At Dubai Holding, we are committed to supporting local communities through targeted philanthropy. Together with the government, entrepreneurs and communities we innovate for positive social and environmental change.
Our philanthropy aims to create sustainable communities by promoting responsible consumption and production practices. We do this through raising awareness on sustainable practices, collaborating on research and strategic partnerships, and supporting local enterprise development and innovation.
Gift It Forward 2026
Now in its third year, Dubai Holding’s flagship philanthropic initiative Gift It Forward continues to transform surplus items from businesses into meaningful gifts for thousands of low-income beneficiaries across the UAE, driving collective sustainability impact.
Gift It Forward has received multiple accolades, including the Best in Circular Economy Award at the 2025 Global ESG Awards, the Outstanding Initiative Award at the Community Development Authority, Dubai Appreciation Award for Community Service in 2024 and 2025 and five awards at the 2024 and 2025 Middle East Public Relations Awards (MEPRA).
Across the 2024 and 2025 editions, and with the support of over 1,800 volunteers from Dubai Holding and partner organisations, the initiative reached over 26,000 low-income beneficiaries, including blue-collar workers, People of Determination, orphans, students, taxi drivers and families in need.
During this period, the initiative repurposed more than 440,000 brand-new items valued over AED 21 million, engaging 37 partners including brands across the Dubai Holding portfolio and diverting 115 tonnes of materials from landfill. These items included clothing and shoes, accessories, household items, books, electronics and more, which were transformed into gifts more than 16,000 individuals.
This Ramadan, Gift It Forward builds on the impact of previous years and aligns with national priorities such as the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, the UAE Circular Economy Policy and the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041.
The initiative continues to promote circular economy practices, reduce waste and inspire gifting with purpose. This year, we have partnered with The Surpluss, an AI-powered B2B platform and runner-up of our Innovate For Tomorrow Challenge 2024, as our official execution partner. The Surpluss will manage the end-to-end process for more than 55 partners, including collection, sorting and redistribution, and will introduce a digital platform to enable efficiency, transparency and real-time impact tracking across 27 marketplaces.
Launched during COP28 and aligned with UN SDG 12, the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator is our flagship global scale-up programme designed to identify and accelerate solutions that reimagine how resources are consumed, produced and regenerated. The accelerator reflects our commitment to advancing the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031, the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and UAE Vision 2071, by supporting innovators shaping a more resilient future.
In partnership with TECOM Group’s start-up and entrepreneurship incubator, in5, the accelerator supports scale-ups developing circular economy solutions relevant to the UAE, while providing a structured pathway from idea to impact through piloting, mentorship and market access. The 2024 edition attracted over 150 submissions from 31 countries, with Norway's Othalo securing first place and The Surpluss selected as the runner-up.
For the 2025 cohort, the programme received more than 1,400 submissions from 93 countries, reflecting strong global momentum for purpose-driven sustainability solutions. Following a rigorous selection process, 15 scale-ups were selected to participate in a 12-week hybrid accelerator, gaining access to mentorship from industry leaders, targeted masterclasses and investor networks.
The programme will culminate in a Demo Day in May 2026, where the top five scale-ups will pitch to investors and partners. Participants will compete for a total prize pool of AED 850,000, including pilot funding and proof-of-concept opportunities across Dubai Holding’s portfolio to support real-world implementation.
Nakheel, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has partnered with the Dubai Reef project by Dubai Can and the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the world’s largest marine reef development. Spanning 600 km², this initiative involves deploying 20,000 purpose-built reef modules over three years. Launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it aims to enhance biodiversity, protect coastal ecosystems and support aquatic research, regeneration and ecotourism, creating a sustainable future for marine life.
20 years of turtle conservation
The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, the first initiative of its kind in the region, has been a cornerstone of marine wildlife conservation in the UAE. Celebrating 20 years in 2024, the programme has rescued, rehabilitated and released over 2,200 sea turtles - including Green turtles, Hawksbills, Loggerheads and Olive Ridleys - back into the Arabian Gulf.
Rehabilitation begins with critical care at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab’s aquarium facilities before turtles are transferred to a sea-fed lagoon at Jumeirah Al Naseem. Here, they acclimatise to natural conditions and regain fitness for their return to the ocean. To date, 89 turtles have been equipped with satellite tracking technology, furthering research and conservation efforts.
Jumeirah Thanda
Jumeirah Thanda Island, located in Tanzania’s Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve, is dedicated to preserving marine biodiversity. Led by its marine biologist, the island supports research and restoration projects, identifying over 340 fish species, 34 coral genera and numerous invertebrates. Partnerships with Sea Sense and the Marine Megafauna Foundation focus on protecting endangered turtles and whale sharks, promoting sustainable development and community engagement. Meanwhile, Jumeirah Thanda Safari in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province leads conservation efforts across its 16,500-hectare reserve. Using advanced rhino tracking technology and monitoring cheetahs, elephants and predators, the reserve protects endangered species while supporting range expansion programmes and anti-poaching initiatives.
The Good Store
In 2024, TECOM Group partnered with Emirates Red Crescent to reintroduce The Good Store, a donation platform enabling individuals and organisations to contribute essential items like Ramadan food boxes, Iftar meals and Eid clothing. Through pop-ups, roaming trollies and grocery store takeovers, the initiative united communities, raising AED 133,695 and reaching 8.9 million people, driving meaningful impact during Ramadan.
