The final push: Global coalition pledges $1.9 billion to end polio

This article is produced and sponsored by IFANCA. It was first published in the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2025/26 report produced by DinarStandard. The report can be downloaded from here.

In the close of the 2025 calendar year, global leaders gathered for what many hope will be remembered as the beginning of the end for one of humanity's most dreaded diseases. The occasion marked a pivotal moment in the decades-long battle against polio, as international partners announced a collective commitment of $1.9 billion to advance eradication efforts and protect hundreds of millions of children worldwide.

The global pledging event, titled "Investing in Humanity: Uniting to End Polio," was hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Among those in attendance were His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Gates Foundation, World Health Organization Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and government ministers from affected nations.