The Department of Community Development is committed to the social welfare of everyone who calls Abu Dhabi home. Its foundations are built on the vision of our nation’s Founding Father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who recognised the importance of social welfare and community development to the country’s prosperity and growth. Guided by the values of respect, credibility, empathy, responsibility, passion for giving, and kindness, we aspire to provide a dignified life for all.
We believe in a society that is active, responsible and inclusive. Crucial to this is our community’s ability to embrace positive and meaningful change while eliminating social stigmas and limitations. We want to build awareness and knowledge of social issues that relate to Abu Dhabi and its people.
Our role is to regulate, empower, and monitor the social and community development sector in Abu Dhabi – including all organizations contributing to the sector – to provide our people with quality, effective, and accessible care and services.
Social development is a shared responsibility between the government and the people. Guided by this belief, we work with the government, private, and other sectors to create an environment where every citizen can play their part in contributing to the Emirate’s shared wealth. This means empowering people to thrive and achieve their full potential, fairly, so no one is left behind. That’s how we’re building a nation that is socially and economically sustainable.
The Department of Community Development is the main regulator and enabler of Abu Dhabi’s social sector.
Our aim is to introduce and implement policies that guarantee high quality of services. Support is allocated fairly, and attention is paid to vulnerable groups across all sectors.
We take an evidenced-based approach, and draw from data and insights gained directly from the community across its many segments. Our goal is to create an ecosystem that encourages volunteering and builds a vibrant, engaged community.
Collaborating with our nine entities, we look after every individual living in Abu Dhabi. Carefully designed programmes and initiatives which reflect the diverse cultural needs of our society make sure that appropriate support and care is provided to individuals throughout their life.
Together, we will encourage, motivate, and involve all segments of Abu Dhabi society to take part in building a better future, to ultimately unlock the full potential of our nation.