Yumnak: Dubai’s Integrated Vision for Senior Citizen Wellbeing

A new collaborative initiative brings together healthcare, housing, social support and transportation services under one touchpoint, recognising the needs and dignity of Dubai's older residents.

The measure of a society often reveals itself in how it cares for those who built it. Dubai Health has introduced Yumnak, an integrated initiative that brings together six government entities to support senior citizens aged 60 and above with a coordinated ecosystem of health, social, transportation and housing services. The name itself carries meaning: in Arabic, Yumnak refers to the right hand, embodying the values of help, support and companionship that underpin the programme.

Developed through direct consultation with senior citizens themselves, Yumnak emerged from the City Makers programme, a flagship initiative launched in 2014 under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The framework allows older residents to access the care and support they need through a single point of contact at 800 588, streamlining what has often been a fragmented experience of navigating multiple agencies.

The scope of services reflects a genuine understanding of the complexities facing seniors. Dubai Health provides homecare including physician visits, nursing care, dental services and physiotherapy, alongside home delivery of medications and medical supplies. The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services offers dedicated transportation for medical appointments using specially equipped vehicles and trained staff, electronically coordinated with appointment systems. For housing needs, Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment assesses individual requirements and executes necessary modifications to ensure safe, independent living, whilst Dubai Municipality provides residential annex design services tailored to older residents’ circumstances.

Social support runs through the initiative with equal weight. The Community Development Authority connects seniors to services including the Thukher Card via the Dubai Now app, financial support for eligible caregivers, and Waleef, a comprehensive home care service delivered by trained social workers for those living alone. A dedicated Caregiver for Senior Citizens Training Programme equips family members and caregivers with practical knowledge and skills.

The collaboration signals a broader commitment to integrated governance. As Dubai Health Authority Director General Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali noted, improving quality of life for seniors requires a system that extends beyond healthcare delivery to ensure continuity of care and ease of access. This reflects similar initiatives undertaken across Dubai’s health sector: the Dubai Health Authority has recently unveiled comprehensive programmes to enhance healthcare access for People of Determination, demonstrating a consistent approach to removing barriers to care for vulnerable populations.

Community Development Authority Director General Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which seeks to build a close-knit community that values senior citizens and recognises their contributions. Supporting older residents, she noted, means helping them live independently while continuing to play meaningful roles in their families and communities.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

While Yumnak launches in Dubai, the initiative reflects broader Emirati values around elder care and integrated government services that resonate across the UAE. The programme demonstrates how coordination across multiple agencies can transform access to essential services, a model that informs healthcare policy throughout the Emirates. Senior citizens represent a respected segment of society whose contributions to nation-building are explicitly recognised and supported through strategic investment in their wellbeing.

The initiative also underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing healthcare infrastructure and accessibility. Dubai Health’s achievement of Epic Gold Star Configuration Level 10 for electronic health records establishes the digital foundations enabling coordinated programmes like Yumnak to operate seamlessly. This convergence of digital sophistication and human-centred service design positions the Emirates at the forefront of compassionate, modern healthcare delivery.

Source: WAM