Emirati businessman of Syrian origin, Dr. Abdulqader Sankari, has announced a pledge of AED 146,800,000, equivalent to approximately USD 40 million, from the United Arab Emirates to the Syrian Arab Republic. The announcement was made during the three-day “Aleppo Belongs to All” campaign, aimed at supporting development projects within Aleppo Governorate.

This pledge represents the largest financial contribution made during the campaign and reflects Dr. Sankari’s continued commitment to supporting sustainable development and advancing educational, health, economic, and social recovery in Aleppo, contributing to improved livelihoods and meaningful opportunities for the city’s residents.

A Lifelong Commitment to Humanitarian Action

Dr. Abdulqader Sankari left Aleppo in 1970 to pursue his studies in pharmacy in Alexandria and Cairo. He later began his professional career as a lecturer at the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain. Since then, he has built a long and distinguished record in humanitarian and charitable work, providing sustained support to Syrians and other communities in need, particularly throughout the years of the Syrian crisis.

Dr. Sankari currently chairs two charitable organizations he founded: Al-Rowad Foundation for Development and Cooperation and Human Aid and Development (HAND). Through these institutions, hundreds of humanitarian and development initiatives have been implemented across sectors including education, relief, economic empowerment, and capacity building in multiple countries.

Key Contributions in the United Arab Emirates

Within the UAE, Dr. Sankari has been a prominent contributor to major national humanitarian initiatives, including:

• AED 50 million in support of the 1 Billion Meals Endowment campaign.
  
  
• AED 5 million contributed to the 100 Million Meals campaign.
  
  
• AED 20 million to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the leadership’s message of solidarity embodied in the phrase “Do not worry”.
  
  
• AED 2 million as part of the pledge announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reinforcing the humanitarian principle: “No one living in the UAE will go hungry.”
  
  

Dr. Sankari has also partnered with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives – The Digital School, supporting the education of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and contributing to educational assistance for more than 100,000 Lebanese children affected by the recent conflict in Lebanon.

Continued Support Inside Syria

As part of his ongoing commitment to Syria, organizations chaired by Dr. Sankari implemented the rehabilitation of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, at a cost of USD 400,000, ensuring the site is once again ready to receive worshippers and visitors while preserving its historical and religious significance.

Dr. Sankari’s pledge to the “Aleppo Belongs to All” campaign stands as a powerful example of the role that organized philanthropy and private-sector leadership can play in supporting recovery, rebuilding, and restoring hope for Aleppo and its people at this critical moment in Syria’s history.