UAE Grants $64.5M to Palestinian Hospital in East Jerusalem

UAE Grants $64.5M to Al-Makassed Hospital to Boost Palestinian Healthcare

Al-Makassed Hospital, a key medical facility treating Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem, has received a $64.5 million donation from the United Arab Emirates. The financial assistance was approved in accordance with the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is intended to cover essential facility improvements, staff salaries and operating costs, according to the Emirates News Agency.

Omar Abu Zayda, Director General of the hospital, thanked the UAE for its continued support, highlighting its role in maintaining operations and ensuring effective medical care. He stressed the UAE’s continued support for the Palestinian people, especially in Jerusalem, which dates back to the administration of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan.

Al-Makassed Hospital, located on the Mount of Olives, treats more than 66,000 patients in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. With more than 250 beds and 950 medical staff, it has grown into a major medical facility since its establishment in 1968. In addition, the hospital has trained more than 540 medical specialists in a variety of specialties through its advanced residency program.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan, chairperson of the UAE’s International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, reaffirmed the Emirates’ dedication to supporting Palestinian society. The chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, Tareq Ahmed Al-Ameri, also stressed continued partnerships with foreign groups to improve medical treatment in Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Al-Makassed Hospital is essential for specialist medical services, especially in orthopedics, pediatrics, cardiac surgery, and medical research. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), acknowledged the UAE’s financial support, saying it will enable the delivery of essential drugs, state-of-the-art medical imaging equipment, and enhanced training programs for over 100 residents across 11 specialties.

The grant is a major step toward strengthening the healthcare system in Palestine, especially for women, children, and patients in need of specialized care.