A number of supportive initiatives will be launched next year
The UAE is once again putting families front and centre with the news that President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared 2026 as the ‘Year of the Family’.
He made the announcement during this week’s 2025 Annual Government Meetings in Abu Dhabi, featuring top officials and leaders from across federal and local entities.
The ‘Year of the Family’ will continue to highlight the importance of strong, supportive family ties as the backbone of a thriving, resilient society.
The initiative aims to raise awareness among citizens and residents about the value of family, promoting unity, empathy, and cooperation, qualities that lie at the heart of Emirati society.
To make this happen, a national task force has been set up, bringing together more than 20 federal and local government bodies.
The agenda focuses on three main paths:
Policies and programmes – reviewing what’s currently in place to support families.
Behavioural insights – learning from Emirati families across the country about the social and behavioural factors influencing family growth.
Reproductive health – examining current initiatives, identifying challenges, and finding ways to improve support for families.
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Speaking to WAM this week, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed stressed that strong families are essential to the UAE’s long-term prosperity, calling family growth a national priority.
He reflected on the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who famously described the family as the cornerstone of a resilient society.
He also spoke about the Ministry of Family, which was established to create strategies that reinforce family values, national identity, and responsible upbringing rooted in Emirati traditions.
But he made it clear that supporting families isn’t just the ministry’s job, it’s a shared responsibility that involves everyone, from the government and private sector to the wider community.
The ‘UAE Year Of’ initiative, launched in 2015, will continue to play a key role in rallying the nation around shared priorities.
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