Dubai, UAE – UNHCR has launched its 8th Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report – Impact 2025 highlighting the growing role of Zakat and Sadaqah in delivering life-saving assistance to refugees and internally displaced people amid unprecedented global funding cuts.

In 2025, USD 39 million was raised through Islamic philanthropy, enabling UNHCR to support more than one million displaced people across 25 countries. Contributions were mobilised through strategic partnerships, global campaigns, and the Refugee Zakat Fund, with 45 major donors and Islamic institutions, alongside tens of thousands of individual supporters, placing their trust in UNHCR.

The Refugee Zakat Fund received over USD 23 million in Zakat, assisting nearly 580,000 eligible refugees and internally displaced people in 17 countries, while Sadaqah contributions reached almost USD 16 million, supporting more than 450,000 people in 18 countries through essential humanitarian assistance.

Nearly 60 per cent of donations came from MENA-based donors, reflecting the region’s leadership in faith-based giving. The report also highlights expansion to four new countries and the scale-up of Sadaqah Jariyah water projects in Bangladesh, providing clean water access to 280,000 people.

To enhance transparency and accessibility, UNHCR continues to innovate through the Refugee Zakat Fund App, the first and only Zakat-dedicated app launched by a UN organization, enabling donors to calculate and channel their Zakat through a fully Sharia-compliant platform.

Launched ahead of Ramadan, the report underscores the urgent need for sustained Islamic philanthropy at a time of tightening humanitarian budgets. Backed by 18 fatwas and trusted by more than 70,000 donors since 2017, the Refugee Zakat Fund remains a vital lifeline for displaced communities worldwide.

Click to access the full report.