Abu Dhabi polio eradication initiative efforts advanced significantly as the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity announced US$1.9 billion in global commitments to support the eradication of polio. The pledging event, titled Investing in Humanity: United to End Polio, was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity.
Hosted in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the event convened global leaders and philanthropists, including Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Senior representatives from governments, multilateral organisations, and global development partners also participated.
Global Donors Announce Major Funding Commitments
Pledges were announced by a diverse group of international donors and countries, including:
• US$1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation
• US$140 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity
• US$450 million from Rotary International
• US$100 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies
• US$154 million from Pakistan
• US$62 million from Germany
• US$46 million from the United States
• US$6 million from Japan
• US$4 million from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
• US$3 million from Luxembourg
The funds will help close the remaining resource gap for the GPEI 2022–2029 strategy, enabling partners to reach 370 million children each year with polio vaccines and to reinforce health systems in vulnerable regions.
UAE Continues Global Leadership on Polio Eradication
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has been one of the world’s leading advocates for polio eradication. Since 2011, he has committed US$525 million to the cause, helping mobilise global attention and resources. Through the UAE’s Emirates Polio Campaign, more than 850 million doses have been delivered to children in Pakistan since 2014, particularly in remote and hard-to-access areas.
The latest pledging event is the third to be held in Abu Dhabi, following summits in 2013 and 2019 that collectively secured US$6.6 billion in support of GPEI’s mission.
Wild poliovirus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, although outbreaks of variant poliovirus continue in several regions. The new commitments reaffirm the international community’s resolve to eliminate a disease that once paralysed 1,000 children every day across 125 countries.
Global Leaders Call for United Action
Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “Today’s pledges demonstrate our shared determination to end polio and protect every child from this preventable disease. Decades of progress have proved that a polio-free world is within our reach when we act together. Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are proud to stand with countries, donors, and partners as we work hand-in-hand to achieve it.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The new support pledged in Abu Dhabi will be instrumental in helping the GPEI reach all children in the final endemic countries and stopping variant polio outbreaks around the world.”
Bill Gates added, “We are on the cusp of eradicating polio and securing a historic win for humanity. But we need all countries, partners, and donors to step up now to get the job done.”
Michael R. Bloomberg said, “This new $100 million in support for the GPEI and our partners around the world will help us get there and help spare more people from the terrible effects of this disease.”
Additional support came from UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary International, and several governments, reaffirming their commitment to the shared mission.
A Historic Opportunity Within Reach
Global polio cases have fallen by more than 99 percent since 1988. The intensified push to vaccinate every child has also strengthened broader health systems through improved surveillance, emergency response tool,s and community engagement structures.
Despite progress, 2025 has seen wild poliovirus paralyse 39 children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlighting the need for sustained funding and outreach. Variant poliovirus outbreaks in 18 countries also underscore the challenges in reaching every child.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the new pledges will support community health workers in ensuring children in fragile contexts are not left behind. Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, noted that the collective efforts of global partners and the UAE’s convening power have brought the world closer than ever to eradication.
Rotary International and Germany reaffirmed their long-standing roles in the global effort, emphasising the importance of strong health systems and robust partnerships.
Eradicating polio would make it only the second human disease to be eliminated, after smallpox, and is projected to save more than US$33 billion by 2100.
-Input ADMO
