The Ministry of Community Development, through the National Happiness and Wellbeing Programme, and the National Wellbeing Council, launched the National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey in February 2020, as part of efforts to adopt projects and initiatives to raise the wellbeing in various sectors affecting the lives of all citizens and residents of the UAE, as part of the National Wellbeing Strategy 2031 to achieve the goals of the National Observatory for Wellbeing.

Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Minister for Community Development, and Chairwoman of the Wellbeing Council, mentioned some results from the survey, including that 93 per cent of the UAE’s population, citizens and residents confirmed that they are proud to live in the UAE, 82 per cent of individuals expressed satisfaction with government services, 92 per cent said they feel safe walking alone at night, 84 per cent indicated that they are comfortable with their family relationships, 88 per cent have good communication skills, 8 in 10 people believe they are living a meaningful life, and 84 per cent of the country’s population is generally optimistic.

These development ideas enhance the UAE’s pioneering aspirations to achieve the best wellbeing standards through qualitative projects and initiatives launched by the national task forces, bringing together various government authorities to make great efforts in promoting people’s wellbeing, especially in the exceptional circumstances surrounding the population this year. The wellbeing initiatives also established an ideal way of life for individuals in UAE society, as part of promoting happiness as a government and development priority.

The survey targeted 10,000 people aged 15 and over, 66.4 per cent of UAE nationals and 33.6 per cent of residents of different nationalities, including young people, students, senior citizens, people of determination, retirees, unemployed citizens, housewives and working women, who answered 300 questions in different sectors of the community, together creating three indicators: developed countries, interdependent society, and individuals’ wellbeing.

Hessa Essa Buhumaid said that the national wellbeing survey was aimed at measuring the wellbeing standards of the UAE community in seven vital sectors, including community, healthcare, education, economy, security-justice and safety, infrastructure-housing and environment, and human resources, in an effort to provide initiatives and outcomes that establish the happiness and wellbeing for all members of the community. It was noted that a set of results and indicators were developed that measure the happiness and wellbeing, and determine the future features of initiatives that promote wellbeing for all members of society.

The minister added that the Wellbeing Council worked in coordination with government entities covering the seven sectors concerned with wellbeing to adopt and implement projects and initiatives for all entities, prepare the state of wellbeing report. This was done in cooperation with and participation of more than 70 government authorities in the UAE, which led to 700 initiatives and projects throughout the UAE incorporating the efforts of local executive councils, federal and local government authorities, and executive chairmen for happiness and wellbeing. They joined to review the results of the national wellbeing report, and achieve wellbeing projects that promote wellbeing in all of life in the UAE.

Recently, the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) announced its continuous efforts to provide free installation of the ‘Hassantuk’ smart fire alarm system service for eligible beneficiaries, in line with government directives to ensure safety of lives and property by expanding the installation, operation and management of fire alarm systems to include the Ministry’s beneficiaries.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior-General Directorate of Civil Defence and in partnership with Etisalat, joined forces in September 2019 to sponsor the installation of Hassantuk smart fire system to villa owners who are registered under the social security scheme.

To date, Hassantuk has been installed in more than 9,500 villas, whereas the installation of appliances in residential villas for registered social security beneficiaries at the Ministry of Community Development will be completed within the next two years. This successful partnership has resulted in Hassantuk smart fire alarm system averting more than 70 fire outbreaks in beneficiaries’ villas across the UAE since 2019.

WAM