The grants provided by the UAE locally and overseas stood at Dh19.8 billion ($5.390 billion) in 2018, a growth 14.7 per cent on year, according to statistics by the Central Bank of United Arab Emirates.

Grants provided by the UAE in in H1-2018 hit Dh6.8 billion ($1.85 billion), before amounting to Dh13 billion ($5.39 billion) in the latter half, according to the statistics which are based on the Ministry of Finance's figures, added the Wam report.

Also, Q3-2018 saw Dh7 billion ($1.91 billion) in grants and Dh6.133 billion ($1.67 billion) in Q4, it said.

2018's grants account for 5 per cent of total government expenditure, including federal and local spending of every emirate, which surged to circa Dh398.3 billion ($108.43 billion).

The grants include current or capital transfers from the government to other government units, international organisations or foreign governments, excluding transfers between Federal and Local governments, added the report.