1st national edition of Early Childhood Week to take place

Under the patronage of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, the first national edition of Early Childhood Week will take place across the UAE from 16 to 22 November 2026.

Led by the Ministry of Family in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, the initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting children in their early years and giving them the best opportunities to grow and thrive.

Held under the theme Every Moment Matters, and in alignment with the aspirations of the UAE Year of Family, the week highlights the family’s role as a cornerstone of a cohesive and prosperous society. It will bring this principle to life by transforming public spaces into interactive environments for learning and play, giving parents and caregivers practical and accessible opportunities to connect with their children through inspiring moments spent together.

Early Childhood Week will offer a range of community activities and experiences designed to strengthen connections between children, their parents and caregivers, and the wider support ecosystem, including the social, health, education and sport sectors.

The early years are the most formative stage of a child’s growth and development. By the age of five, 90 per cent of brain development is complete, helping to shape a child’s ability to learn, grow and connect with others, as well as how they see the world around them.

Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director General of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), said: “Early Childhood Week is a national initiative that brings together families, government entities, the private sector and community organisations within an integrated ecosystem that supports children during the most influential stage of their lives.

“Expanding the week nationwide will create significant momentum to broaden partnerships, exchange expertise and provide high-quality experiences that support children’s development and wellbeing, in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership and the country’s approach to advancing quality of life and building a more cohesive and future-ready society.

” Her Excellency added that holding the week in conjunction with the UAE Year of Family translates the UAE’s vision for supporting every stage of child development into everyday practices that strengthen the role of the family throughout a child’s journey.

It also equips parents and caregivers with the knowledge and experience needed to enrich the moments they spend with their children. Her Excellency noted that these efforts contribute to promoting positive parenting, strengthening family bonds, and creating environments that nurture children’s potential and open up opportunities for them to learn, grow, and thrive.

Early Childhood Week continues to grow in scale and impact with each edition. Last year, more than 70 partners delivered over 300 activations and experiences, attracting more than 65,000 participants and generating nearly 55,000 hours of engagement and participation across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

The week successfully brought early childhood concepts into the heart of everyday family life across the Emirate. From shopping malls and public spaces to sports facilities and cultural destinations, families enjoyed a diverse range of activities and experiences, including interactive storytelling sessions, distinctive educational and recreational experiences, maritime and heritage activities, and community events for the whole family.

The programme also offered opportunities for physical activity and play, awareness sessions on positive parenting practices, and activities supporting family health and wellbeing, helping to create supportive environments in which children can grow and thrive.

This year, families across the UAE can look forward to a rich programme of activations and experiences designed to support learning and wellbeing and strengthen family engagement. The programme will include play-based learning activities, workshops for parents and caregivers, family health and wellbeing experiences, arts and music performances, storytelling sessions, cultural and heritage activations, sports programmes and physical activities, and community engagement initiatives.

It will also feature events delivered in partnership with organisations across the health, education, technology, sport and community sectors. The Ministry of Family and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority invite organisations to contribute to support the aspirations of the UAE Year of Family and take part in the Early Childhood Week programme by organising activations and experiences for families and children.

Interested organisations may register their interest by emailing ECWeek@eca.gov.ae. Official partners and the full programme will be announced in the lead-up to the Early Childhood Week.