overlapping priorities in child survival, evidence-based programming, and large-scale program funding.

Regional players

• Qatar Foundation: Qatari state-affiliated foundation operating across education, research, and community development. Comparable as a regional Gulf foundation with similar multi-pillar structure and royal-family patronage, though more focused on research and education than humanitarian relief.
• Abu Dhabi Fund for Development: UAE federal foreign aid agency financing development projects across 100+ countries. Comparable in geographic scope, donor government backing, and beneficiary profile, though operates more as a development financier than an implementing humanitarian organization.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF: UN agency for children's welfare operating in 190+ countries. Direct comparable given MBRGI's child-focused programs (Edge of Life, Digital School, Fathers/Mothers Funds), active UNICEF partnership, and overlapping priorities in education and child nutrition.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): World's largest humanitarian network with 191 national societies. Comparable in global disaster response, healthcare programs, and emergency logistics, though operates as a federated movement rather than a centralized foundation.

Others

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Global public-private partnership funding immunization in low-income countries. Comparable as a co-financing mechanism for large-scale child health interventions and an active partner ecosystem for foundations like MBRGI seeking global health scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MBRInitiatives
• Facebookfacebook.com/MBRInitiatives
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-global-initiatives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries31 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives