Zakat Funds

"Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase."

[Al Tawba:103]

Your Zakat is a lifeline to thousands of the most vulnerable refugee and displaced families.

For the second year, refugees are living in an "emergency within an emergency", and more families need our help to face the challenges to come. Today, thousands of refugee and displaced families are living in extreme poverty and facing food insecurity. Zakat funds help eligible families to cover their immediate needs, such as food, water, shelter and medicine.

The families we meet every single day have lost everything, except their faith in a better tomorrow. They are eligible for your Zakat.

You can calculate your Zakat here and offer it to families who have fled some of the world’s most devastating crises. 100% of your Zakat is guaranteed to reach those in need as lifesaving cash or in kind assistance.

Donate Online
Via Bank Transfer

100% Zakat Distribution Policy

One Time
Monthly

If you wish to donate through PayPal please make sure to select one of these currencies: USD, EUR, AUD, GBP

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Dedicate your Zakat

Step 1

Please use the following bank account details: Kindly note the different IBAN for each currency.

UNHCR Non-Interest Bearing Fundraising Accounts:

Beneficiary : UNHCR

Swiss Clearing Number : 240

BIC/Swift Code : UBSWCHZH80A

Beneficiary Bank : UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Recipient Address : 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

City : Geneva

Region/Province : Geneva

Postal Code : P.O. Box 2770

Phone Number : +41 22 879 16 11

Currency USD

IBAN : CH4800240240FP1003991

Currency EUR

IBAN : CH9100240240FP1003993

Currency GBP

IBAN : CH8000240240FP1003997

In the transfer description field, please use “Zakat MENA” followed by the destination country of your Zakat (Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nigeria or Mauritania)

Step 2

Please notify us at care@unhcr.org when the bank transfer is done. Please make sure to include your name, the amount of your donation, contact info and country of residence. This will help us track your donation and update the counter of the families supported.

Please include your contact details (Email and phone number) when proceeding with the transfer so we can confirm receiving your gift and communicate with you properly

UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is a trusted, compliant and effective distributor.

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

Over 80% of the world’s refugee population and nearly all the world’s internally displaced people are hosted in low to middle-income countries, many of which have weaker health and water systems.

Dedicate your Zakat

Fatwa

Zakat Al Fitr | Egypt

Following several requests from donors interested to devote their Zakat el Fitr to refugees and IDPs, UNHCR reached out in…

Fatwa

Canadian Council of Imams | Canada

Why should I consider refugees with my Zakat?

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

Over 80% of the world’s refugee population and nearly all the world’s internally displaced people are hosted in low to middle-income countries, many of which have weaker health and water systems.

Dedicate your Zakat

Abna’ al Sabeel

The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers

Abna’ al Sabeel

The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers

A wayfarer is someone who is travelling on foot, which is the case for the vast majority of refugees, who…

al Gharemeen

The Debtors

al Gharemeen

The Debtors

Over 50% of refugee and displaced families are in debt. After losing their homes and possessions, and exhausting their savings,…

Al Fuqara’ wal Masakeen

The Poor and the Needy

Al Fuqara’ wal Masakeen

The Poor and the Needy

Most refugees are poor and in need of support to survive; they lack assets or income in their long stays…

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Reports

Why should I consider refugees with my Zakat?

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

Over 80% of the world’s refugee population and nearly all the world’s internally displaced people are hosted in low to middle-income countries, many of which have weaker health and water systems.

UNHCR is following a 100% Zakat distribution policy.

UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund is subject to rigorous governance, ensuring transparency at every step, from donation to distribution of Zakat.

Dedicate your Zakat

100% of Zakat donations is distributed to the most vulnerable refugee and internally displaced families, including in hard-to-reach areas including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Mauritania and Bangladesh. This support goes in full to help families affected by lockdowns and lack of economic opportunities. Exceptionally for Zakat funds, UNHCR has waived its standard 6.5% indirect support costs, in order to ensure that 100% of your Zakat goes directly to the most vulnerable families. Any expenses associated with the distribution of Zakat are covered by other sources of funding to UNHCR. Annual reports about the distribution of Zakat funds and their impact on the lives of beneficiaries, are published on this website. All Zakat received by UNHCR is strictly channeled through Zakat-compliant cash and in-kind assistance programmes that complement other forms of aid provided by UNHCR.

The Journey of Zakat Funds from Donor to Recipient

Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Vulnerable families are often headed by women alone who often face cultural, legal and childcare obstacles when looking for work. Providing refugee families with cash or in kind assistance prevents those most in need from having to resort to desperate survival strategies – such as pulling children out of school or child labour. Cash assistance in particular ensures that the immediate needs of families are met according to their own priorities. This also means that thousands of refugees who are restricted from working in host countries avoid facing severe hardships, while being empowered to manage their own finances. It helps to improve social networks through enabling refugees to repay loans borrowed from family, neighbours, and landlords, thereby reducing household tensions. Additionally, it benefits the local economy as refugees become customers at local shops and markets.

Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Vulnerable families are often headed by women alone who often face cultural, legal and childcare obstacles when looking for work. Providing refugee families with cash or in kind assistance prevents those most in need from having to resort to desperate survival strategies – such as pulling children out of school or child labour. Cash assistance in particular ensures that the immediate needs of families are met according to their own priorities. This also means that thousands of refugees who are restricted from working in host countries avoid facing severe hardships, while being empowered to manage their own finances. It helps to improve social networks through enabling refugees to repay loans borrowed from family, neighbours, and landlords, thereby reducing household tensions. Additionally, it benefits the local economy as refugees become customers at local shops and markets.

UNHCR: Trusted Zakat Distributor

Refugee Families Need Your Zakat

Trusted Zakat Distributor

0% Deduction

100% Zakat Distribution Policy

"Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase."

[Al Tawba:103]

Your Zakat is a lifeline to thousands of the most vulnerable refugee and displaced families.

Zakat Funds

Step 1

UNHCR Non-Interest Bearing Fundraising Accounts:

Step 2

Refugee Families Reached in 2021

People Donated Their Zakat in 2021

UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is a trusted, compliant and effective distributor.

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

Fatwa

Zakat Al Fitr | Egypt

Fatwa

Canadian Council of Imams | Canada

Fatwa

Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy | Egypt

Fatwa

ISRA | Malaysia

Fatwa

Tabah Foundation | UAE

Fatwa

Muslim World League | KSA

Fatwa

International Islamic Fiqh Academy | KSA

Fatwa

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayya | UAE

Fatwa

Dr Sheikh Ali Gomaa

Fatwa

Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah

UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is a trusted, compliant and effective distributor.

Why should I consider refugees with my Zakat?

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

Abna’ al Sabeel

The Stranded Travellers or Wayfarers

al Gharemeen

The Debtors

Al Fuqara’ wal Masakeen

The Poor and the Needy

Why should I consider refugees with my Zakat?

Majority of the world’s 26 million refugees fall under at least 4 of the 8 Zakat categories.

UNHCR is following a 100% Zakat distribution policy.

UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund is subject to rigorous governance, ensuring transparency at every step, from donation to distribution of Zakat.

The Journey of Zakat Funds from Donor to Recipient

Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Do you know?

How your Zakat helps vulnerable refugee and displaced families

Refugee Families
Reached in 2021

People Donated Their
Zakat in 2021