Over the last couple of months, you’ve probably noticed posts from users on TikTok and Instagram or even WhatsApp, with pictures of “certificates” endorsed by the UAE Government that cite financial benefits of up to AED 100,000 for downloading them. Although these posts seem to be exciting, they’ve been shared millions of times in the UAE and have subsequently spread to Pakistan, India, Nepal, and the Philippines.
The first thing you should know is that the certificate itself is not a scam. The certificate does in fact, come from an initiative of the UAE Government. The cash reward that people speak about in these scams is a different issue, and the team of apkpip has compiled a guide so you can learn about how to obtain the certificate, what the benefits really are, and what is actually behind the “free dirhams” that are being shared all over the internet
What Is the UAE Pledge Certificate?
You are looking at a certificate relating to a campaign referred to as the ‘Pledge and Commitment.’ Launched in May of 2026, the campaign was initiated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan when he was the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and was revealed at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre. The campaign was devised to allow the residents and citizens of the UAE the opportunity to publicly express their gratitude to the country’s leaders for the security, stability and growth of the country.
What is unique about the campaign is that the Pledge and Commitment was developed as an open, national campaign as opposed to being a campaign that is restricted to a single emirate or institution. The campaign has its own webpage and was built with the intention of being as inclusive as possible. The pledge forms are available in twelve languages and the website can be easily accessed and completed by all the various nationalities that call the UAE their home.
The campaign was designed to give residents of the UAE an opportunity to the physically receive a personalized ‘digital Certificate of Appreciation’ after following a brief, online process. The campaign was designed to give residents an opportunity to appreciate the government’s efforts in delivering the UAE’s vision.
This certificate is not an official document such as a visa or permit, business license, or other legal evidence. It is does not need to be submitted to immigration, does not affect your ID, labor contract, or banking. This is a gift showing appreciation. It is like a certificate of participation for a community event, however, this has additional importance because of the person who created the certificate and what the certificate supports.
What kinds of applicants are accepted?
The applicants can be of any nationality, either UAE citizens or residents, and there is no distinction regarding job status. This includes residents who are permanent UAE residents, citizens, or residents who have lived for a short time, those who have lived many years, or those who are new residents. The website does not differentiate.
Applicants can be families. When an applicant fills out a form, there is the option to fill out family forms, so all members can be one group.
Someone under the age of 18 would most likely have a parent or guardian submit the form on their behalf.
How to Get Your UAE Pledge Certificate
Here are the steps to get your certificate in under two minutes, once you log in to the site.
Step 1 — Navigate to the Official Site. The pledge site is hosted at pledge.ae. The most critical component for your safety and the one we will return to later is typing this address directly or searching for it, rather than clicking a link for a random forwarded message.
Step 2 — Read the Pledge Statement. Before you start filling out the site, the statement explains what you will need to pledge to before you sign.
Step 3 — Select your language. There are 12 languages to select from, including English, Urdu, Arabic, and more.
Step 4 — Enter your full name. This is what will be listed on your certificate, so be sure to check the spelling.
Step 5 — Enter email (optional). An email address is not necessary to provide, but you are able to have a copy of the pledge email sent to you as well as a copy of the pledge download.
Step 6 — Include family members if you wish. There is also an option to state how many other family members you want to include on your pledge.
This text suffers from haphazard language. To fix this problem, sentences and thoughts need to be linked more clearly by using connectors and flow words. Keep in mind that answers to the ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ questions can provide important information that strengthens the structure and flow of the text and answers to the critical thinking questions. Always avoid plagiarism. Make sure that the ideas and organization of your writing are clear to the reader. To learn more, read the ’How Do I…’ paper in the resources for this week.
Critical Thinking Questions:
Why do you think step six is so important?
What is the flow word that can replace ‘once’ in this sentence?
Why do you think this sentence should be placed before the last sentence?
Step 7 — Submit by selecting “Participate with Pride.” This finalizes your entry and your work for this process.
Step 8 — Download your certificate. After submission, your Certificate of Appreciation is ready for you to download. You’ll normally be able to pick between a standard version you can print and a format ready to be posted as a story on social media.
This is the entire process with no posts to fill out, no appointment, no wait time, and no money to spend at any step.
What You Actually Get: Real Perks
What is this actually giving people besides what you see circulating in the posts?
The certificate includes your name and is available in two formats. One is formatted for a physical, printed copy and one that is formatted for Instagram or WhatsApp stories. Many people have printed theirs to save in among other papers for their family.
It does have some value to people and some people do have use cases for it, though. Some schools have included the certificate in their national values classroom activities and ask the students to present a tangible copy related to their citizenship and belonging. A few companies have also placed the certificate in welcome packages for new employees to the UAE. It’s a very low-effort and cost benefit that businesses do not have to financially support.
This has no financial benefit, and it is very important to digest this before we continue. While the certificate does have an inherent value for many, it is not a coupon, a discount, or an approval for a government benefit.
The Big Question: Do You Really Get Cash Rewards or Free Dirhams?
This is what most people searching this are looking for, so let’s answer it.
Through Tik Tok or WhatsApp, there are many claims to having cash rewards of anywhere from AED 1,000 to as high as a “1 Lakh Dirham” reward that is tied to the Dubai Police or is described as Government Aid. Some even claim that the reward is part of an initiative by “Positive Spirit” or similar accounts, where you get money almost instantly after you sign up for it.
It has not been confirmed by any official UAE Government Channel. The initiative “Pledge and Commitment” by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence described no salary support, social security payments, unemployment benefits, or a cash reward. What is a reward for this is a Certificate of Appreciation. There is no extra step for payment that gets processed. You can’t register to get a reward, and no confirmation code will get you dirhams.
This pattern occurs with the pledge certificate, but in similar ways, the UAE has faced other rumors about viral money prizes. Phony announcements misled people into thinking that free zone authorities like DIFC were giving away millions of dirhams. Later, regulators described these announcements as advance-fee scams. The pattern is quite simple. An official looking document or claim goes viral and after some time, a request for a “processing fee,” bank information, a card number, or delivery of a one time password to “release” the funds is made.
Don’t ever believe that you will receive any legitimate reward from a government initiative if you have to disclose your banking information and/or a one time password.
Why Do These Rumors Keep Spreading?
It isn’t about the UAE particularly, it is about how viral content behaves. It is worth looking into why this keeps happening.
If you look into these issues enough, you’ll notice the stories behind the rumors are the same. The content of the rumor is almost always taken from reality (like something the government actually announced). Then, an announcement enters public discourse – either physically or digitally – claiming that a government reward will be given if a processing fee is paid. Similar rumors have turned into scams across the country, and people have lost their money. A request for a one time password is always a scam, and a processing fee is almost always a request for a one time password.
The patterns and structure of these rumors are always scams. Someone announcing a reward, claiming payment is needed, and declaring that the reward will be given if payment is made, should be an obvious red flag.
Having an actual government initiative as the basis of a rumor makes it seem more credible. Since the Pledge and Commitment certificate is real, looks official and is easily verifiable, it is the ideal certificate for someone to claim an unrelated, made up cash reward. People believe the cash reward is from a legitimate source since the real certificate being shared by friends and family is from a verifiable source. A made up cash reward is posted with the real certificates, and people just forward the cash reward claim without verifying.
Social accounts that focus on engagement also have an incentive to embellish the fact. A claim that states “this is how to earn appreciation certificates” will not spread as rapidly as a claim stating “you can earn thousands of dirhams in two minutes by completing this task”. The certificate provides credibility and the cash reward provides the motivation.
There are a few simple habits that can minimize the risk of falling for certificate scams.
Always type the address yourself. Go to pledge.ae directly instead of clicking a potentially malicious link in a forwarded WhatsApp message, TikTok bio, or comment.
Never provide banking information on the pledge form. The official pledge form only asks for your name and optional email and family member names. No form on the pledge site requests any financial information.
Completely ignore any request for an OTP. No legitimate government benefit or reward in the UAE can be claimed by providing an OTP to an unverified account.
Consider if there has been an official announcement. If there is an associated cash reward, it would be published through the UAE Government, not through a TikTok account with a vague name.
Consider why there is a sense of urgency. Scammers use pressure-based tactics. An offer that says you have to act “within minutes” or that there is a short period of time to take advantage of a cash opportunity is a scam.
FAQ
Is the UAE Pledge Certificate authentic?
The Certificate is a real part of a genuine national initiative launched in May 2022 by the UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and it is issued through the official website pledge.ae.
Is it free to obtain the Certificate?
It is completely free and always will be. Any request to pay for the certificate is associated with the scam and is not part of the official process.
Will I be receiving AED 1,000, 5,000, or any cash reward?
There is no official reward of cash, bonus, or “free dirhams” associated with this certificate. Believing these claims will result in being a victim of a scam.
Who has the opportunity to sign the pledge?
The opportunity to participate in this national initiative is open to all residents and citizens of the UAE, of any nationality, and includes family members of the same household.
What are the available formats to obtain the certificate?
You can obtain the certificate in a standard print format, or you can obtain it in a format that is designed to be shared as a social media story.
Does the certificate impact my visa, Emirates ID, or residency status?
There is no impact. It’s a Certificate of Appreciation without any legal, immigration, or trading implications.
Final Thoughts
The UAE Pledge Certificate is a thoughtful, low-cost way to participate in something the UAE has clearly invested time and effort in. It’s a digital acknowledgement that costs nothing and can be obtained in a couple of minutes. If this is what attracts you to get yours, it’s time well spent.
Be sure to set the proper expectations. Get it for a digital keepsake you can personalize with committing to the UAE. Don’t get it if you believe the cash reward is attached to the certificate because the cash reward promises are not true, and this certificate is the only thing that is real about this offer. Knowing the difference will protect you from giving your money to the people behind the cash reward posts.
