In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the foundation has hosted a global pledging event titled Investing in Humanity: United to End Polio. Held in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the event announced US$1.9 billion in support of global efforts to eradicate polio.
Taking place on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the pledging event brought together international leaders and philanthropists, including Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Planning and Development in Pakistan; Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation; and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); alongside senior representatives from governments, multilateral institutions, and both private and public sectors.
Pledges were announced by a diverse group of donors and countries, including: US$1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation; US$140 million from Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity; $450 million from Rotary International; $100 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies; US$154 million from Pakistan; US$62 million from Germany; US$46 million from the United States of America; US$6 million from Japan; US$4 million from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA); and US$3 million from Luxembourg.
The donations aim to strengthen global initiatives to eradicate polio, including US$1.2 billion in newly pledged funds that will help close the remaining resource gap for the GPEI’s 2022-2029 Strategy. The contributions will accelerate vital efforts to reach 370 million children yearly with polio vaccines and reinforce health systems in affected countries to protect children from other preventable diseases.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, is a global champion of polio eradication, having committed US$525 million since 2011 to fighting the disease, and drawing international attention and resources to the cause. Through the UAE’s Emirates Polio Campaign, more than 850 million vaccine doses have been delivered to children across Pakistan since 2014, with a focus on reaching children in remote and hard-to-access communities.
Today’s pledging moment is the third hosted in Abu Dhabi, following summits in 2013 and 2019 that collectively secured US$6.6 billion in support of GPEI’s mission to eradicate polio.
Wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – yet outbreaks of variant poliovirus continue to threaten children around the world. The pledges announced today reaffirm international commitment to completing the eradication effort, safeguarding future generations from a disease that once paralysed 1,000 children every day across 125 countries.
Eradicating polio would mark it as only the second human disease ever eliminated – after smallpox – and is projected to save the world more than US$33 billion by 2100 compared with the ongoing costs of outbreak control.
“Today’s pledges demonstrate our shared determination to end polio and protect every child from this preventable disease,” said Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Court for National Projects, Chair of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity. “Decades of progress has proved that a polio-free world is within our reach when we act together. Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are proud to stand with countries, donors and partners as we work hand-in-hand to achieve it.”
"We are on the cusp of eradicating polio and securing a historic win for humanity. But we need all countries, partners and donors to step up now to get the job done,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. “The new support pledged in Abu Dhabi will be instrumental in helping the GPEI reach all children in the final endemic countries and stopping variant polio outbreaks around the world."
“The fight to end polio shows what is possible when the world invests together in a shared goal. We’re 99.9 per cent of the way there – but the last stretch demands the same determination that got us this far,” said Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation. “This renewed funding will help us cross the finish line and strengthen the systems that protect children from this terrible disease for good.”
“Bloomberg Philanthropies has been teaming up with the Gates Foundation for more than a decade to eradicate polio – and we are within striking distance of what would be a monumental achievement,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. “This new $100 million in support for the GPEI and our partners around the world will help us get there – and help spare more people from the terrible effects of this disease.”
The dedicated efforts of governments, advocates, researchers and partners have reduced cases of polio by more than 99 per cent since 1988. The intensive drive to reach every child with polio vaccines have also strengthened broader health systems, improving routine immunisation, disease surveillance and emergency response capabilities.
Following historic lows in 2021 and 2023, wild polio has tragically paralysed 39 children in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2025, while outbreaks of variant poliovirus continue in 18 countries, underscoring the ongoing challenges in reaching every child.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: “The generous pledges made by donors today, and many others who continue supporting the eradication effort, will help community health workers worldwide in reaching every child, especially those who are consistently missing vaccination in the most fragile and conflict-affected areas. UNICEF is committed to playing our part in eradicating polio once and for all.”
Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said: "Decades of global partnership – including the convening power of the UAE and other key supporters – have brought us closer than ever before to ending polio. As we continue to work innovatively towards this shared goal, this new funding gives us renewed confidence that one day soon we can achieve a polio-free future for all children.”
"Twenty million people are walking today because of polio vaccination, and we have learned, improved and innovated along the way. Rotary remains committed to seeing this fight through to the end," said Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary International PolioPlus Committee.
“Germany remains steadfast in its support of the global fight against polio and has contributed to GPEI since the beginning. Thereby, we have played a key role in achieving that Nigeria and India are now considered polio-free. By working together and investing in robust health systems – including through vital contributions to WHO and UNICEF like those announced today – we can ensure that every child, no matter where they live, is protected from this preventable disease,” said Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany.
“Supporting children and protecting the most vulnerable is central to IFANCA’s mission," said IFANCA President Dr. Muhammad Munir Chaudry. "We are proud to renew our commitment to the global effort to end polio and to help ensure every child is reached with lifesaving protection. The last mile is the hardest, but we stand with our partners across GPEI to finish the job and create a world finally free of polio.”
