In late June you could not even look at your Instagram without seeing a post about a certificate. Neither WhatsApp nor LinkedIn was safe; all you could see was a forwarded, blurry copy of the post or a random certificate posted by one of the few users who ever post something personal.
Everyone who saw the post had the same 4 questions:
| Questions |
| 1) Is this official or is someone’s cousin making these in Canva? |
| 2) Did you really not have to pay? |
| 3) Is it really reward-less? |
| 4) Is there really a reward for this? |
We could, at least, eliminate some of the platforms, organizations, and publications that were supporting the initiative, and of course, the rumors.
The short answer
The certificate is real.
There is an official program, an official government platform, and no one had to pay; several ministries and all the UAE newspapers reported on the initiative.
What it is not is a document. You will not receive a payment or a visa, and it will not be a part of your file. It is a certificate for participating in a symbolic act, and that is just fine. It just isn’t what most people are claiming.
That’s the summary. The following sections offer additional information, including how to spot an original pledge link among the fake ones that started appearing days after the initiative went live.
Where it actually came from
The initiative is called Pledge and Commitment. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, launched the initiative on May 19, 2026. It took place at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre with an audience of around 4,800 students, scholars, businesspersons, community representatives, and other members of the country’s diverse population, as opposed to the usual audience of government officials.
At this point in time, it was not possible to sign the pledge as the initiative was at the launch event and not in the campaigning phase.
This all changed on June 3, when the initiative moved online at pledge.ae, allowing anyone in the country to sign the pledge from their mobile devices in under one minute. It became ubiquitous within a week of going live.
The initiative was being organized by Sandooq Al Watan, a not for profit organization funded by Erth Zayed Philanthropies. It is not a new or unknown organization in the United Arab Emirates, as it has been funding education and community projects focused on national identity for several years. The General Secretariat of the Cabinet also announced their support for the initiative and distributed the campaign to federal ministries and government organizations, which explains the campaign’s urgency and swift distribution. When several hundred thousand government employees sign the pledge in one week, their family members and colleagues became aware of the pledge.
The pledge is only a few sentences long. It is about loyalty and belonging, addressing our country and leadership. It is about peace, coexistence and shared responsibility. It is about passing on the values of our country to the next generations. Sandooq Al Watan presented it as four components: gratitude for what the country provides, learning from the country’s leadership, a commitment to coexist and the responsibility to ensure continuity to the next generations.
You read, clicked agree and signed. A very simple process.
Why it became so popular
Three things happened.
| It is very quick and easy. No lags between steps, no Emirates ID, no signing in, no OTP, no document submission, no approval waiting, no walls to slow progress. You simply type in your name and that is it. Almost every detail that would normally stop you from completing an online process was removed on purpose. |
| It is a certificate designed for posting. You do not simply get a flat PDF. It is sized for posting, sharing, and a design that fits perfectly on your screen. One decision to design for your screen rather than using a generic design made more impact than any advertising. |
| The program operates in twelve languages. These include Arabic, English, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam, Chinese, and Filipino. For a country where many people do not have Arabic or English as a first language, this makes a difference between reaching offices and reaching everyone. The Urdu and Malayalam versions are probably responsible for why this ended up in family group chats instead of just corporate group chats. |
What this certificate is and what it is not
We understand this is confusing, so let’s be as clear and concise as possible.
This is a personalized digital certificate of appreciation for participating in a national event. It can be considered as a memento. If this has sentimental value for you, and certainly for people who have dedicated over twenty years toward establishing their life, career, and family here, it is a gesture that is appreciated. Feel free to print and frame it.
This is not:
| Any type of identity or residency document |
| Related to your visa file or any government records |
| Connected to obtaining a Golden Visa, long-term residency or citizenship, or assisting with any applications |
| A promised cash reward, gift, voucher, or entry to a prize draw |
| A guaranteed edge for employment, educational opportunities, or banking |
| Required; there are no penalties for not participating |
You entered your name, so it’s not surprising. It is, quite literally, a certificate of participation, which is not a bad thing.
Regarding the reward “rumors”
If you search “UAE pledge certificate reward” on TikTok, you will find over half a million posts. Many of these posts will show you how to sign the pledge, and, honestly, some of the posts are in bad form and hint at upcoming rewards and benefits for pledge certificate holders.
It’s important to realize these claims are not stating rewards are guaranteed; they are instead asking individuals to “keep watching” in order to keep the individuals following the account, which was the intended purpose.
There is a tangle more innocently occurring that can also be explained. In the UAE workplace, a “Certificate of Appreciation” in most instances is accompanied by some financial incentive. As such, Arabic content related to workplace appreciation certificates and employer rewards is mixed with the national pledge content… that has nothing to do with workplace rewards.
The last type is posting something along the lines of “To receive the process, comment YES and I will DM you,” which is also not a public service. This is a fraudulent act and what you receive after this comment is not a simple link.
None of the news media who posted this — Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Emirates 24|7 — reported any incentives. Furthermore, the organizers reported no incentives. When something of value is offered by the UAE, it is not a rumor, and it is not a comment on a thread similar to the recently announced Dubai Invite program by the Department of Economy and Tourism, which was a confirmed program, with a named authority, published rules, a posted registration link, and an associated deadline.
Also, be advised, as a result of the UAE’s Cybercrime Law, you would incur prison time and receive a stiff financial penalty for posting something that is false and produced with the intent to contradict an official announcement. This makes reposting or forwarding information that you have not verified much more costly than it is in similar jurisdictions.
Signing Instructions
| Enter pledge.ae into your address bar. Do not use shortened or redirected links. |
| Select your preferred language. Read the pledge text. It is only four lines long, and you are signing your name to it. Write your name as you wish for it to be printed. You do not have to provide your email, so you can leave that field blank. Indicate the number of family members, if any, that you are signing for. |
| After you submit the form, your certificate will be ready for you to download in either the standard or story layout. |
| This is a free service. If you are prompted to pay to use any of the services, you are not using the official site. |
Identifying a Scam
Vinyl moments in the U.A.E. tend to attract copycats, and this one is no exception. Phishing sites are typically used to collect names and email addresses, and this site is no exception.
Close the browser tab if you are prompted to pay for any of the following:
| Processing fees, certificate fees, or any other fees. |
| Pictures of your Emirates ID or passport. The real site does not prompt you for either. |
| Bank or card information. There are no legitimate reasons for this information to be collected. |
| A request to log into your email, UAE Pass, or Social accounts. Always protect your credentials. |
| An app download to “generate” your certificate. It is a browser form. |
Be sure to verify the domain. The official site is pledge.ae. Everything else is a fake. Scammers tend to use longer domains with added words to the domain name, or use different domain name extensions. On mobile, where the address bar is mini and scrolling is a hassle, this is where most people get scammed. Be sure to check and zoom before typing the address.
If you entered your email and then received an urgent message asking you to confirm your identity or requesting payment in order to receive something related to the pledge, it is a phishing scam. Just delete the message.
Common inquiries
| Is it possible for tourists or non-residents to sign it? No. It is intended for citizens and residents of the UAE. There really is no official check but it may be a bit strange to sign a national pledge as a tourist or non-resident. |
| Can I sign it for my family as well? Yes. The form is created in a manner that allows you to include your family members in the same submission. |
| Can I get this document in Urdu or Arabic? Absolutely. Just choose the language before filling in the form and it will be provided. |
| I lost the document. The form will have to be filled in again and the document is regenerated. If you provided your email check there first. |
| Does signing this have legal ramifications? No. This is a symbolic pledge and is no more than that. |
| Is there a time limit? No time limit has been set as of yet. It is believed to have been set up for a specific moment in the national calendar so it is likely that the site will not be up permanently. |
So, is it worth it?
If you feel positively, then yes! It’s real, it’s official, it’s free, and it takes ninety seconds. It’s kind of nice that a country that is home to 200 nationalities offers everyone the same page to sign in their language.
You should have the right expectations. It’s a gesture, it’s not a transaction. There’s no cash involved, no visa shortcut, no secret benefit, nothing. Accounts implying otherwise are farming your attention, not informing you.
Type the address yourself. Don’t share your your ID, card details, etc. And be the one responsible person in the group who actually checks things before sending the link.
Dacmaf covers viral trends, digital tools and staying safe online. For all users, verify details of time-sensitive campaigns on official sources prior to any action.
