No polio cases since 1992: UAE reaffirms global eradication commitment on World Polio Day
On World Polio Day, observed annually on 24 October, the UAE has reiterated its longstanding commitment to eradicating polio globally, highlighting both its domestic elimination of the disease and its substantial financial and logistical contributions abroad.
UAE’s domestic victory over polio
Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that the UAE has recorded no polio cases since 1992. He attributed this success to the nation’s effective health policies, integrated immunisation programmes and robust epidemiological surveillance systems. The achievement, he said, reflects the UAE’s advanced institutional capabilities and high level of preparedness, providing a foundation for sustainable health security and ensuring the highest levels of health protection for future generations.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s global contributions
Al Sayegh noted that President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has contributed a total of US$525 million to international polio efforts since 2011. This support, the minister affirmed, embodies the UAE’s humanitarian approach under the guidance of its wise leadership, placing human health at the forefront of national priorities.
Vaccination campaigns and partnerships
The minister highlighted the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign, which has delivered more than 850 million vaccine doses in Pakistan since 2014 as part of ongoing efforts to protect children and curb the spread of the disease. He stressed that humanitarian responsibility means ensuring vaccination reaches every child, including those in remote and underserved areas.
Al Sayegh also pointed to a global pledging event hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. At that event, international pledges totalling nearly US$1.9 billion were announced, underscoring the importance of international partnerships and resource mobilisation to accelerate eradication efforts.
Role of Dubai Humanitarian and eHealth Africa
The minister commended the effective contributions of Dubai Humanitarian, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which plays a pivotal role in enabling the World Health Organisation’s logistics operations. These include providing essential laboratory supplies for poliovirus detection and supporting eradication efforts. Additionally, eHealth Africa, based at Dubai Humanitarian, has helped establish and develop more than 50 polio outbreak response management rooms across 26 African countries. The organisation has also deployed geospatial tracking technologies to support vaccination campaigns that have successfully immunised more than 14.6 million children across six Nigerian states.
Al Sayegh affirmed that these efforts reflect the vital role of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in strengthening international humanitarian partnerships, enhancing epidemiological surveillance capacity, expanding immunisation campaigns and reinforcing the UAE’s contribution to protecting children and advancing global efforts towards a polio-free future.
