The UAE will receive around 15,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years with the aim of sharing in the responsibility of addressing the Syrian refugee crisis.

Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said while Speaking at the “Leaders’ Summit on Refugees” at UN, that, “Five years ago, before the Syrian crisis erupted, 115,000 Syrians lived and worked in the UAE, joining more than 200 different nationalities and ethnicities that make up the tapestry of our diverse society and whose active and significant contributions are a clear rebuttal to the global wave of xenophobia. Since then, we have welcomed more than 123,000 Syrians.”

“We meet at a critical time. The number of refugees and displaced persons is the largest in modern history. This crisis is being driven by a series of interlinked conflicts, fueled by extremism that crosses borders and transcends geographies. However, what brings us together today, is our collective commitment to strengthening international cooperation and action, through a comprehensive approach to refugee crises,” She said.

“The UAE strongly supports the humanitarian efforts of regional and international organizations, and we commend the United Nations’ leadership in bringing Tuesday’s New York Declaration to fruition,” Al Hashemi continued.

"This is an important step forward, which must be complemented by a dedication to preventing wars and conflicts, currently the main drivers of forced migration. We all must do our part to engage in dialogue, resolve differences and support global pillars of peace and stability. Ultimately, we must offer a source of hope for displaced persons that allows them to maintain dignity, return home, reintegrate themselves into their societies, and rebuild their countries and their lives,” she said.

“This takes a simultaneous development and humanitarian approach, where we consider both near-term urgency and the tools for longer-term empowerment,” she added.

“The crisis of refugees and displaced persons, however, is not confined to the Middle East, it is a global phenomenon that requires the attention of the entire international community. The UAE is committed to working with you to find collective and effective solutions to prevent further escalation of the global refugee crisis,” the UAE minister concluded.

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