NEP 2.0

Al Anood Al Abdool is the Director of Strategic Planning and Partnerships at the UAE Aid Agency. Prior to this role, she served as Deputy Director of the Development and International Cooperation Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she oversaw the governance and delivery of the UAE’s foreign aid portfolio. In this capacity, she coordinated contributions from more than 40 national donor entities, supporting humanitarian and development assistance across over 200 countries worldwide. She also led the management of strategic partnerships with more than 20 United Nations agencies and international organizations implementing UAE‑funded programs globally.

Earlier in her career, Al Anood contributed to the development and presentation of national social policies to the Executive Council of Dubai, covering priority areas including senior citizens, people of determination, youth, and drug rehabilitation. She also served as a researcher for the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking at the Ministry of Federal National Council Affairs and participated in the management of the UAE parliamentary elections.

In addition, Al Anood is a Belgium-certified evaluator of rough and polished diamonds, having served at the UN–UAE Kimberley Process Office within the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). In this capacity, she has engaged with more than 400 clients across exporting and importing countries in the rough diamond sector, ensuring full compliance with international conflict-free certification standards.

She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Nottingham and is a graduate of the UAE National Experts Program (NEP), specializing in the Humanitarian Aid and Philanthropy sector. She is also a co‑founder and member of the UAE Child Protection Association and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation (UAE).