King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Foundation for Humanitarian Activities

The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Foundation for Humanitarian Activities (KAHF), commonly known as the King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, is a Saudi non-governmental grant-making foundation created by royal decree in 2010. It was founded by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who issued the founding decision on 29 Ramadan 1431 AH, corresponding to 8 September 2010. The foundation is dedicated to sustainable humanitarian work, human empowerment and sustainable development, and it operates through developmental partnerships and impact-driven programmes. The foundation's work is organised around several thematic areas, including health, education, social development and economic development. Its stated vision is to empower people and achieve sustainable development, while its mission is to realise the noble goals of King Abdullah through developmental partnerships and impactful programmes. Four strategic pillars guide its work: uplifting people and their potential in the Kingdom and worldwide; strengthening financial performance through wise asset management; preserving and expanding King Abdullah's legacy through commemorative programmes; and building internal capabilities to implement the strategy effectively. Governance is structured around a Board of Trustees, which is the supreme authority of the foundation and oversees its activities. The Board of Trustees is composed of the sons of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and is chaired by Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. A Board of Directors manages the foundation's affairs, prepares general and investment policies and strategies, drafts regulations and business reports, and proposes plans and programmes to develop resources in line with the decisions of the Board of Trustees. An executive management team implements the foundation's plans and operations. The foundation's humanitarian system includes a number of affiliated entities and endowment bodies, and its programmes have reached millions of beneficiaries across many countries. Its flagship charitable programme, the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Charitable Programme, known as "Fa'el Khair" (Doer of Good), was launched by King Abdullah and entrusted to the Islamic Development Bank Group. The programme initially kept the donor's identity anonymous at King Abdullah's request and later continued under the foundation with new relief projects. The foundation also oversees projects such as dialysis centres, the restoration and development of Al-Azhar, and the global Messengers of Peace scouting initiative. In recent years the foundation has moved toward investing its assets in tourism and hospitality to achieve financial sustainability and diversify income sources. In January 2026, the Sofitel Riyadh hotel, affiliated with the King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, was inaugurated in Riyadh, reflecting a broader trend among Saudi humanitarian institutions to invest their assets in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Foundation for Humanitarian Activities was established by a royal decree issued by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2010. According to the foundation's official account, the founding decision was issued on 29 Ramadan 1431 AH, corresponding to 8 September 2010. The foundation was created as a non-governmental grant-making organisation dedicated to humanitarian and relief projects and initiatives, with the aim of spreading tolerance and peace, achieving prosperity and developing science. From its inception, the foundation was designed to operate globally, with a mission to uphold the principle that every human being deserves a dignified life wherever they are. Its projects were conceived with a humanitarian vision whose impact extended through its affiliated entities. Over time, the foundation grew and expanded its giving to reach the entire world. Governance was placed in the hands of a Board of Trustees composed of the sons of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, with Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz serving as chairman. The Board of Trustees is the supreme authority of the foundation and is responsible for reviewing strategic plans, initiatives, project outlines, programmes and general policies, as well as approving regulations and bylaws. A Board of Directors, chaired by Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Issa, manages the foundation's affairs, prepares general and investment policies and strategies, drafts regulations and business reports, and proposes plans and programmes to develop resources in line with the decisions of the Board of Trustees. An executive management team implements the foundation's plans and operations. The foundation's work is organised around seven axes: education, dialogue, social development, security and peace, economic development, healthcare, and science and technology. Its largest umbrella programme is the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Charitable Programme, known as "Fa'el Khair" (Doer of Good), which delivers twelve projects in seventeen countries around the world. The foundation also has ten endowment entities across various fields, with headquarters distributed between Saudi Arabia and other countries. Among the foundation's notable projects is the dialysis centres programme, classified as the largest charitable project for kidney patients in Saudi Arabia. Launched in 2014, it established six centres in several regions of the Kingdom and provides an estimated total of 600 million riyals annually in treatment costs for beneficiaries suffering from kidney failure. Supervision of the centres was later transferred from the foundation to the health affairs of the Saudi National Guard Ministry. Another major initiative was the restoration and development of Al-Azhar in Egypt. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz initiated the project in 2014 after reviewing extensive technical reports from UNESCO experts indicating that Al-Azhar (the mosque and its scholarly institutions) required comprehensive rescue restoration. He did not publicly announce his initiative during his lifetime, and it became known after his death that he was behind it. The Messengers of Peace project is a global initiative that brings together scouts from around the world to serve as messengers of peace. The idea emerged from a speech delivered by King Abdullah in 2001 during his reception of participants in the 23rd Arab Scout Conference held in Riyadh. The activities of Messengers of Peace focused on initiatives, dialogue and conflict resolution, and on building networks that achieve outreach and expansion to fulfil its objectives. In recent years, the foundation has pursued a strategy of investing its assets to achieve financial sustainability and diversify income sources. On 19 January 2026, the Sofitel Riyadh hotel, affiliated with the King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, was inaugurated in Riyadh. The hotel is part of a broader trend among Saudi humanitarian institutions to invest their assets in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

• King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issues the founding decision for the foundation on 29 Ramadan 1431 AH.

• King Abdullah delivers a speech at the 23rd Arab Scout Conference in Riyadh that inspires the Messengers of Peace initiative.

• The dialysis centres programme is launched, becoming the largest charitable project for kidney patients in Saudi Arabia.

• King Abdullah initiates the restoration and development of Al-Azhar after reviewing UNESCO technical reports.

• Sofitel Riyadh hotel, affiliated with the King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, is inaugurated in Riyadh.

A Saudi royal-founded, non-governmental humanitarian foundation focused on sustainable development, human empowerment and preserving King Abdullah's legacy through global partnerships and impact-driven programmes.

• King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Charitable Programme (Fa'el Khair)

  The foundation's largest umbrella programme, delivering twelve projects in seventeen countries. It was launched by King Abdullah and entrusted to the Islamic Development Bank Group, initially with the donor's identity kept anonymous.

• Dialysis centres

  Launched in 2014, classified as the largest charitable project for kidney patients in Saudi Arabia, with six centres established and an estimated 600 million riyals annually in treatment costs covered.

• Al-Azhar restoration and development

  A project initiated by King Abdullah in 2014 to carry out comprehensive rescue restoration of Al-Azhar mosque and its scholarly institutions, based on UNESCO expert reports.

• Messengers of Peace

  A global scouting initiative that brings together scouts worldwide to serve as messengers of peace, focusing on initiatives, dialogue and conflict resolution.

• Sofitel Riyadh hotel

  A hotel affiliated with the foundation, inaugurated in Riyadh on 19 January 2026 as part of the foundation's asset investment strategy in tourism and hospitality.

1. 1مؤسسة الملك عبدالله العالمية للأعمال الإنسانيةkahf.org.sa
2. 2عن مؤسسة الملك عبدالله الإنسانيةkahf.org.sa
3. 3King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Foundation | KAHFwikidata.org
4. 4مؤسسة الملك عبد الله الإنسانيةar.wikipedia.org