Abu dhabi: The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has announced that it will host a significant pledging event to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). This initiative, which is a coalition of countries and partners, is dedicated to eradicating polio worldwide.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event is scheduled for 8th December 2025 in Abu Dhabi and will gather countries, donors, philanthropists, and global health partners to secure vital new investments for polio eradication. This will be the third pledging event hosted in Abu Dhabi, following successful summits in 2013 and 2019 that collectively raised US$6.6 billion to support the GPEI's efforts to end polio.
Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, announced this initiative on World Polio Day at an event co-hosted by UNICEF and the GPEI in New York. The event, themed 'From Vaccine to Victory: 70 Years of Polio Progress, One Achievable Goal,' brought together programme leaders, donor representatives, academics, and advocates.
Ambassador Abushahab emphasized the UAE's commitment under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to ensure healthy, productive lives for all. He noted that the forthcoming pledging moment underscores the UAE's belief in collective action to eradicate polio and promote global health resilience.
Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Acting Director General of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, highlighted the importance of sustained funding and collaboration to achieve a polio-free future. The pledging moment will precede the Goalkeepers Abu Dhabi event, co-hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity and the Gates Foundation.
Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation, expressed confidence in the global commitment to finishing the task of polio eradication. Despite the reduction of wild poliovirus cases by over 99% in the last four decades, continued financial and political support is essential to counter variant polio outbreaks and ensure a polio-free future.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been a key supporter of global efforts to end polio, including through the GPEI and the Emirates Polio Campaign in partnership with the Government of Pakistan. The December pledging event aims to build on this legacy by launching new investments in the GPEI's updated strategy.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed the importance of protecting children from polio through lifesaving vaccines, acknowledging the UAE's leadership in this global effort. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical nature of commitments made in Abu Dhabi to overcome the final hurdles in polio eradication.