Abu Dhabi hosts $1.9bn global pledging moment to eradicate polio

Global leaders, philanthropists and major health organisations pledged a combined $1.9bn in Abu Dhabi to accelerate global polio eradication, reinforcing the UAE’s long-standing role as a convener of international health and humanitarian efforts.

The commitments, announced during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, include approximately $1.2bn in new funding, reducing the remaining resource gap for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) 2022–2029 Strategy to $440m.

Hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity in partnership with GPEI, the global pledging moment — Investing in Humanity: Uniting to End Polio — aims to advance vaccination efforts that reach 370m children each year, while strengthening health systems in the world’s most vulnerable communities.

The event was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity; Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Planning and Development, Pakistan; Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation; and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, alongside senior government, multilateral and private-sector leaders.

Polio battle in Abu Dhabi

Pledges came from a diverse coalition of global donors, including:

• $1.2bn from the Gates Foundation
• $140m from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity
• $450m from Rotary International
• $154 million from Pakistan
• $100m from Bloomberg Philanthropies
• $62m from Germany
• $46m from the USA
• $6m from Japan
• $4m from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
• $3m from Luxembourg

Dr Ghebreyesus said: “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. The new support pledged in Abu Dhabi will be instrumental in helping the GPEI reach all children in the final endemic countries and stop variant polio outbreaks around the world.”

The UAE continues to play a central global role in the eradication effort. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has committed $525m since 2011, mobilising global attention and resources, while the UAE’s Emirates Polio Campaign has delivered more than 850m vaccine doses across Pakistan since 2014, focusing on remote and hard-to-reach communities.

This year’s event marks the third such pledging moment hosted in Abu Dhabi, following summits in 2013 and 2019 that collectively secured $6.6bn for GPEI’s work.

Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, said: “Today’s pledges demonstrate our shared determination to end polio and protect every child from this preventable disease. Decades of progress have 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.”

Wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries — Afghanistan and Pakistan — though variant poliovirus outbreaks persist globally.

Once a disease that paralysed 1,000 children every day across 125 countries, polio is now 99 per cent contained thanks to decades of international collaboration.

Ending polio would make it only the second human disease in history to be eradicated, after smallpox. Success is projected to save the world more than $33bn by 2,100 compared to the long-term cost of outbreak response.

Bill Gates said: “The fight to end polio shows what is possible when the world invests together in a shared goal. We’re 99.9 percent of the way there – but the last stretch demands the same determination that got us this far. 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 — a partner in polio eradication for more than a decade and now a $325m donor — stressed that sustained commitment is essential to eliminating the disease.

Michael R. Bloomberg said: “This new $100m in support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and our partners around the world will help us get there – and help spare more people from the terrible effects of this disease.”

Funding efforts

Despite major gains, GPEI warns that eradication remains a complex challenge. Wild polio paralysed 39 children in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year, while variant outbreaks continue across 18 countries.

Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary said: “Pakistan is committed to ending polio and protecting every child. Through innovative vaccination strategies and stronger community engagement, we are building trust and reaching more children. These efforts bring us closer to a polio-free Pakistan and a healthier future for all.”

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasised that donor commitments will help reach vulnerable children in fragile environments: “UNICEF is committed to play 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.”

Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary International’s International PolioPlus Committee, highlighted the long-term progress: “Twenty million people are walking today because of polio vaccination, and we have learned, improved and innovated along the way.”

Reem Alabali Radovan, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, said that strong health systems remain essential to finishing the job, while IFANCA President Dr Muhammad Munir Chaudry said: “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.”