Abu Dhabi:Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention, emphasized the UAE's commitment to eradicating polio, reflecting the nation's humanitarian approach under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE's national vision prioritizes human health, which has been evident in its success in eliminating polio domestically and supporting global eradication efforts.

According to Wam, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has contributed US$525 million internationally since 2011 to ensure a healthier future for children in a polio-free world. Al Sayegh highlighted the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign's success, which has delivered over 850 million vaccine doses in Pakistan since 2014.

Al Sayegh also noted the UAE's support of international efforts through the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, which partnered with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to host a global pledging event in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. This event saw international pledges amounting to nearly US$1.9 billion, underscoring the importance of international partnerships in accelerating polio eradication.

He commended Dubai Humanitarian, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, for its effective contributions to the World Health Organisation's logistics operations. eHealth Africa, based at Dubai Humanitarian, has developed over 50 polio outbreak response management rooms across 26 African countries and deployed technologies to support vaccination campaigns, immunizing more than 14.6 million children in Nigeria.

Al Sayegh reaffirmed the UAE's advanced preventive health system, which has successfully protected generations from polio, with no cases recorded since 1992. World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, raises global awareness of poliomyelitis and celebrates the efforts to eradicate the virus.