Crown Prince Khaled Charts Course for Family Wellbeing and Organ Transplantation Leadership

At the UAE Government Annual Meetings, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan chairs the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to advance programmes supporting Emirati families and cement the emirate's position as a global organ transplantation hub.

The machinery of governance turns quietly, but the decisions made in its chambers ripple outward to touch the lives of countless citizens. On 10th November, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, convened the council on the sidelines of the UAE Government Annual Meetings, focusing on three pivotal areas that speak to the emirate’s deepening commitment to human flourishing: family stability, medical excellence and resource sustainability.

The centrepiece of the meeting was the approval of the second package of the Emirati Family Growth Programme, known as Numou, which sits within the broader Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy. Overseen by the Department of Community Development in collaboration with its partners, this initiative represents a sophisticated response to the evolving needs of Emirati families across different life stages. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach, the programme draws on social data and indicators to tailor support for family formation, stability and growth, while preparing future generations for family life and strengthening family cohesion. The private sector and wider community are being woven into this fabric, extending the circle of support beyond government agencies alone.

H.H. Sheikh Khaled underscored a fundamental truth: that Emirati families remain central to the nation’s development journey. Investment in family growth and stability is, by extension, investment in the nation’s human capital and its future. He directed continued development of programmes that respond to families’ evolving aspirations, providing the foundations for stability and nurturing generations equipped to contribute actively to the nation’s advancement.

The council also reviewed the remarkable progress of Abu Dhabi’s organ donation and transplantation ecosystem. Since the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue, known as Hayat, began in 2017, the system has completed 2,500 transplant procedures, with one-year post-transplant success rates reaching 96.5 per cent, among the highest globally. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi presented key themes for enhancing the system’s sustainability, including developing supportive legislative frameworks, harnessing the latest technologies, and expanding regional organ exchange partnerships to increase organ availability and improve patient access to essential treatment. A public awareness campaign will highlight organ donation’s life-affirming potential and draw on the UAE community’s strong humanitarian values.

H.H. Sheikh Khaled emphasised that organ donation embodies generosity and human solidarity, and called for strengthened integration and coordination among relevant entities to continue advancing this vital system. As we reported in our coverage of his remarks at ADIPEC 2026, the Crown Prince’s consistent theme is the deployment of advanced technologies to meet human needs, a principle that extends to healthcare innovation.

The Executive Council further reviewed Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Water Strategy, launched in November 2025 and overseen by the Department of Energy. The strategy aims to strengthen water security and resource sustainability through diversifying water sources, improving production efficiency, rationalising consumption, developing networks and infrastructure, and harnessing advanced technologies. These efforts will safeguard groundwater reserves and establish a resilient system capable of meeting long-term demands driven by economic and population growth.

Beyond these three priority areas, the council reviewed the broader ecosystem of Abu Dhabi government initiatives, from infrastructure development to improved community services and the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies across government performance.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The approval of Numou’s second package signals a deepening commitment to the social fabric that binds Emirati society together. By tailoring family support programmes to the specific needs of families at different life stages, Abu Dhabi is investing strategically in human wellbeing and generational continuity, recognising that strong families form the foundation of a thriving society.

The emirate’s emergence as a global leader in organ transplantation, with success rates among the world’s highest, demonstrates the calibre of specialised healthcare available in Abu Dhabi. The continued expansion of this ecosystem, coupled with public awareness campaigns, positions the emirate not only as a centre of medical excellence but as a beacon of humanitarian values, where the gift of life can be extended to patients across the region and beyond.