The first shipment in Dubai Humanitarian’s new winter aid air bridge has reached Al Arish, Egypt, carrying UNICEF supplies for onward transfer to Gaza.
Announced on 23 October 2026, the initiative follows directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The operation is intended to help vulnerable families prepare for colder weather.
More relief flights planned ahead of winter
Dubai Royal Air Wing is operating C-130 aircraft carrying approximately nine metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies per flight. At least three additional flights were scheduled in the launch announcement.
The cargo includes thermal winter blankets. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, chairman of Dubai Humanitarian Authority, highlighted the additional difficulties winter brings for families already facing hardship, particularly children.
UN agencies coordinate purchasing and delivery
Dubai’s announcement identifies the shipment as the first coordinated sourcing order under the UN80 Integrated Supply Chain Approach. This connects the relief operation with a wider effort to improve how United Nations agencies purchase and transport humanitarian goods.
The approach covers three stages: buying supplies, organising their international movement and coordinating logistics within affected countries. By aligning these activities, agencies aim to reduce duplicated work and use their existing transport, storage and purchasing capabilities more effectively.
UNICEF reported in August 2026 that coordinated local logistics were being implemented in Gaza and four other initial locations. The broader model seeks to make deliveries faster and more reliable while reducing costs; these are programme objectives rather than measured results from the latest Dubai shipment.
Earlier operations included medical flights and land convoys
Dubai Humanitarian has supported Gaza relief through air bridges, land convoys and sea shipments since 2023.
An earlier operation announced in August 2026 involved four flights supporting the World Health Organization, with consignments including medicines, tents and fortified biscuits. Those supplies came from stocks held at the WHO Global Logistics Centre hosted by Dubai Humanitarian.
The organisation’s August update also described a separate three-truck convoy of medical supplies arranged earlier that year. These operations show the different transport routes used to support relief efforts, with the new air bridge adding winter supplies to that continuing work.