UAE launches Dh1 billion Mother of the Nation City project to support orphans
Eagle Hills signs MoU with Awqaf Abu Dhabi for endowment development
ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the Mother of the Nation City project, a Dh1 billion development designed to support the Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans, in one of the most significant announcements made under the Ramadan initiative.
The project was unveiled as the wider campaign raised Dh3.3 billion during the holy month, highlighting strong national support for a sustainable endowment model aimed at improving the lives of orphans across the country.
The new project is being developed through a partnership between Awqaf Abu Dhabi and leading UAE developer Eagle Hills, which has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Endowments and Minors’ Funds Authority to deliver the commercial scheme. Valued at Dh1 billion ($272.2 million), the development is intended to generate sustainable endowment returns that will be directed towards supporting orphans in the UAE.
The campaign itself was launched by Awqaf Abu Dhabi under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It aims to establish a sustainable endowment funding source dedicated to supporting orphans nationwide, while also strengthening social cohesion, resilience and long-term community wellbeing.
Mother of the Nation City
The agreement with Eagle Hills adds a major commercial dimension to the initiative. Under the MoU, the developer will design and deliver the Mother of the Nation City project as an endowment asset capable of generating regular returns over time. Those proceeds will then be allocated to the Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans campaign.
That structure is central to the campaign’s long-term ambitions. Rather than relying on one-off contributions alone, the initiative is designed to transform generosity during Ramadan into productive, income-generating assets that can provide support year after year. The returns from the Mother of the Nation City project are set to be used in key areas including education, healthcare and dignified living, ensuring that the campaign’s humanitarian impact continues well beyond the current fundraising cycle.
Awqaf Abu Dhabi has described the initiative as a national effort to create a sustainable waqf fund for orphans in the UAE. In doing so, it places endowment at the centre of a broader development model, one that links philanthropy with long-term planning and institutionally managed investment.
Dh3.3 billion raised
The launch of the Mother of the Nation City project came as the Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans initiative announced it had raised Dh3.3 billion during Ramadan. The campaign, launched at the beginning of the Holy Month, has attracted wide participation from institutions, business leaders, philanthropists and the wider community.
Among the most prominent contributions was the Mother of the Nation City project itself, valued at Dh1 billion. Other major contributions included Dh150 million from Yusuffali M.A., Chairman of Lulu Group International, and a matching Dh150 million from Emirates Red Crescent.
A number of entities also made Dh100 million contributions, including Erth Zayed Philanthropies, Awqaf Abu Dhabi, Mubadala Investment Company, Aldar, Binghatti Holding, businessman Sunny Varkey, Emirati businessman Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, and HRE Development.
The initiative also included development agreements worth hundreds of millions of dirhams. These featured a Dh200 million agreement with MAIR Group to implement development projects, another Dh100 million agreement with Lulu Group International, as well as development projects worth Dh100 million each from Manafie for Development and Investment and AlSayyah Group, and The Sons of Hamad Suhail Al Khaili.
The level of engagement has been presented by organisers as a reflection of the UAE’s deeply rooted culture of solidarity and generosity, particularly in Ramadan, and of the broad support for creating a sustainable system of care for vulnerable groups.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, said the initiative’s outcome reflected the values of giving and solidarity that define UAE society.
He said the Dh3.3 billion raised through the campaign showed a shared sense of responsibility towards supporting those most in need and reinforced the importance of sustainable endowment as a pillar of social development. He also said the success of the initiative underlined the UAE’s longstanding approach to humanitarian action through collaboration and integration across sectors.
Commenting on the agreement, Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Eagle Hills, said the company believes in supporting national initiatives that invest in people and create lasting impact within society.
He said the agreement reflected Eagle Hills’ commitment to developing high-quality projects that generate sustainable endowment returns, contributing to empowering orphans and giving them better opportunities in education and life, in line with the UAE’s vision for sustainable development and social cohesion.
Abdul Hamid Mohammed Saeed, Chairman of Awqaf Abu Dhabi, described the agreement as an important milestone in advancing the endowment ecosystem in Abu Dhabi by using impactful partnerships to deliver projects with sustainable economic and social value.
He said the Mother of the Nation City project reflected Awqaf Abu Dhabi’s commitment to maximising returns from endowment assets and directing them towards supporting vulnerable groups, particularly orphans, in a way that ensures resource sustainability and improves quality of life.
Awqaf Abu Dhabi has also thanked major supporters and contributors whose participation helped expand the campaign’s reach and humanitarian impact. The authority said the contributions reflected the UAE leadership’s longstanding approach to promoting philanthropy and sustainable giving, while translating that vision into practical support for the most vulnerable members of society.
Year of the Family
The Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans initiative seeks to convert community contributions into sustainable endowment assets managed through an approved institutional model. The resulting returns are earmarked for orphans across essential areas of support, helping improve quality of life while reinforcing their integration into society.
The campaign also aligns with the objectives of the Year of the Family, particularly in relation to strengthening family stability and reinforcing collective responsibility towards vulnerable members of the community. Organisers have presented it as both a humanitarian initiative and a development-focused effort that builds an enduring financial base for future support.
Fahad Abdulqader Al Qassim, Director General of Awqaf Abu Dhabi, said the wide participation seen throughout the campaign reflected the deeply rooted culture of generosity and solidarity in UAE society. He added that the initiative had also helped strengthen awareness of endowment as a sustainable development tool capable of turning individual and institutional contributions into long-term humanitarian impact.
The campaign further draws on the legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision established philanthropy and solidarity as central pillars of the UAE’s national identity. It also reflects the values associated with Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation”, in supporting families and strengthening their stability.