Volunteering and service in the UAE

Volunteering lets you put your values into action, meet people outside your usual circle and discover what you care about. In the UAE there are official platforms that make it easy to find safe, registered opportunities and record your hours.

Why volunteer

• The NHS lists giving to others, including volunteering in your community, as one of its five steps to mental wellbeing, because it can create positive feelings and a sense of reward, and give you a feeling of purpose and self-worth.
• Mayo Clinic Health System links volunteering with better physical and mental health, a sense of purpose and stronger relationships.
• Greater Good notes that volunteering broadens your experiences and connects you with people who share your values, which helps purpose grow.
• It also builds skills employers and universities value, such as teamwork, reliability and communication. The CVs module shows how to describe it.
• Choose causes you genuinely care about. Service done only for a certificate tends to feel empty and is easy to give up.

Volunteers.ae: the national platform

• Volunteers.ae is the UAE's national volunteering platform, launched in 2017. It matches volunteers with opportunities from public and private organisations across all seven emirates.
• It is run as a partnership between the Emirates Foundation and the Ministry of Community Empowerment.
• UAE citizens and residents of all nationalities can register, and the platform says all age groups may sign up.
• If you are under 18, you need parent or guardian approval as part of registration. You will also need a personal photo and copies of your passport and Emirates ID; you can create an account directly or sign up with UAE Pass.
• Hours for both in-person and virtual volunteering are recorded on the platform, and completed opportunities can earn a certificate.
• Contact: 800-VOLAE (800-86523) or info@volunteers.ae.

Rules and other routes by emirate

• In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Community Development says a volunteer must be at least 18, but under-18s may volunteer with written consent from their guardian. Abu Dhabi volunteers register through volunteers.ae/abudhabi.
• Abu Dhabi volunteer licences cover volunteering within Abu Dhabi only; other emirates need approval from their own authorities.
• In Dubai, the Community Development Authority runs the Dubai Volunteering Center, where individuals can register.
• The UAE Government portal lists other programmes, such as the Emirates Red Crescent, whose volunteer groups include a 'Student Crescent' for school students, and Takatof from the Emirates Foundation for young people.
• Some organisations set their own age rules. For example, the government portal states that Dubai Cares supporters must be over 16, or accompanied by a parent if younger. Always check the current rules with the organisation.

Choosing an opportunity and being a good volunteer

• Match your skills to a need: tutoring younger children, helping at a food distribution, beach clean-ups, supporting events, or translating for a charity.
• Use official platforms or well-known registered organisations, and tell a parent or guardian where you are going and with whom.
• Turn up on time, follow the coordinator's instructions and dress appropriately for the task and the heat. Bring water for outdoor work.
• Respect the dignity and privacy of the people you serve: do not take or post photos of them without permission.
• Afterwards, write down what you did, what you learned and who supervised you. This makes it easy to add to a CV or university application.

Service abroad and online

• Universities in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere usually have student volunteering offices and societies. Look them up in your first few weeks.
• Volunteers.ae also lists virtual opportunities, which can suit busy exam periods.
• Be wary of any 'volunteer' scheme that asks for large fees or makes big promises about impact. The Scams and Fraud module explains warning signs.
• Service can also be informal: helping a neighbour, teaching a grandparent to use a phone, or mentoring a younger student.