In a significant humanitarian initiative timed with the holy month of Ramadan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, has unveiled the “Edge of Life” campaign—an ambitious effort to save five million children under age five from malnutrition-related deaths worldwide.
The campaign, operating under Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), seeks to raise at least one billion dirhams through partnerships with leading international organizations including UNICEF, Save the Children, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and Action Against Hunger.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the campaign’s urgency in a social media statement, noting that “it is neither our trait nor our value to hear of such a human tragedy unfolding before the eyes of the world and do nothing about it.” Statistics indicate that approximately five children under five perish from hunger and malnutrition every minute globally, with an estimated 2.6 million children succumbing to hunger-related causes last year alone.
The initiative specifically targets children in the world’s most vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by natural disasters and conflict zones. The campaign encourages participation from all segments of UAE society—individuals and institutions alike—as an expression of human solidarity and shared responsibility to protect children’s fundamental right to life.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of MBRGI, highlighted the critical timing of the intervention, noting that international organizations currently face significant funding shortfalls, especially in regions grappling with compounded challenges of conflict, forced displacement, and climate change impacts.
The “Edge of Life” campaign continues the UAE’s tradition of major Ramadan humanitarian initiatives. Previous campaigns have included the 10 Million Meals campaign (2020), which distributed 15.3 million meals; the 100 Million Meals campaign (2021), which reached 220 million meals across 30 countries; and endowment campaigns in 2022-2025 that collectively raised billions of dirhams for sustainable food security and education programs worldwide.
This latest effort represents one of the most ambitious undertakings to date, aiming not only to rescue millions of children from immediate malnutrition threats but also to protect an additional 30 million children from the looming danger of hunger.