UAE PRESIDENT DEPLOYS PERSONAL CHARITY FOUNDA

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001109 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID SCUL AE SUBJECT: UAE PRESIDENT DEPLOYS PERSONAL CHARITY FOUNDA TION REF: ABU DHABI 291 Sensitive but unclassified. ¶1. (U) Summary: Under the patronage of its namesake, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation is increasingly involved in Abu Dhabi assistance efforts, both domestic and international. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a September 18 visit to the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the UAE President's charitable arm described reftel, EmbOffs discussed the organization's outreach to counterparts in the U.S. and Europe. Executive Director Mohammed al-Khoori and Deputy Executive Director for Business Affairs Mohamed Bastaki described recent visits to foundations coordinated through the Boston Consulting Group -- visits to the Gates, Clinton, Ford, and other notable foundations were, according to our interlocutors, extremely useful to help the Khalifa Foundation focus its partnership efforts. Al-Khoori since told PolChief that he anticipates visits by some of these foundations to the UAE in the near future. ¶3. (SBU) Evidencing its expanding role, the Khalifa Foundation has been prominently praised in the local press during the holy month of Ramadan for providing meals to the needy both in the UAE and abroad. Also, following media reports that President Khalifa would donate 200 million AED (USD 54 million) to aid infrastructure and essential services in Afghanistan and that he had tasked the Khalifa Foundation to coordinate the effort -- the Afghan Ambassador to the UAE called PolChief September 23 to discuss the Foundation's growing capabilities. We anticipate hearing more about the Foundation as it takes on new roles. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The relatively new foundation is clearly well resourced and with the active patronage of President Khalifa is likely to become a fixture in helping execute UAE foreign aid objectives. End comment. OLSON