Ninth Senior Citizens Forum Charts Course for Meaningful Engagement and Enhanced Wellbeing
Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Family Development Foundation has convened its annual forum to advance quality of life for older citizens, positioning their accumulated experience as a vital national asset and strengthening their active participation within families and communities.
The Family Development Foundation has organised the Ninth Senior Citizens Forum at Nabdh Centre in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, bringing together senior citizens, their families, and community representatives under a theme focused on the journey towards enhanced quality of life for older members of Emirati society.
Held in alignment with the International Day of Older Persons, the forum reflects sustained commitment to enabling senior citizens to live with dignity, contribute meaningfully, and maintain an influential presence within the social fabric. The gathering was attended by Sheikha Moza bint Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ambassador of Elderly Projects at PureHealth; His Excellency Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Family Development Foundation; and Her Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, alongside senior officials and strategic partners.
Honouring Contribution and Legacy
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, emphasised that advancing in age should create new horizons for senior citizens to participate and contribute, allowing their decades of experience to exercise greater presence and deeper impact within society.
In her statement to the forum, Her Highness referenced the enduring vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, whose commitment to senior citizens’ dignity established principles that continue to guide the nation’s approach. She noted that honouring those who devoted their lives to serving the nation represents an unwavering value passed through generations.
Her Highness affirmed that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, continues this legacy, ensuring that senior citizens remain secure in a nation that recognises their contributions and takes pride in its people. The UAE views longevity as an opportunity for evolving roles, expanding avenues for participation, and enabling senior citizens to make meaningful differences within their families and communities.
Strengthening Family Foundations
Emphasising the role of senior citizens within family structures, Her Highness highlighted that the Emirati family grows stronger when its older members remain at the heart of family life, present in everyday moments and involved in decisions. Through their presence, family values are reinforced, and principles of belonging, responsibility and giving pass from one generation to the next, ensuring heritage continues to thrive.
Her Highness commended the Family Development Foundation’s efforts in developing an integrated ecosystem of initiatives that provides comprehensive care and creates environments befitting senior citizens’ status and contributions. The foundation continues advancing with a forward-looking vision that anticipates needs and develops services aligned with aspirations, making quality of life a sustainable responsibility.
Community Platform for Engagement
The Ninth Senior Citizens Forum functions as an interactive community platform that opens broader horizons for knowledge, participation, and access to health, social, technological, cultural and recreational experiences. It enables senior citizens to choose lifestyles meeting their aspirations while supporting independence and active participation.
By creating space for meaningful engagement, the forum positions older citizens’ experience, knowledge and skills as valuable assets that continue enriching future generations. In this framework, senior citizens remain partners in the nation’s present and sources of wisdom from which younger generations draw inspiration in shaping the UAE’s future.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office