Meem Foundation

Meem Foundation was established in 2023 by Emirati philanthropist Muna Al Gurg with the mission of bridging the gender gap in the Middle East and North Africa by creating more economic opportunity and greater access to healthcare for women and girls. Rather than traditional charity, the foundation makes strategic investments and places a high value on sustainability and accountability. It is one of the few regional philanthropies using data-driven decision making and places a strong emphasis on measuring and sharing outcomes.

Related sustainable development goals

  • Good Health and Well-Being
  • Quality Education
  • Gender Equality
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Reduced Inequalities

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Development
    • Business and industry
      • Entrepreneurship
    • Economic development
  • Education
  • Health
    • Healthcare access
  • Philanthropy
    • Foundations
    • Nonprofits

Focus populations

  • Women and girls

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • Palestine
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Lebanon

Grantees

Partners

  • Al Jalila Foundation
  • London Business School
  • PCRF
  • Trinity College
  • ULYP
  • UNICEF
  • Ureed

Programmes

  • Investing for women in Lebanon

    Since 2021, Meem Foundation has worked to enhance the capacity and reach of women empowerment organizations across Lebanon.

    The foundation has funded 10 coalitions of 20 organisations of various sizes focused on multiple women’s economic empowerment themes including entrepreneurship, food manufacturing, handicrafts, legal rights, and mental health.

    Most of the projects are operating across rural Lebanon with 40% of beneficiaries consisting of those from refugee communities. These grants support capacity building of the organisations and enable future fundraising ability.

  • Medical Scholarships

    Meem Foundation is supporting female scholarship recipients currently enrolled in medical and dentistry programmes at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai Hospital, and Latifa Hospital.

  • Muna Al Gurg Scholarship
    A scholarship for London Business School dedicated to women from the Middle East who want to pursue their higher education or postgraduate degrees.
  • Sanctuary Fund Trinity College

    The Trinity Sanctuary Fund provides scholarships and support to students seeking sanctuary, allowing them to attend Trinity College, Dublin with the support needed to succeed.

    This educational grant enables a Palestinian female undergraduate student majoring in Pharmacology to continue her education at Trinity College.

    The 2024 grant went to a female Palestinian Pharmacology student who was enrolled in her second year at Al Azhar University in Gaza, Palestine.

    Her studies were interrupted due to the war and destruction of the university. She provided medical support to other displaced people at a refugee camp she was also sheltering in after losing her home.

    With this four-year scholarship from Meem Foundation, the student will continue her Pharmacology degree at Trinity College, Dublin.

  • Ureed Al-Forward Flagship Programme

    AI/Forward aims to empower 100 Emirati women by offering a training programme in data labeling and annotation for machine learning. This programme offers a comprehensive approach to skill development and networking opportunities, ensuring a pathway to success in the AI and tech industry.

    Thanks to funding from Meem Foundation, 100 Northern Emirati women will be given the opportunity to complete a comprehensive eight-week training programme on data labeling and annotation focused on data creation for Arabic-first AI applications. 

    This initiative will play a crucial role in building Arabic AI and empowers Emirati women by equipping them with in-demand skills in AI.

Financials

Funding model

  • Grants to Individuals
  • Grants to organisations
  • Impact investing

Primary funders

  • Muna Al Gurg

Funding source

  • Private

Operations

Key staff

  • Batool Hassan, executive director

Board members

  • Muna Al Gurg

Contact details

More

Resources

Muna Al Gurg has been a philanthropist long before establishing her own foundation. Read more 

Learn about the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), one of the organisations supported by Muna Al Gurg and Meem Foundation. Read more 

To find out more about what PCRF does, you can take a look at this interview with its founder in Philanthropy Age. Read more