Source : WAM
The Endowment and Minors’ Trust Foundation in Dubai (Awqaf Dubai) announced that the total value of endowment assets in Dubai reached AED 13.5 billion in 2025, marking a 22 percent increase compared to AED 11.1 billion in 2024.
According to the Dubai Endowment Assets Report 2025, the total number of endowments in Dubai reached 1,294, established by 604 endowers, reflecting growing community awareness of the importance of endowments and their role in supporting sustainable development.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said that Dubai’s endowment ecosystem, guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has become a pioneering model for institutional charitable work.
He noted that the system reflects Dubai’s vision of embedding a culture of sustainable giving and maximising its social and economic impact, supporting comprehensive development and enhancing quality of life.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan praised the results of the Dubai Endowment Assets Report 2025, which highlighted the continued growth of the endowment sector in the emirate. He emphasised the pivotal role played by Awqaf Dubai in developing and enhancing the contributions of endowers, noting that the Foundation’s efforts ensure the sustainability of endowments and maximise their impact.
He also commended the contributions of endowers—including citizens, residents, and institutions who continue to support endowment initiatives and preserve their benefits for future generations.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan further highlighted that Awqaf Dubai continues to lead innovation in endowment practices through pioneering initiatives that are the first of their kind globally. These projects create new avenues for community participation and offer individuals and institutions unique opportunities to contribute to innovative programs that address societal needs.
The initiatives also strengthen the role of endowments as a sustainable driver of social and economic development, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a hub for pioneering global endowment initiatives.
According to the report, endowment assets are distributed between real estate valued at AED 12 billion and financial assets valued at AED 1.5 billion, reflecting the diversity of endowment portfolios and their ability to achieve sustainability while maximising returns to support endowment objectives.
The report also showed that endowments established by men reached AED 7.9 billion, while those established by women totalled AED 1.3 billion, and institutional endowment assets reached AED 4.3 billion.
In terms of governance, the report noted that 714 endowments are managed under the supervision of Awqaf Dubai, with a total value of AED 2.9 billion, while 580 endowments are managed under third-party supervision, valued at AED 9.6 billion.
Issa Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Awqaf Dubai, said, “The growth recorded in the value of endowment assets during 2025 reflects the success of the policies and strategies adopted by the Foundation to develop the endowment sector and enhance its efficiency and sustainability.
“We continue to develop endowment assets in line with best practices in governance and sustainable investment, ensuring the protection of endowments and maximising their social impact. These efforts further strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading hub for charitable and humanitarian work, in line with the vision of the leadership.”
Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of Awqaf Dubai, said, “The results achieved in 2025 reflect the efficiency of the Foundation’s operational and investment frameworks, as well as its commitment to developing endowment work on sustainable institutional foundations. We work to manage and develop endowment assets in accordance with the highest standards of governance and transparency, ensuring their sustainability and maximising their developmental impact, in recognition of the trust placed by endowers and in line with Awqaf Dubai’s role in supporting and enhancing their contributions.”
