The DCD has recently launched the Emirati Family Growth Support Programme which it has designed and implemented through its initiatives and Credit 5 supports, was approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council on the instructions of H. H Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan CP of Abu Dhabi & Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The programme itself consists of six initiatives aimed at helping UAE citizens marry, have children, and contribute to the stability of society as a whole; in this regard, improving the quality of life for families in Abu Dhabi until 2028 corresponds to this surveyed strategy.
The programme which is under the DCD and is executes in conjunction with its partners such as the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, and Abu Dhabi Housing Authority aims at advancing the issues of marriage, child bearing, and nurturing stable families. These include the Marriage Loan Initiative which is facilitated to enable women access loans in cases of default by their husbands, The Maternity Leave Support to Women working in the Private Sector through provision of Jerseys, Baby foods, and Feeding Bottles; The Home Visit Service to Women experiencing complications after Child birth with Clothes, Water, and Food being provided for by the Ministry for free of charge. Also, the programme provides Rental Assistance for Newlyweds, residents having a housing loan can enjoy the benefit of Extending Housing Loan Repayment Periods in cases of having multiple children, residents with four more children are allowed Loan Partial Deduction.
Addressing a graduation ceremony at the teaching hospital, Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of DCD, stressed on the leadership’s vision of improving standard of living and said that families are the backbone of the society. Then, he characterized the programme for young people and parents, the strengthening of family values, and added that all this would help in achieving the country’s objectives in the UAE.
The programme was considered as crucial by Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, as well as Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of DCD, in terms of family stability, as well as the wellbeing of society as a whole. The initiative is also compatible with the general Abu Dhabi’s plan of the overall and inclusive sustainable development.
To assess the efficiency of the programme in constructing a stable prosperous society this will be running for 5years at a time. It seeks to improve work-family interface, child development and the availability of care options: thus, Building a cohesive and productive Emirati society.