In the face of ongoing challenges, the UAE has emerged as a leading force in humanitarian response—delivering not only aid but hope, healing, and dignity to a population in crisis.
In a bold humanitarian move, the United Arab Emirates has launched what is being described as the largest medical and humanitarian aid campaign in the world for the people of Gaza. Amid ongoing conflict and growing humanitarian distress, the initiative—part of Operation Gallant Knight 3—demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to delivering lifesaving assistance across borders.
Backed by federal agencies, charities, and international humanitarian organizations, the operation encompasses a wide-scale medical response, clean water projects, child immunization drives, and long-term rehabilitation support for thousands affected by the crisis.
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At the heart of the campaign is a fully equipped 200-bed field hospital in Rafah, operated by Emirati medical teams. The facility includes emergency departments, intensive care units, operating rooms, pediatrics, orthopedics, and a specialized maternity unit. In the past several months, this hospital has provided over 50,000 critical medical treatments, many for injuries sustained in conflict or due to the collapse of Gaza’s public health system.
To complement on-ground support, a floating hospital docked in Al-Arish, Egypt, is operating 24/7. The ship, fitted with 100 beds and a team of international doctors and surgeons, serves injured Palestinians arriving from Gaza. It includes surgical wards, diagnostic imaging services, and intensive care units, ensuring immediate response for the critically wounded.
In response to the growing number of civilians losing limbs to shelling and structural collapses, the UAE has introduced a comprehensive prosthetics and rehabilitation programme. This initiative not only fits modern artificial limbs but also provides physiotherapy and mental health support. Dozens of amputees have already completed treatment and begun the process of physical and emotional recovery.
The UAE has also deployed 17 advanced ambulances to operate inside Gaza. These vehicles are equipped with ventilators, defibrillators, and trauma supplies—playing a crucial role in stabilizing patients during transport to field hospitals.
To protect children amid collapsing healthcare infrastructure, the UAE launched a targeted polio vaccination drive. With thousands of children already vaccinated, the campaign aims to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in displacement shelters and camps where basic sanitation is scarce.
Another highlight of the campaign is a newly installed water pipeline, stretching nearly 7 kilometers and supplying desalinated water to southern Gaza. The pipeline now provides 15 liters of clean water per person daily to over 600,000 residents in Rafah and Khan Younis. In addition to the pipeline, the UAE has rehabilitated several wells and water stations, ensuring a sustainable water supply to thousands more in central Gaza.
Dubai’s International Humanitarian City has served as the logistical backbone for continuous aid airlifts into Egypt, with shipments including medical equipment, mobile hospital units, food, and shelter materials. Several missions have been carried out in coordination with international humanitarian agencies and Egyptian authorities to ensure delivery to Gaza.
The UAE has also facilitated medical evacuations for over 2,100 injured Palestinians, including children and elderly patients, flying them to hospitals in Abu Dhabi for advanced care. Accompanying family members have also received support, accommodation, and counseling services.
While the UAE has been able to scale up aid efforts significantly, the overall humanitarian access to Gaza remains restricted. Ongoing hostilities, damaged infrastructure, and intermittent border access present enormous challenges to international aid delivery.
Despite these limitations, the UAE’s field operations continue to function daily, providing both immediate emergency relief and long-term medical infrastructure for Gaza’s recovery. The delivery of aid is done under direct directives from UAE leadership, ensuring swift coordination between field staff, logistics teams, and international partners.
Operation Gallant Knight 3 not only responds to urgent needs but also represents the UAE’s vision of comprehensive humanitarian support. Beyond emergency treatment, the campaign is helping rebuild critical infrastructure—water, health, sanitation—and supporting the psychological recovery of a wounded population.
Humanitarian observers in the region have described the UAE's campaign as unmatched in scope and effectiveness. With the combination of field hospitals, mobile units, airlift operations, and rehabilitation programs, the UAE has created a model of relief that is both immediate and sustainable.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no sign of easing, the UAE is preparing to scale up operations further. Plans are underway to expand prosthetic services, send additional mobile hospital units, and widen the scope of the water distribution network.
Authorities reaffirmed that UAE support will continue as long as the need persists, standing by the people of Gaza through one of the most difficult chapters in the region’s history.
