The Executive Council issues resolution appointing Salwa Fouad Fadhel as Director General of Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement on Thursday. Fadhel previously held the position of Executive Director of the Government Operations Sector at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office since May 2022. She had also served as Director of the Policy Lab and Director of Strategy at the office along with other project management roles focused on economic development and strategic planning, according to a professional profile on the Manhom platform.
The Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority was established in 2019 as the entity responsible for providing social support to low-income families across the emirate, its official website states. The authority implements an integrated approach that delivers financial assistance, empowerment opportunities, education and training to create sustainable positive impacts for beneficiary families, according to the site. Its four key strategic objectives encompass delivering appropriate support to those in need, empowering beneficiaries, protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring highly efficient operations, the authority’s description added.
The Abu Dhabi Social Support Program forms a central part of the authority’s work by offering temporary financial aid to eligible UAE national families holding Abu Dhabi family books whose income falls below the support line, the authority’s website reported. Families must also meet asset limits set at no more than six times the entitlement line to qualify for the program, according to the same source. The authority additionally runs mandatory activation programs in partnership with other entities to equip beneficiaries with job market skills and promote financial literacy for long-term independence.
A November 2025 presentation at the World Summit in Doha featured the authority’s quality of life model built on data-driven programmes and institutional integration, a Zawya report from that period stated. The delegation included then-acting director-general Dr. Mona Al Mansoori who outlined principles of shared responsibility, evidence-based decisions and citizen-centred innovation, the report noted. The model emphasises case management to balance immediate needs with operational efficiency while addressing challenges such as family debt through specialised workshops.
Fadhel holds a master’s degree in international business administration earned in 2010 and a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications from 2007, both from Zayed University, her Manhom profile indicated. She participated in the UAE Experts Program and contributed to development of policies aligned with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 as well as sectoral plans covering tourism, media, science and innovation, the profile showed. A biography on the uaenep.ae site noted her focus on continuous learning as essential to effective governance and public administration.
The appointment aligns with ongoing UAE government efforts to strengthen social welfare programmes that support citizen quality of life across emirates, according to the official u.ae government portal on social affairs. Similar resolutions have been issued in recent months for leadership positions in various Abu Dhabi departments including energy, municipalities and civil defence, Emirates News Agency reports from earlier in 2026 indicated.
