World Polio Day

The Association of Rotary Clubs UAE hosted the End Polio Dinner on 22nd October 2025 at the Raffles Hotel, Dubai, bringing together Rotarians from across the country in solidarity with Rotary International’s global mission to eradicate polio.

For more than 35 years, Rotary has been at the forefront of the fight against polio. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary has helped reduce global polio cases by 99.9% since launching its first vaccination project in the Philippines in 1979.

Through the collective efforts of Rotarians worldwide, more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours have been contributed, protecting nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy has also inspired governments to contribute over $10 billion toward eradication efforts.

Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries — Afghanistan and Pakistan — yet continued vigilance is essential to ensure that other nations remain polio-free. Experts warn that if eradication efforts were to stop, polio could once again paralyze as many as 200,000 children annually within a decade.

The End Polio Dinner served as a platform to honor Rotary’s ongoing commitment to this cause, celebrate the progress achieved, and strengthen the collective resolve of UAE Rotarians to continue supporting a world free from polio.

Together, Rotary members reaffirm their pledge: One Day. One Focus. Ending Polio.