His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has recently approved several initiatives to further enhance social development benchmarks, quality of life and digitalization efforts across the emirate.
Chairing a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan welcomed the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to mark 2025 as the Year of Community.
“The declaration of 2025 as the Year of Community serves to strengthen social cohesion. This initiative will drive government entities to accelerate efforts to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33,” stated Sheikh Hamdan.
He added that the move aligns closely 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, which is backed by an AED208 billion budget.
Dubai Child Protection Protocol
During the meeting, The Executive Council approved the Dubai Child Protection Protocol, a comprehensive framework that aims to ensure a more holistic approach to child welfare, with a strong emphasis on family support. The system includes a set of strategic projects, including the Dubai Child Protection Protocol, proactive child welfare services, training programs for social workers and legislative reforms to strengthen governance.
The initiative spans multiple stages of life, covering prenatal care, birth registration, early childhood services, school-age support, youth development and pre-marital counseling. It aims to ensure a seamless, well-governed approach to child welfare through closer collaboration among specialized teams from various government entities.
“Dubai continues to anticipate and meet the needs of society by elevating global standards and implementing innovative solutions. This new set of initiatives reflects our steadfast commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready society,” added Sheikh Hamdan.
Community Development Fund Policy
Sheikh Hamdan also approved the Community Development Fund Policy, which aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and supports various social development initiatives. The policy aims to enhance community services, help fund social programs and foster an inclusive society. The Community Development Authority will manage the policy which focuses on empowering UAE nationals, improving social services, and driving innovation in the field of social support.
“Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Dubai presents a pioneering model for a cohesive society, a resilient economy, advanced infrastructure, and individuals who are forward-looking, ready to seize every opportunity and potential,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
Enhancing homeownership opportunities for UAE citizens
Dubai’s Executive Council also approved a new property classification initiative called Strata Registration that is designed to enhance homeownership opportunities for UAE citizens by enabling property owners to subdivide real estate units and issue independent title deeds for each unit within the building. The initiative will facilitate more diverse housing options and support family stability and community cohesion, in addition to stimulating economic growth within the real estate sector.
Implemented in two phases by the Dubai Land Department, the initiative’s first phase focuses on multi-story buildings within investment and social-purpose zones, targeting areas such as Al Nahda, Al Muraqqabat, Al Karama, Al Warqa, Nad Al Hamar and Al Barsha.
Meanwhile, the second phase will extend to villa communities, providing Emirati families with more ownership choices. By facilitating more flexible ownership structures, the initiative aims to encourage greater participation in Dubai’s real estate sector while ensuring a dynamic and inclusive market.
Expanding pro-pedestrian zones
To reinforce Dubai’s status as a pedestrian-friendly global city, Sheikh Hamdan also approved the Super Block initiative. The project focuses on transforming designated urban areas into pro-pedestrian zones to enhance quality of life, foster social interaction and promote sustainable mobility.
In line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by designating car-free residential areas, enhancing the quality of life by increasing green spaces, and fostering social interactions through shared recreational public spaces.
Areas such as Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, Al Karama, and Al Quoz Creative Zone will be the first to benefit from the initiative.
“We call on all government entities to support these initiatives. They will enhance Dubai’s global standing, promote social well-being, and drive sustainable progress. Through a sense of collective responsibility and determination to unlock potential, we have established a comprehensive development model that sets a benchmark for future cities,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
Read: Dubai’s GDP grows 3.1 percent to $92.4 billion in first nine months of 2024
Unified Digital Platform Initiative
During the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan also approved the Unified Digital Platform Initiative to integrate government digital services in Dubai under a single platform, streamlining the user experience for residents, businesses and visitors.
The initiative aligns with the Services 360 Policy and aims to position Dubai among the top three global cities for digital services by 2027. It consolidates platforms such as ‘Dubai Now,’ ‘Invest in Dubai,’ and ‘Visit Dubai,’ and features special portals for mobility, construction, legal affairs and commerce.
By 2027, the initiative targets full digital service coverage, a 95 percent customer satisfaction rate, a 95 percent digital adoption rate, and a 60 percent improvement in service efficiency.
