The UAE provided aid to Egypt, over the past year, that amounted to 11.78 billion dirhams (US$3.21 billion), equal to 52 percent of the UAE's total foreign aid, said UAE Minister of Development and International Cooperation Lubna Al Qasimi.
Qasimi, who also serves as the chairman of the UAE committee for the coordination of foreign humanitarian aid, added in a statement that the amount of financial assistance provided to Egypt over the past five years (2010 to 2014) amounted to approximately 29.04 billion dirhams ($5.81 billion), equal to 48.6 percent of the UAE's foreign aid.
During a meeting with Egyptian International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr in Abu Dhabi Tuesday, Qasimi stressed her country's keenness in supporting the aspirations of the Egyptian people in improving their living condition, as well as helping with development by focusing on infrastructure projects in the education, health, housing and energy sectors.
Nasr praised the UAE's role in supporting Egypt. She also revealed the Sinai Peninsula development program, which includes a full range of projects in housing, roads, education, agricultural irrigation and well drilling, at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
