Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in cooperation with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 started the airlift operations on October 9 from Al Maktoum International Airport, according to the Emirates News Agency. The move forms the air component of the Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge and follows a major community event at Dubai World Trade Centre where participants prepared the targeted meals. WAM reported that the bridge combines air and sea routes to ensure the supplies reach Palestinians facing severe shortages.
Six flights will transport a combined 450 tonnes of food parcels while one vessel will carry 4,000 tonnes of additional supplies, a WAM dispatch detailed. These shipments together meet the goal of more than 10 million meals set during the earlier packing drive held in tribute to the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The late sheikh, who died on September 21, was recognised for his lifelong philanthropy that the initiative seeks to honour through sustained relief efforts.
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 was launched in November 2023 under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to figures released by the operation’s officials. Since then the UAE has provided more than $4 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, accounting for 46 percent of all global aid delivered to the territory during the period. The National reported that this support has included emergency relief, healthcare, logistical aid, recovery and rehabilitation programmes.
Total aid dispatched under the operation has exceeded 136,000 tonnes of supplies moved via more than 14,400 trucks in addition to hundreds of aircraft and dozens of ships, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 statistics show. The latest air and sea bridge builds on an established logistics network that includes a centre in Al Arish, Egypt, where teams sort and prepare convoys before they proceed to Gaza. Emirates News Agency data places the cumulative truck count that has entered Gaza at 14,442 carrying 136,891 tonnes of assistance as of early October.
Abdullah Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, said the launch of flights under the Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge reflects the high level of efficiency and expertise of the Emirati teams involved in the mission. He added that the operation has served as a consistent lifeline for Palestinians coping with difficult conditions since its inception. The initiative continues to combine multiple transport methods to maintain the flow of essential food, medical and shelter items into the enclave.
MBRGI, which coordinated the community meal preparation event, spent more than AED 2.3 billion on humanitarian, healthcare and education projects in 2025 alone, reaching an estimated 165 million beneficiaries across 122 countries, according to the organisation’s own reporting. This broader portfolio complements the specific focus on Gaza through Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, where the Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge represents a targeted addition to ongoing efforts. Officials have indicated that further shipments will follow the initial airlifts and maritime delivery to sustain the relief pipeline.
