The Red Crescent Authority of the United Arab Emirates was established on 31 January 1983 and was recognized as the 139th Zayed Al Nahyan assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Red Crescent in 1986 and then Chairman of the Authority in 1993, which gave impetus to the efforts of the humanitarian body. In 1997, the role of the Commission was strengthened by the acceptance of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak as Honorary President of the UAE Red Crescent. In 2001, the UAE Red Crescent was chosen as the second best humanitarian body in Asia
