UAE Pioneering Global Excellence in Senior Citizen Care and Wellbeing
The Minister of Family has underscored the Emirates' commitment to establishing an internationally exemplary model for supporting older citizens, honouring their invaluable contributions to national development.
The United Arab Emirates has developed a sophisticated framework for supporting senior Emirati citizens and elevating their quality of life, reflecting the visionary directives of the nation’s leadership, according to Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family.
Speaking on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons—observed annually on 1st October under this year’s theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives”—the Minister emphasised that the UAE’s approach places people at the centre of governance priorities whilst recognising the distinguished role of older citizens in the nation’s development trajectory.
The comprehensive strategy encompasses the National Policy for Senior Citizens, which establishes robust foundations for enhancing wellbeing and ensuring sustained active participation within society. This multifaceted approach strengthens healthcare provision, fosters community engagement, and promotes active living whilst leveraging the accumulated knowledge and experience of older generations as a treasured national legacy.
The Minister highlighted that these endeavours reflect the Emirates’ aspiration to construct a leading international model for elder care, one that acknowledges senior citizens as partners in the nation’s advancement and draws upon their wisdom as a continuing asset to successive generations. She stressed the importance of strengthening the family’s role as a stabilising institution in providing care and maintaining meaningful social connections.
The initiatives align with the objectives of UAE Centennial 2071, which aspires to establish a more cohesive and sustainable society whilst investing meaningfully in human capital. By preserving intergenerational knowledge transfer and fostering dialogue between older and younger generations, the UAE reinforces its foundational values and identity whilst ensuring that senior citizens maintain an active and purposeful role in both present and future society.
The observance of International Day of Older Persons serves as an annual reminder to honour the contributions of older members of society and to champion their dignity, independence and full inclusion within community life.
Source: WAM