Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chaired the first 2026 meeting of the Higher Committee for Development and Citizens Affairs where he approved the formation of a Supervisory Committee for Initiatives under ‘Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Family Programme’. The Dubai Media Office reported that the new body will supervise projects aimed at strengthening Emirati families as part of aligned strategic priorities. The session also endorsed the Dubai Family-Friendly Strategy to create a supportive ecosystem for households across the emirate. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasised the need for integrated social development during his remarks at the gathering.
The Media Office of the Government of Dubai stated that the Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Family Programme initially launched in January 2025 under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum. The programme provides financial, social and educational support to promote family stability, community values and work-life balance among residents. Its second phase, now subject to oversight by the newly formed Supervisory Committee, focuses on measures to double the number of Emirati families in Dubai by 2033. This expansion builds directly on the framework established in the Dubai Social Agenda 33.
According to the Dubai Media Office, the meeting further greenlit the third phase of the Community Neighbourhood Majalis Project with a budget of Dh160 million. Construction of additional majlis facilities will begin in the second quarter of 2026 in districts including Nad Al Sheba, Al Awir, Al Warqa and Al Barsha South. Five more sites are scheduled for Nad Al Hamar, Jumeirah, Ghadeer Al Tair, Al Twar and Lehbab with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2027. The project seeks to deepen social connections at the local level.
The Vibrant Dubai initiative received approval to deliver health, fitness and psychological readiness programmes for government employees, the Media Office of the Government of Dubai indicated. Medical screenings and fitness assessments form central elements of the effort to improve workforce wellbeing. Separately, the Barzat Dubai project introduces a revised model for neighbourhood councils managed jointly by the Community Development Authority and Dubai Municipality. These councils aim to enhance resident engagement and cohesion in local communities.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said that families represent the cornerstone of societal prosperity in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “Today, during the meeting of the Higher Committee, we launched a package of strategic initiatives, including the second phase of the ‘Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Family Programme’, continuing a comprehensive effort to empower the Emirati family and strengthen its stability,” he stated. The Crown Prince added that such measures prepare generations to sustain achievements and reinforce Dubai’s international position. Related figures from the Dubai Weddings Programme show it supported 1,077 ceremonies, accounting for 43.5 percent of citizens’ weddings in the emirate with a 44 percent rise in activity.
