9th Forum for Senior Citizens focuses on enhancing quality of life

Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Mother of the Nation, the Family Development Foundation (FDF) organised the Ninth Senior Citizens Forum at Nabdh Centre in Mohammed Bin Zayed City – Al Manhal.

Held under the theme A Journey Towards Quality of Life for Our Senior Citizens and coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons, the forum reflects the continued efforts of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to enhance the quality of life of senior citizens and strengthen their active role within the family and society.

The forum was attended by Sheikha Moza bint Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ambassador of Elderly Projects at PureHealth, representing Al Liwan Foundation for Culture and Heritage, His Excellency Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Family Development Foundation; Her Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation; as well as senior officials; representatives of strategic partners; senior citizens; and representatives of the media.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak affirmed that advancing in age should open new horizons for senior citizens to live, participate and contribute, while enabling their experience to have greater presence and deeper impact. Her Highness noted that a society that recognises the value of individuals at every stage of life is best positioned to transform their years of experience into a source of strength whose impact extends across families and generations, enriching the nation’s journey with a continually renewed legacy of knowledge and contribution.

In a statement marking the Ninth Senior Citizens Forum 2026, organised by the Family Development Foundation, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak said: “Our senior citizens hold a distinguished place in our society in recognition of their contributions and the lasting impact they have made throughout our nation’s journey. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, was deeply committed to ensuring that senior citizens enjoyed a status befitting their contributions. From him, we learned that honouring those who devoted their lives to serving their nation is an enduring value and an unwavering principle. Today, we follow in his footsteps and continue the legacy he established of valuing every individual, ensuring that our senior citizens remain a source of national pride and receive the care and appreciation they deserve.”

Her Highness added that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has continued the approach established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, in upholding the value and dignity of every individual. Senior citizens are among those most deserving of care and appreciation, having contributed significantly to building the UAE’s remarkable journey. Their place will always remain secure in a nation that values and takes pride in its people. Her Highness further affirmed that the UAE views longevity as an opportunity for roles to evolve, avenues for participation to expand, and senior citizens to continue making a meaningful difference within their families and communities.

Her Highness said: “We remain committed to the UAE’s firmly established approach to enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of senior citizens, and we support the nation’s efforts to make their wellbeing a tangible reality reflected in every aspect of their daily lives. We continually direct the development of an integrated ecosystem of initiatives that provides them with care and attention and creates a more comfortable and reassuring environment befitting their status and their contributions to the nation.”

Her Highness emphasised that the Emirati family grows stronger when its senior members remain at the heart of family life, close to their children and grandchildren, present in its everyday moments and involved in its decisions. Through their presence, family values are reinforced, the principles of belonging, responsibility and giving are passed from one generation to the next, and younger generations remain connected to their roots, ensuring that the UAE’s heritage continues to thrive through its people.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak highlighted the importance of the Ninth Senior Citizens Forum, organised annually by the Family Development Foundation, as an interactive community platform that brings together senior citizens and their families. The forum opens broader horizons for knowledge, participation and access to health, social, technological, cultural and recreational experiences and services. It enables senior citizens to choose lifestyles that meet their aspirations, supports their independence and active participation, and ensures that their experience, knowledge and skills continue to enrich future generations.

Her Highness commended the Family Development Foundation for its efforts in serving senior citizens and for delivering high-quality initiatives that translate care and attention into a tangible impact on their lives. Her Highness affirmed that the foundation continues to advance with a forward-looking vision that anticipates their needs and develops services in line with their aspirations, making their quality of life a sustainable responsibility and their experience a valuable national asset that remains present and influential in society. In doing so, senior citizens remain at the heart of the UAE’s journey, partners in its present and a source of wisdom and experience from which future generations draw inspiration in shaping the nation’s future.