Dubai, UAE – Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed inaugurated the 21st edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) Conference and Exhibition. This prestigious event gathered key humanitarian leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, government representatives, and private sector partners to address global humanitarian challenges under the theme "Humanitarian Aid and Development in a Polarised World."
This year's DIHAD featured an extensive agenda built upon five strategic pillars: Sustainability, Empowerment, Partnership, Education, and Innovation. Abdulsalam AlMadani, Chairman of DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation, emphasized DIHAD's continuous role as a premier global platform for dialogue, collaboration, and tangible humanitarian actions. Ahmed Al Muhairi, Secretary-General of DIHAD, highlighted the event's role in fostering global cooperation and practical solutions for communities affected by crises.
A significant moment of the conference was the presentation of the DIHAD International Personality Award for Humanitarian Relief 2025 to Kate Forbes, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Forbes underscored the necessity of decisive action beyond mere affirmation of humanitarian principles.
For its third consecutive year, the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) successfully showcased its humanitarian and sustainable development programs at DIHAD. The IOFS booth attracted a large number of visitors from diverse professional backgrounds, including representatives of international NGOs, private sector companies, government bodies, and humanitarian experts. Attendees gained valuable insights into IOFS’s extensive work, particularly its flagship programs such as the Afghanistan Food Security Program and the "Flour for Humanity" initiative aimed at supporting Gaza.
Notably, IOFS’s subsidiary, the International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA), co-exhibited at the IOFS booth, highlighting robust private sector engagement. IFPA CEO, Mr. Saleh Lootah, underscored the necessity of building sustainable and impactful ecosystems and praised the UAE and Dubai for fostering an environment conducive to humanitarian and development-focused organizations. He also previewed the upcoming Global Food Security Summit (GFSS), scheduled for October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing the critical need for innovative financing and collaborative partnerships in humanitarian initiatives.
Throughout DIHAD, IOFS representatives actively engaged with fellow exhibitors and humanitarian stakeholders, fostering new potential partnerships, including meaningful discussions with the Egyptian Food Bank. IOFS Humanitarian Operations Officer, Mr. Emre Yuksek, participated in a prominent podcast session titled "Innovation for Humanity," where he shared insights on IOFS’s transformative approaches and contributions to reshaping humanitarian action in the contemporary landscape.
DIHAD 2025 attracted over 18,000 participants from 160 countries, hosting more than 1,063 humanitarian organizations, 138 key buyers from UN agencies and leading humanitarian institutions, and 131 global expert speakers across 64 main sessions and 197 workshops, further solidifying Dubai's role as a global humanitarian hub.
