The Arab Democracy Foundation was established on May 27, 2007. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned announced the birth of this foundation and chaired its Board of Trustees.

ADF was established at the initiative of Arab democracy advocates, and with support from the State of Qatar which accepted to host the ADF headquarters.

ADF initiators believe that its primary impact lies in stimulating innovations and supporting Arab CSOs programs and citizens' initiatives. This involves supporting promising groups to strengthen their institutional capacities, promote democratic values, raise awareness, participate in important public policy debates, and increase their ability to serve their communities, so as to prepare the countries of the region for a peaceful transition to democratic governance, while working against all forms of social and political exclusion.

ADF is an independent international Arab civil society organization advocating democracy as a culture, as a way of life, and as the best system for good governance. It provides material and moral support to organizations and activists in this field, by using all possible peaceful means, and by channeling all human and financial resources available at the local, regional and international levels.