How family-friendly policies make a difference to residents in the UAE

Dubai: The UAE’s decision on Sunday to set up a separate Ministry of Family has unerscored the importance that the government places on the well-being of families for the nation’s progress. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, who announced the establishment of the ministry, said, “Family is a national priority.”

Accordingly, the new ministry will develop legislation, policies, and programmes to empower families, strengthen their cohesion and stability, while also boosting fertility rates.

Sheikh Mohammed also made it clear the task is not the ministry’s alone.

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He said, “It is a shared responsibility involving parents, ministries, entities, as well as the public and private sectors. Families form the solid nucleus of our society, and their strength ensures the cohesion of our communities. We call on everyone to contribute to the empowerment and support of families, and we anticipate significant positive developments in this critical area in the coming period.”

Gulf News spoke to some organisations to find out what exactly they are doing to boost family welfare.

Family First initiative

Dr Funke Baffour Awuah, Corporate Head of Well-being, GEMS Education, which runs over 46 schools with 142,000 students, said, “The launch of the Ministry of Family is a powerful demonstration of the UAE’s dedication to fostering cohesive, empowered families.

She said, “At GEMS, our approach to well-being is driven by a comprehensive framework that prioritises the mental, emotional, and social health of our entire school community. We have over 150 school counsellors and 70 well-being champions leading the way in promoting mental health and well-being across our schools."

Initiatives such as GEMS Family First, which was launched earlier this year, also foster family engagement through workshops, open dialogue, and resources that bridge the home-school connection, she explained.

"Our well-being framework focuses on early identification of needs, positive school culture, and staff well-being, equipping school leaders and counsellors to assess and elevate well-being practices. By integrating mental health and well-being into every aspect of school life, we empower students and families to thrive together,” she added.

Flexible work

For Kokila Algha, Founder of Dubai-based Karm Legal Consultants, the thrust is on flexible work policies.

Her once-all-women firm, has now become more inclusive with men on board too. But all them have the option of working from home twice a week and also adjust their work timings to accommodate their young children’s requirements.

“We also have programmes for counselling and mindfulness to cater to the mental well-being of employees. The company also pays for therapies where needed.”

Parent-friendly practices

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has shared that its ongoing Parent-friendly Label (PFL) programme has attracted applications from 83 organisations in its latest cycle, demonstrating an increasing commitment to a supportive parent-friendly work culture that positively impacts children 0-8 years old and their parents.

The programmes and policies will cover 163,000 employees, benefiting parents, children and the broader community. It has also broadened its outreach to new industries, receiving the highest applications from professional services organisations, followed by the education industry, with nurseries leading the way, while energy and utilities as well as healthcare and pharma industries came in third place.

Label earners from the earlier cycles set a benchmark for supportive workplaces and demonstrated impactful framily-friendly practices, including bonding leave for new parents, extended maternity and paternity leaves and flexible work arrangements for new parents.

Creating opportunities

For many employers, the objectives of the new ministry will set a framework for family-friendly operations.

Nikhil Nanda, Director, Innovations Group, said, Quote: “The establishment of the Ministry of Family underlines the UAE’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the foundation of society: The family unit.

Nidhi Sehgal, General Manager- Strategy & Growth, FLC Marketing Group, said, “As an industry leader, I am deeply inspired by the UAE’s visionary step in establishing the Ministry of Family.

She said, "This initiative reflects a profound understanding that empowered, cohesive families are the backbone of a thriving workforce and community. The ministry’s focus on supporting families and fostering stability resonates strongly with those of us leading teams and organisations, as it reminds us that success is most sustainable when rooted in harmony at both work and home.”