President declares '26 as 'Year of the Family'

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday attended a session focused on the National Family Growth Agenda 2031, held as part of the 2025 Annual Government Meetings in Abu Dhabi.

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The session brought together senior officials and leaders from federal and local entities.

To further advance the objectives of the National Family Growth Agenda 2031, Sheikh Mohamed directed that 2026 be designated the Year of the Family.

The initiative aims to raise awareness among citizens and residents across the UAE of the importance of maintaining strong, cohesive family ties, which are the fundamental building blocks of a resilient and prosperous society.

It also seeks to promote the deeply rooted values of unity, empathy and cooperation that characterise Emirati society and ensure these values are passed on to future generations.

As part of efforts to implement the agenda, a national task force has been formed comprising over 20 federal and local government bodies concerned with family growth.

The agenda focuses on three main pathways: policies and programmes, behavioural interventions, and reproductive health.

The first pathway involves reviewing current policies and programmes that directly or indirectly impact family growth.