Latest news with #DepartmentOfCommunityDevelopment
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi organizes informational workshops on the 'Damj' award with participation from organizations across all sectors in the emirate
Dr. Layla Al Hyas: We invite all entities to submit initiatives that create tangible impact in the lives of People of Determination. Submissions for the award open on July 1st and will run through the end of August 2025. Abu Dhabi – The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi organized a series of interactive orientation workshops introducing the Abu Dhabi Excellence Award for People of Determination Inclusion – Damj. The sessions welcomed representatives from government, private, and third sector organizations across the emirate. These workshops aim to empower participating organizations to develop inclusive strategies and initiatives in line with global best practices. This aligns with Abu Dhabi's vision of building an inclusive society that provides equal opportunities for all. The sessions also introduced participants to the award's pillars, categories, and objectives, along with its assessment tool, participation criteria, and nomination process – all designed to foster a shared understanding and strengthen institutional inclusion efforts across workplaces, community services and accessibility. The workshops featured engaging sessions that outlined the award's role in recognizing and motivating entities to adopt inclusive services and equitable employment practices. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainability of inclusive practices that empower People of Determination in every aspect of life. The award is expected to engage over 600 entities across various sectors to provide inclusive, accessible environments – both physical and digital. It also seeks to enhance economic participation for People of Determination through more than 80 entities, offering over 500 inclusive services across six key sectors, representing a true commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and equality. One of the workshops highlights included inspiring personal testimonies from members of the People of Determination community. They shared their life experiences and the ongoing challenges they face in areas such as infrastructure, transport, accessibility, and education. They also emphasized the significant impact of multi-sector efforts from government, private, and third-sector partners in improving the quality of life for People of Determination and their families. The workshops also included a comprehensive presentation of the award's structure, which is built around 3 main pillars and 10 categories. The first is the Inclusive Services pillar, which features 6 categories covering the industries of health, education, tourism and entertainment, transportation and mobility, and third sector services. The second is the Inclusive Employment pillar, which includes two categories recognizing the best inclusive work environment for employing People of Determination. The third pillar focuses on Accessibility, with two categories honoring entities that excel in providing both physical and digital accessibility. The sessions further highlighted the specific criteria and requirements for each pillar and service, in addition to outlining the stages of assessment and the nomination submission process, supported by vivid examples for each service. The sessions also provided insights into evaluation criteria, nomination requirements, and examples illustrating the kinds of initiatives eligible for each category. Additionally, third-sector organizations presented models of their inclusive services, demonstrating their pivotal role in supporting People of Determination across different aspects of life. These presentations served as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among attendees. Her Excellency Dr. Layla Al Hyas, Executive Director of the Community Development Sector at the Department of Community Development, affirmed that the Damj Award is a vital enabler for sustaining inclusive environments and practices. She described the award as a strategic driver that encourages entities to adopt forward-thinking policies promoting equal opportunity and empowering People of Determination as active partners in development. Dr. Al Hyas urged all public, private, and third-sector entities to leverage this opportunity to submit impactful, innovative initiatives that make a real difference in the lives of People of Determination. She emphasized that excellence in inclusion is not only about meeting standards but about creating sustainable, innovative, and measurable change. She added: "We are confident in Abu Dhabi's entities and their ability to lead inclusive transformation. Every initiative submitted today marks a step toward a more inclusive society." To conclude the workshop, the award team hosted a Q&A session, responding to participants' inquiries about the nomination process and requirements. The team also expressed its availability to hold one-on-one sessions with interested entities and encouraged communication via email at: damj@ It is worth noting that submissions for the Damj Award will open on July 1, 2025, and continue through August 31, 2025, followed by an assessment phase in September and October, with the winners to be honoured at an extraordinary ceremony in early 2026.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi ranks high in quality of life, with 93.6% of residents feeling safe at night
Based on the findings of the fifth Quality of Life Survey in Abu Dhabi Improved Happiness and Quality of Life Indicators in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi has reinforced its position as one of the world's top cities in quality of life, safety, and happiness, according to the findings of the fifth Quality of Life Survey conducted in 2024 by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi (DCD). The survey results revealed that 93.6% of residents feel safe walking alone at night, reflecting the emirate's continued recognition as the world's safest city in 2025 according to global indicators. The Happiness indicator also recorded an increase, reaching 7.74 out of 10, compared to 7.63 in the third cycle. More than 100,000 individuals from 190 different nationalities participated in the survey, which covered 14 key social well-being indicators: housing, job opportunities and revenue, family income and wealth, work-life balance, health, education and skills, personal security and safety, social relations, civic participation and governance, environmental quality, social and cultural cohesion, social and community service, quality of life, digital happiness, and wellbeing. The survey results showed that 75.6% of residents have a strong social support network, emphasizing the importance of social cohesion during the "Year of Community. Meanwhile, the volunteering participation rate reached 34.3%, reflecting a strong community spirit among residents. The Department of Community Development also urged all community members to participate in the sixth cycle of the Quality of Life Survey and to share their aspirations and challenges across all aspects of life. The results reflect the quality of life, and we continue to listen to all community members H.E Eng. Shaikha Alhosani, Executive Director Of the Social Monitoring and Innovation Sector at DCD, affirmed that the results reflect the emirate's strategic efforts to enhance quality of life. The Quality of Life Survey demonstrates Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to developing innovative policies that place individual well-being at the forefront of its priorities. She noted that joint efforts across various sectors have contributed to creating a secure and sustainable environment in which residents feel stable and thrive. Alhosani added that high safety levels, increased happiness, and longer life expectancy are all indicators of the success of Abu Dhabi's governmental policies and plans in promoting social, health, and economic development. She stated: 'During the Year of Community, we continue to shape policies and develop programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all community members and fulfilling their aspirations. Recently, we witnessed the opening of the ' Nabdh Al Falah Community hub,' which serves as a tangible example of transforming the 'Voice of the Community' into reality. In collaboration with all our partners, we are working to make it an integrated platform offering activities, programs, and events that target all segments of society.' With Abu Dhabi's continued digital transformation, the survey also revealed a rise in digital well-being, with residents enjoying easy and efficient access to digital services. However, the findings also pointed to growing concerns about the psychological effects of technology, highlighting the need for balanced policies that support mental health and social interaction in the digital age. In terms of work-life balance, the results showed that working hours remain higher than the OECD average, underscoring the need for strategies that better support personal and professional life balance to sustain quality of life in the community. The Department of Community Development relies on the results of the Quality of Life Survey as a fundamental tool for developing social and economic policies, ensuring the creation of a balanced and sustainable community environment. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, the department aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods and promote social cohesion, ensuring a prosperous future for all residents of Abu Dhabi.
Arabian Business
20-05-2025
- Health
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi set to create additional ‘Nabdh' community hubs under new DCD–DMT agreement
Abu Dhabi is set to roll out a wider network of 'Nabdh' community hubs under a new agreement between the Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), as reported by WAM. The initiative aims to enhance community engagement, foster belonging, and improve residents' overall quality of life. The agreement, announced this week, will see more Nabdh hubs established across various regions of the emirate. The DMT will oversee the development and support of these facilities, ensuring that modern standards are met and cater to all segments of society. Purpose-built spaces for connection and inclusion The first of its kind, Nabdh hub in Abu Dhabi was designed as an inclusive space to encourage community interaction, provide access to enriching programmes, and offer support services tailored to the needs of families, youth, and senior citizens. Hamad Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Department of Community Development, highlighted that the agreement aligns with the goals of the Year of Community, by creating more inclusive spaces that nurture cooperation, belonging, and shared experiences among community members. 'This collaboration will expand our reach to a wider audience and enable us to develop sustainable programmes that resonate with community members, ultimately improving their quality of life,' Al Dhaheri said. He stressed the importance of thoughtful design to ensure the hubs serve different age groups effectively from youth empowerment initiatives to wellbeing support for older adults. Investing in quality-of-life infrastructure 'Providing advanced community facilities across Nabdh hubs is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at creating infrastructure that enhances the residents' quality of life in Abu Dhabi. We believe that developing these centres plays a key role in enhancing social cohesion while reflecting the dynamic nature of Abu Dhabi's urban landscape,' Dr. Saif Sultan Al Nasri, Acting Undersecretary of DMT said. 'Collaborating with the Department of Community Development has enabled us to achieve higher levels of inclusivity in developmental projects, demonstrating our commitment to building and developing modern facilities defined by engineering and architectural excellence. These initiatives play a vital role in supporting the Emirate's efforts to provide social infrastructure and services that meet the highest standards and best practices,' Al Nasri added. The expansion of Nabdh hubs aims to highlight Abu Dhabi's continued investment in social infrastructure and its commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods. The initiative is aligned with the Emirate's long-term vision of building communities that are resilient, connected, and empowered through purpose-driven design and programming.
