Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation To Host Global Pledging Moment For Polio Eradication In Abu Dhabi

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has announced a significant pledging event to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Scheduled for 8th December 2025 in Abu Dhabi, this event aims to gather countries, donors, philanthropists, and global health partners to secure essential new investments for polio eradication. This will be the third such event in Abu Dhabi, following successful summits in 2013 and 2019 that collectively raised US$6.6 billion.

Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, UAE's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, shared this news on World Polio Day at an event co-hosted by UNICEF and GPEI in New York. The gathering, titled "From Vaccine to Victory: 70 Years of Polio Progress, One Achievable Goal," brought together programme leaders, donor representatives, academics, and advocates near New York’s old smallpox hospital ruins.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a prominent supporter of global efforts against polio. Through multiyear commitments to GPEI and the Emirates Polio Campaign, which collaborates with Pakistan's government to vaccinate hard-to-reach children, the UAE has provided technical and diplomatic support. This December event will build on this legacy by launching new investments in GPEI’s updated strategy.

Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Acting Director General of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, stated that decades of global partnership have brought us closer than ever before to ending polio. She emphasised that with sustained funding, collaboration, and political leadership, achieving a polio-free future is possible.

Chris Elias from the Gates Foundation highlighted that while polio eradication is within reach due to a 99% reduction in wild poliovirus cases over four decades, continued momentum is crucial. With wild poliovirus still endemic in two countries and variant outbreaks threatening progress, renewed financial and political support is vital for securing a polio-free future for all children.

The pledging moment will precede Goalkeepers Abu Dhabi on 8th December. Co-hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity and the Gates Foundation, Goalkeepers is a global convening celebrating progress towards the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

UAE's Role in Global Health Initiatives

Catherine Russell from UNICEF expressed gratitude for UAE’s steadfast support in eradicating polio. She noted that every child deserves protection from polio regardless of their location. The upcoming pledging moment offers an opportunity to recommit to reaching vulnerable children with lifesaving vaccines.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from WHO remarked on how close we are to eradicating polio but stressed that more work remains. He stated that commitments made in Abu Dhabi will be crucial for securing necessary resources and resolve needed to overcome final hurdles.

The UAE has played an instrumental role in bringing global attention and resources to polio eradication efforts. The upcoming pledging event aims to further this mission by serving as a launchpad for new investments aimed at interrupting transmission and sustaining eradication efforts worldwide.

With inputs from WAM