As the UAE celebrates 2025 as the Year of Community, there is a growing momentum towards social engagement through volunteering, charitable giving, and active participation in non-profit initiatives. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, which occurred in March, UAE residents supported several initiatives, including the UAE Food Bank’s ‘United in Giving’ project, providing millions of meals to those in need whilst promoting sustainable food management. Others gave Zakat to approved causes, such as the United Nations High Commission on Refugees via its Ramadan fundraising campaign.
As UAE residents reflect on the Year of Community so far, many are asking: how can I do more?
In recent times, there has been greater interest from residents about what is legal, and what is not, and why the UAE regulatory environment is different to their home country. There are several laws and regulations to be aware of, but plenty of opportunities to become involved in community work, provided you know where to look.
Generous hearts and wallets
The UAE has long promoted philanthropy through established organisations such as Dubai Cares, the Emirates Red Crescent, and the Emirates Foundation, which support humanitarian and other social causes both locally and internationally. However, before reaching for your wallet, it pays to be aware. Under UAE law, only registered charities can accept public donations, and non-profit organisations do not hold charitable status. The average resident could easily be confused between which organisations are charities, and which are not. In Dubai, check whether the organisation has a current and valid fundraising permit with the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), and if so, it should be safe to make a donation. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and stick to well-known fundraising campaigns conducted by approved charities, such as the Emirates Red Crescent, Dubai Cares, the Bait Al Khair Society or WWF-Emirates Nature. Always be aware that:
• Begging is a criminal offence, and individuals or organisations cannot directly solicit or receive donations from individuals or businesses.
• Crowdfunding is heavily regulated, and unauthorised fundraising—such as GoFundMe-style campaigns—can lead to legal penalties.
• Non-profit associations, companies or individuals may be able to fundraise in partnership with approved charities. Consider the YallaGive platform, which facilitates such campaigns.
A culture of volunteering
Volunteering for social causes is a regulated activity in the UAE. Put simply, you cannot organise or participate in a public volunteering activity without a permit from the competent regulatory authority, being the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi (DCD) and the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA).
If you are looking to get actively involved, a great place to start is volunteering with an existing charity or non-profit, who has done the grunt work in becoming registered and navigating the compliance framework. The most straightforward and responsible way for individual UAE residents to participate in volunteering is to download the volunteers.ae app, register as a volunteer, and sign up for opportunities advertised on the platform, such as the highly successful ‘UAE Stands with Lebanon Campaign’ held in October 2024, the ‘Senior Citizen Home Visit’ led by Tawan Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Al Ain, along with blood donation drives and a range of sports volunteering opportunities at major events. You can even log your volunteering hours, which is a great way for residents to track and verify their participation, particularly students who may wish to demonstrate their volunteering hours as part of university or internship applications.
Other volunteering opportunities can be found via the websites of registered charities or non-profit associations, such as Emirates-Nature WWF (a wildlife conservation charity), AZRAQ (an ocean conservation non-profit) and Dubai Cares (which focuses on education initiatives around the world).
Separately, several private companies in the UAE offer volunteering experiences for schools, government and the private sector, such as Goumbook (which offers an ‘Eat it or Save it’ food waste campaign among others) and Companies for Good (which offers corporate social responsibility and team building activities).
Establishing non-profit organisations
Starting a non-profit organisation to advance a social cause presents a more complex regulatory landscape—especially for expatriates. Under UAE law, non-profit organisations can be established onshore under the regulatory oversight of the Ministry of Community Enhancement (MOCE), together with the CDA in Dubai and DCD in Abu Dhabi. However, there are several limitations:
Under Federal law, expatriate residents cannot independently establish a non-profit organisation; they must partner with UAE nationals who will serve as a 70% majority of the organisation’s founding members. Exceptions exist in industry-specific free zones like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Humanitarian City, which is home to the well-known charity, Gulf for Good, but their approved activities are typically more limited. The rules are designed to ensure that community initiatives align with the country’s long-term social vision and governance structure. While such requirements can make it challenging for smaller initiatives to gain formal recognition (and can attract regulatory penalties if rules are flouted), they encourage genuine partnerships between expatriates and citizens, who can responsibly partner together for an approved social cause.
Non-profit organisations are legally distinct from charities, and as mentioned above, they cannot collect donations. While these regulations ensure transparency and prevent misuse of funds, they do limit grassroots fundraising efforts, making it harder for smaller non-profit initiatives to sustain themselves. However, non-profit associations can accept sponsorships, grants or sell goods and services, which can fund their operations, including payments of staff, premises, IT and other administrative costs, and provided any profits generated must be re-invested in the organisation. Volunteers are also able to support the non-profit’s activities, provided they are registered with the competent authority.
The legal framework for corporate social enterprises in the UAE remains evolving, and there is no formal structure at the time. However, the Authority of Social Contribution in Abu Dubai (‘Ma’An’) provides prestigious social enterprise accreditation for companies who satisfy stringent criteria. A thriving example of a Ma’An-accredited social enterprise is ‘The Butterfly’, an Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) company run by empowerment and inclusion advocate, Marilena DeCosta. Her company runs the ‘Inclusive Employment Ecosystem’ with corporate members paying a fee for a range of inclusion support benefits.
Navigating the legal framework
In summary, there are several ways for UAE citizens and expatriates to contribute meaningfully to the local community:
Volunteer with established organisations
A great place to start is volunteering with an existing, licensed non-profit. They have done the grunt work in becoming registered and navigating the compliance framework. Learn the ropes and understand what it takes to establish a non-profit by first supporting an existing organisation.
Collaborate with approved charities
Residents, whether individuals or companies, can partner with legally recognised entities like Dubai Cares or the Emirates Red Crescent to fundraise and launch initiatives. Whilst you will need to have a compelling idea that aligns with existing charitable causes, and a powerful network to ensure your idea reaches the right people within an existing charity, the UAE is a land of opportunity, not only for business but also for philanthropy. Set a meeting and pitch your idea.
Explore social enterprises
While traditional non-profits are difficult to establish, impact-driven businesses that reinvest profits into social causes can be an alternative model for expatriates, who can typically establish with 100% foreign ownership either onshore or in free zones, provided their corporate activities are approved by the competent authority.
Private sector initiatives
Of all stakeholders, the private sector has the most powerful opportunity to make a difference in the Year of Community. With the skills, resources, and capital to drive impact, companies can sponsor registered non-profits, support approved internship programmes—including those aligned with Emiratisation—and lead by example.
Moving toward a more inclusive system
The 2025 Year of Community presents an opportunity to further refine non-profit regulation and policy, making the third sector more inclusive while maintaining strong governance and preserving the values and traditions of the UAE. The UAE’s MOCE and relevant authorities have done extensive work on the policy framework in recent years and could explore frameworks which enhance opportunities for fundraising and non-profit leadership throughout the diverse UAE community, which comprises citizens of the world.
For now, the best path forward for expatriates, including private sector foreign companies with a UAE presence, remains collaboration with UAE nationals and established UAE charities—ensuring that social impact continues to grow within the country’s legal framework. While challenges for active participation exist, the spirit of community engagement in the UAE is stronger than ever, and those committed to making a difference will always find a way to contribute.
By Jenine Abdeljaber and Alison Eslick, senior associates in the dispute resolution practice at Reed Smith. This article was first published in the July-August 2025 print issue of Law Middle East.
