The programme, hosted at the Nabd Al Falah Centre under the Department of Community Development, forms part of efforts to prepare a future-ready generation through targeted awareness and inclusion activities. Khaled Mohammed Saeed Alsaedi, acting director of the Awareness and Inclusion Department at the Family Care Authority, outlined how the initiative helps participants build essential personal capabilities. The launch aligns with wider social sector objectives across Abu Dhabi, where multiple entities coordinate on family support measures. A related evaluation framework ensures consistent quality across such training efforts.
The Department of Community Development has identified 19 life skills training programmes targeting children, youth, families, the elderly and the broader community. These include the Kafu capacity-building programme run by the Family Care Authority, alongside financial literacy efforts supervised by the Authority of Social Contribution and mental health initiatives from the Early Childhood Authority. According to the department, the programmes support the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy and connect to the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031. Officials conducted the first phase of a quality evaluation for these programmes in May 2024 through interactive sessions with key partners including the Family Development Foundation.
Alsaedi stated that the authority maintains a strong focus on early intervention to strengthen family units and community resilience. The Family Care Authority works alongside the Ministry of Education to integrate life skills development into educational and social frameworks. Such collaboration aims to address both preventive and developmental needs among young participants. Programme activities emphasise practical skills that translate into better self-awareness and interpersonal relations.
Separate regional efforts have similarly prioritised life skills integration, with Dubai set to introduce a Skills for Life curriculum across schools from the 2026-27 academic year under directives from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. In Qatar, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education added a Life and Career Skills subject for the same academic year, covering financial literacy, family values and home economics tracks. A UNICEF-supported framework in Sierra Leone launched in 2025 embedded critical thinking and emotional resilience into secondary education. These examples illustrate a broader pattern across Gulf and international systems where authorities seek to balance academic learning with practical competencies.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development reimagined its approach to life skills training within the social sector to meet evolving community requirements. Evaluation meetings highlighted the need for standardised design and delivery across implementing bodies. The Family Care Authority contributes specialised modules that address family cohesion and individual empowerment. Continued coordination among regulators and service providers remains central to expanding access to these resources.
