DUBAI, 23rd May, 2025 (WAM) -- Dubai Humanitarian and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission have signed an Administrative Arrangement to strengthen cooperation in humanitarian supply chain, emergency preparedness and response.
On the sidelines of the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, the arrangement was signed by Maciej Popowski, Director-General of DG ECHO, and Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, in the presence of Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development Affairs and International Organisations, and Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union.
The arrangement outlines areas for closer collaboration, including information and knowledge sharing, coordination, sustainability and innovation, reaffirming both entities’ shared commitment to improving the timeliness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian operations.
Saba commented, “This is our shared ambition to enhance the agility, coordination, and sustainability of humanitarian emergency response through partnership. From our unique strategic position as the largest humanitarian hub, Dubai Humanitarian plays an enabling and proactive role in facilitating the humanitarian community to deliver aid in a timely and efficient manner.”
In turn, Popowski said, “This arrangement reflects our shared commitment to more effective and agile humanitarian action. By deepening our cooperation with Dubai Humanitarian, we are investing in faster, more coordinated responses to crises—built on innovation, knowledge exchange, and strategic preparedness. Together, we aim to better serve those most in need, wherever they are.”
Through this arrangement, both sides will collaborate on coordinated relief operations, exchange critical logistics data, and explore innovative and sustainable solutions to improve emergency response across the entire humanitarian supply chain. This includes potential joint initiatives to enhance the management and deployment of prepositioned humanitarian aid.
The arrangement outlines opportunities to share best practices in quality, sustainability, and operational excellence. It also paves the way for co-developing training programmes that focus on enhancing local and regional emergency preparedness, as well as convening joint forums involving key stakeholders, such as academia, disaster management authorities, and the private sector.
They will also collaborate on coordinated communication efforts to raise awareness about the importance of strong, coordinated humanitarian systems.