Dubai: With work and technology taking over the lives of most people, families in the UAE don't get to spend enough quality time together.
Spending quality time, such as sharing a meal or watching a movie together, is important for families to create a strong and special bond.
However, due to pressures of modern life, one in two people get only less than an hour of quality family time in a typical day, according to a new research released on Wednesday.
Centrepoint, a family fashion retailer in the region, has recently polled residents in the country to find out how much time people are spending with their husband, wife or children outside the office.
About half (46 per cent) said they are not able to spend even one hour with their family each day.
The majority (74 per cent) did say they have three hours to spare a day, but most of them said that only less than an hour of that is uninterrupted quality time.
The respondents, around 72 per cent, said the reason is that they are either too busy with work or with their personal gadgets at home. A small number, four per cent, cited distance as a reason for less quality family time.
“Respondents cited work as a key reason for not being able to spend quality time with their family. Many people in this region have incredibly long working hours, and not everyone can commit to spending hours with their families each day,” said Vinod Talreja, director at Centrepoint.
The retailer is working with education and health specialists to launch an initiative that seeks to empower families in the region. Called “Family Clock – 15 minutes of quality family time,” the campaign will be disseminating a series of tips to encourage people to find time with their nearest and dearest.
“We are proud to launch this community initiative building up to the World Family Day on 15th May and we hope that our tips will be useful to everyone who wants to spend [more time] with their family,” said Talreja.
Through the retailer’s social media platforms, a new tip will be shared every day leading up to the Family Day next week.
