His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the regular meeting of the council held in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the council’s Deputy Chair. During the session, the strategy of the Ministry of Family was approved, and initial initiatives related to the growth of Emirati families were discussed. The ministry is working on this endeavor in collaboration with various relevant partners.
The council addressed updates on the Emirati Genome Program and its close ties to family matters. It reviewed national efforts aimed at supporting the establishment of Emirati families and enhancing reproductive health, aligning with the targets of population development and social stability in the country.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized that supporting and promoting Emirati families is a national priority and a strategic investment in the nation’s future and sustainability of its development. He noted that families are the core unit of society and the primary source for instilling national values.
He stated: “The approval of the Ministry of Family’s strategy is a significant step towards building an integrated system that enhances the stability of Emirati families and supports their formation in encouraging and safe environments. Our priority today is to develop policies and programs based on realistic foundations and accurate data, in partnership with all stakeholders, to ensure the highest levels of integration and coordination.”
Furthermore, he indicated that the leadership is keen on empowering youth and encouraging them to establish stable families by providing suitable incentives and support services related to marriage, healthcare, education, and social services. He stressed the need to accelerate efforts and achieve tangible results that positively impact marriage rates, fertility, family quality of life, and child health.
He pointed out that the issue of the growth of Emirati families is not just a demographic concern; it is a comprehensive developmental matter that requires collective efforts and integrated roles across all sectors. He affirmed that building strong, cohesive, and happy families is fundamental to creating a prosperous society and a sustainable economy.
His Highness remarked: “We are not merely looking for numbers; rather, we aim to create a supportive family system that produces ambitious and aware generations capable of continuing the state’s development and meeting its future aspirations.”
For her part, Her Highness Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan echoed the significance of Emirati families as the foundational unit upon which societal stability and prosperity is built. Families are a source of values, identity, and the primary pillar in human development.
She stated: “The UAE places exceptional emphasis on families, stemming from a strong belief that robust societies begin with stable and cohesive families. Thus, we are working to develop a comprehensive system that responds to the aspirations of our citizens and supports them during family formation and parenting phases, promoting balance between personal and professional life while ensuring mental and reproductive health and paving the way for sustainable family journeys.”
She added that the growth of Emirati families is not merely a population goal but also a national message with cultural and humanitarian dimensions. The national agenda linked to this issue encapsulates a collective commitment to a more stable and cohesive future, contributing to nurturing confident and effective generations capable of adapting to changes and shaping the country’s future with its values and principles.
Her Highness reaffirmed that the growth of Emirati families represents a shared national responsibility, requiring the integration of roles across all sectors, including education, healthcare, housing, labor, and social services. She emphasized that creating an enabling environment for families necessitates comprehensive institutional coordination reflecting the UAE’s vision of establishing a strong and balanced society centered around individuals while preserving their identity and values.
The meeting was attended by council members alongside several ministers and senior officials from various federal and local entities involved, clearly demonstrating the national integration in supporting the growth of Emirati families.
Among those present were Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Community Development Shama bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Education Sara bint Yousef Al Amiri, and Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Manan Al Awar, along with Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sultan bin Yousef Al Nuaimi, and other high-ranking officials.
The Minister of Family, Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, presented the comprehensive strategy for the ministry for the next three years (2025-2027), aiming to enhance the stability and welfare of Emirati families. This strategy is founded on a deep understanding of the needs of Emirati families, designing policies and services that center on individuals, rooted in national values, and activating the shared responsibility among all stakeholders.
She highlighted that the ministry is significantly focused on priority groups within Emirati society, including senior citizens, people of determination, and at-risk children, ensuring consideration of their needs regarding support, protection, prevention, and community integration.
The strategy follows an integrated approach that activates the roles of the state and society in empowering families at all stages of their formation and growth, providing an environment that makes family formation a meaningful and purposeful choice, fostering balance between family and professional life, and preserving identity and values.
Additionally, she reviewed ongoing efforts related to the growth of Emirati families in coordination with various sectors, encompassing the study and preparation of multiple initiatives and policies aimed at empowering Emirati families and supporting youth in their initial steps toward marriage and parenthood, thereby enhancing the overall quality of family life sustainably.
She emphasized that progress in this area is based on three parallel pathways: policies and program pathways, social and behavioral intervention pathways, and reproductive health pathways.
Moreover, she noted that the national agenda also includes redesigning family support services to align with the various stages of formation and growth, improving beneficiaries’ experiences, and expanding preventive and advisory services to ensure more effective responses and alignment to the needs of Emirati families.
In this context, she underscored the importance of reproductive health as a key component within the family growth strategy, indicating the collective national efforts in this domain, particularly through the Emirati Genome Program, which acts as an advanced scientific tool for the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic disorders, enhancing safe reproductive opportunities and supporting families in building a healthy future for their children.
In conclusion, the council underscored the importance of continuing to build the national agenda for the growth of Emirati families, following an integrative approach that ensures coordination among different federal and local entities, and accelerating the execution of prioritized initiatives.
It also emphasized the need to enhance integration among population, social, health, and educational policies to ensure a tangible positive impact on the reality of Emirati families, contributing to sustainable human development, demographic balance, and societal stability in the nation.