Dubai takes major step to strengthen child welfare

Dubai has taken a significant step in enhancing child welfare and strengthening family wellbeing with the launch of the Dubai Child Protection Framework.

The landmark initiative underscores the city’s commitment to fostering safer, healthier, and more cohesive communities, placing child-centred welfare at the heart of its social development agenda. Announced in conjunction with the Year of Community, the new Dubai Child Protection Framework was approved in February by The Executive Council of Dubai, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE.

The Framework aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the theme “Family: The Foundation of Our Nation.”

It is designed to ensure that every child in Dubai is protected, supported, and given the best opportunities to thrive. It introduces a structured and well-governed set of strategic initiatives that place children’s welfare and development at the forefront, while recognising the family as the primary environment for nurturing and protecting children.

The Framework also promotes shared responsibility among parents, communities, and institutions, reinforcing collaboration across government entities to create a holistic and sustainable child protection system.

Guided by core principles, the Framework prioritises the best interests of the child, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and development. It reinforces the role of the family as the foundation of child welfare, recognising its central role in raising and protecting children.

The approach promotes joint responsibility among parents, professionals, and the wider community in ensuring child safety and wellbeing.

It also ensures that government efforts are aligned and integrated, supporting early intervention and prevention strategies that equip professionals, parents, and communities with the necessary tools to identify and address risks proactively.

Abdulrahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, said that Emirati Children’s Day is more than a national occasion - it is a celebration of a sustainable vision and a continued commitment to empowering the next generation of the UAE.

This occasion, Al Owais said, reflects the country’s long-standing approach, prioritising human development as a core principle guiding all national strategies. Supporting children always comes first, the minister said, as they represent the true wealth of the nation.

Ahmad Saeed Bin Meshar Al Muhairi, SLC Secretary General said: “Emirati Children’s Day is a national occasion that reaffirms our pride in and appreciation for the remarkable strides the UAE has made in childcare and the protection of children’s rights.”

UAE EMPOWERS CHILDREN: Hanadi Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Department, on the Occasion of Emirati Children’s Day 2025, emphasised that instilling national identity and Emirati culture in children’s hearts is the cornerstone of building a generation that is confident in its roots, committed to its values, and capable of embracing the future with confidence.

She stated: “On Emirati Children’s Day, we celebrate every child’s right to grow up in an environment that nurtures their sense of belonging to their heritage and identity, providing them with the opportunity to actively contribute to preserving the cultural legacy of their nation and becoming partners in shaping its future.”

She added: “Child development goes beyond protection and education; it also entails instilling national values, strengthening their connection to history, and encouraging creativity within their cultural framework. In 2025, the Year of the Community, the UAE’s vision is reflected in empowering children to explore their past, take pride in their identity, and build a brighter future inspired by the spirit of generosity and leadership inherited from their ancestors.”