Volunteering with Dubai Cares
About Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares is a UAE-based global philanthropic organisation working to give children and young people in developing countries access to quality education. It was founded in 2007 and is part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. Its education programmes have reached more than 116 million direct and indirect beneficiaries across 60 developing countries.
The organisation’s offices are in Dubai Healthcare City. While most of its programme work happens overseas, it also runs a busy volunteering calendar here in the UAE, giving residents a practical way to take part.
What volunteers do
Dubai Cares organises volunteering through a few flagship initiatives:
- Volunteer Emirates: hands-on projects in the UAE, such as refurbishing schools, packing school kits and back-to-school campaigns.
- Volunteer Globally: international volunteering trips linked to its education programmes.
- Walk for Education: an annual three-kilometre walk that reflects the distance many children in developing countries walk to school every day.
School refurbishment days give a good idea of the work. At a February 2026 edition at The Philippine Global School in Abu Dhabi, volunteers assembled desks and chairs, painted educational murals, moved furniture and landscaped the grounds. At an earlier edition at the National Charity School for Girls in Dubai, more than 80 volunteers helped improve learning spaces for over 1,365 students.
Who can volunteer
Dubai Cares recruits only through two official platforms: the UAE Volunteers platform (volunteers.ae) and the Community Development Authority platform (cda.gov.ae). You will need a profile on one of these. The Dubai Cares registration form also asks for your name, date of birth, gender, nationality, email, mobile number and emirate of residence.
A minimum age is not stated on the main volunteering page, so check each opportunity’s details before applying.
How to get involved
- Create your volunteer profile. Sign up on volunteers.ae or the CDA platform.
- Register with Dubai Cares. Complete the “Register as a Volunteer” form on the Dubai Cares volunteer page so you get emails about new events.
- Watch for announcements. Opportunities are posted on the website, emailed to registered volunteers and shared on social media.
- Apply quickly. Places are first come, first served, and Dubai Cares says spots often fill within an hour of being announced.
- Check your confirmation. Practical details, such as transport, come by email. For the Abu Dhabi refurbishment, limited-seat buses ran from Dubai.
Upcoming campaigns
When we checked, no new Volunteer Emirates dates had been announced for November 2026 to February 2027. Past patterns suggest school-related projects come up through the year, so registering now means you will hear as soon as the next one opens.
Other ways to help
- Sponsor a volunteering event: companies can fund an event through the Sponsor page on the Dubai Cares website.
- Join Walk for Education: when the next walk is announced, it is a family-friendly way to show support.
- Donate: visit dubaicares.ae for current giving options.
Good to know
Dubai Cares does not reserve places, so set up notifications and keep your volunteers.ae profile complete. Being ready to apply the moment an event opens makes all the difference.
School refurbishments are physical work. As general advice, wear clothes you do not mind getting paint on, closed shoes and bring water.
Only sign up through the official platforms. Dubai Cares says volunteers.ae and the CDA platform are its only recruitment channels.
Registration deadlines matter. For the Abu Dhabi refurbishment in February 2026, registration closed about a week before the event, so do not leave it to the last minute even if places are still showing.
Volunteer Emirates events are a good fit for groups of friends and colleagues, and the sign-up form collects details for each volunteer. Make sure everyone in your group has a volunteers.ae profile set up before the next opportunity is announced, so you can all apply at the same time.
Contact and links
- Website: www.dubaicares.ae
- Volunteer page: dubaicares.ae/volunteer
- Phone: 04 450 4550
- Contact form: dubaicares.ae/contact-us
- Address: Level 4, Building 16, District 7, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, P.O. Box 118080