H.H. Sheikh Hamdan approves child protection, social initiatives

A series of initiatives to enhance social development benchmarks, quality of life, and digitalisation efforts across Dubai have been approved by the Executive Council of Dubai.

Chairing the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved new initiatives including the Dubai Child Protection Protocol, a comprehensive framework designed to ensure a more holistic approach to child welfare, with a strong emphasis on family support.

The system will usher in a series of strategic projects, proactive child welfare services, training programmes for social workers, and legislative reforms to strengthen governance.

The initiative spans multiple stages of life, covering prenatal care, birth registration, early childhood services, school-age support, youth development, and pre-marital counselling.

It is designed to ensure a seamless, well-governed approach to child welfare through closer collaboration among specialised teams from various government entities including Dubai Police, Community Development Authority, Dubai Public Prosecution, Dubai Courts, Supreme Legislation Committee, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Academic Health Institution, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Erada Center, Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Digital Dubai Authority, and Dubai Sports Council.

The newly approved Community Development Fund Policy aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and supports various social development initiatives. The policy aims to enhance community services, help fund social programmes and foster an inclusive society. It is managed by the Community Development Authority and focuses on empowering UAE nationals, improving social services, and driving innovation in the field of social support.

The Executive Council also approved a new property classification initiative called Strata Registration, designed to enhance home ownership opportunities for UAE citizens by enabling property owners to subdivide real estate units and issue independent title deeds for each unit within the building.

The initiative will facilitate more diverse housing options, support family stability and community cohesion, in addition to stimulating economic growth within the real estate sector. Implemented in two phases by the Dubai Land Department, the initiative’s first phase focuses on multi-storey buildings within investment and social-purpose zones, targeting areas such as Al Nahda, Al Muraqqabat, Al Karama, Al Warqa, Nad Al Hamar, and Al Barsha.

The second phase will extend to villa communities, providing Emirati families with more ownership choices. By facilitating more flexible ownership structures, the initiative aims to encourage greater participation in Dubai’s real estate sector while ensuring a dynamic and inclusive market.

The Executive Council also approved the Super Block initiative. The project focuses on transforming designated urban areas into car-free zones to enhance quality of life, foster social interaction, and promote sustainable mobility.

Aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by designating pedestrian only residential areas, enhancing quality of life by increase green spaces, and fostering social interactions through shared recreational public spaces. Areas such as Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, Al Karama, and Al Quoz Creative Zone will be the first to benefit from the initiative.

The meeting also saw approval being accorded for the Unified Digital Platform Initiative to integrate government digital services in Dubai under a single platform, streamlining the user experience for residents, businesses, and visitors. The initiative aligns with the Services 360 Policy and aims to position Dubai among the top three global cities for digital services by 2027.

It consolidates platforms such as Dubai Now, Invest in Dubai, and Visit Dubai, and features special portals for mobility, construction, legal affairs, and commerce. By 2027, the initiative targets full digital service coverage, a 95 per cent customer satisfaction rate, a 95 per cent digital adoption rate, and a 60 per cent improvement in service efficiency.