Dubai Humanitarian and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission have taken steps to strengthen cooperation in the fields of humanitarian supply chain, emergency preparedness and response. On the margins of the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, an Administrative Arrangement was signed today by Maciej Popowski, Director-General of DG ECHO, and Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, in the presence of HE Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development Affairs and International Organizations, and HE Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union.

The Arrangement outlines areas for closer collaboration, including information and knowledge sharing, coordination, sustainability and innovation, reaffirming both entities’ shared commitment to improving the timeliness, efficiency, and impact of humanitarian operations.

 

Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, stated, “This is our shared ambition to enhance the agility, coordination, and sustainability of humanitarian emergency response through partnership. From our unique strategic position as the largest humanitarian hub, Dubai Humanitarian plays an enabling and proactive role in facilitating the humanitarian community to deliver aid in a timely and efficient manner. We look forward to working more closely with DG ECHO to strengthen operational preparedness and support for a more effective humanitarian action worldwide.”

Reflecting on the signing, Maciej Popowski, Director-General of DG ECHO said:“This arrangement reflects our shared commitment to more effective and agile humanitarian action. By deepening our cooperation with Dubai Humanitarian, we are investing in faster, more coordinated responses to crises—built on innovation, knowledge exchange, and strategic preparedness. Together, we aim to better serve those most in need, wherever they are.”

 

Advancing Humanitarian Logistics and Crisis Response

Through this arrangement, Dubai Humanitarian and DG ECHO will collaborate on coordinated relief operations, exchange critical logistics data, and explore innovative and sustainable solutions to improve emergency response across the entire humanitarian supply chain. This includes potential joint initiatives to enhance the management and deployment of prepositioned humanitarian aid.

 

Strengthening Knowledge and Outreach

The arrangement outlines opportunities to share best practices in quality, sustainability, and operational excellence. It also paves the way for co-developing training programs that focus on enhancing local and regional emergency preparedness, as well as convening joint forums involving key stakeholders, such as academia, disaster management authorities, and the private sector. DG ECHO and DXBH will also collaborate on coordinated communication efforts to raise awareness about the importance of strong, coordinated humanitarian systems.