H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Al-Thani

H.E supported more than 320,000 refugees and displaced persons in Iraq, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bangladesh and Jordan since 2015, through UNHCR’s programmes. In April 2019, H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani made a landmark Zakat contribution in support of close to 875,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and displaced Yemenis in Yemen. This was the largest contribution UNHCR had ever received from an individual donor and the first major Zakat contribution of its kind in the organization’s history.

H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani was appointed as UNHCR Eminent Advocate in October 2019. His unwavering commitment and dedication to supporting those forcibly displaced has contributed to improving the lives of millions of women, men, and children around the world.

From 2019 till 2021, H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani has generously supported close to 3 million of the most vulnerable internally displaced, and host community members in Yemen, as well as refugees in Lebanon, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Chad.

The areas of support included basic needs, food, shelter, health, education, and livelihood, enabling those most vulnerable to live a more dignified life.

In 2022, H.E Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani supported more than 114,000 internally displaced and members of host communities in Yemen, through Zakat contributions, with cash assistance to meet their urgent food needs.

In December 2023, Dr. Ayedh Dabsan Al-Qahtani, Chief Executive Officer of the Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanity and UNHCR Patron, attended the second Global Refugee Forum that was held in Geneva. In his role, Dr. Ayedh participated as a speaker in the Plenary session discussing, The Role of Islamic Philanthropy Institutions in the Humanitarian Response to Displacement Crises. As the number of forcibly displaced people continues to increase around the world, the support of H.E Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani, for whom refugees and internally displaced people have been a focus, alleviates the suffering and hardship of these vulnerable groups. These Zakat contributions play a key role in helping UNHCR provide the basics of a decent life and achieve a positive impact on the lives of refugees and displaced people who are most in need.