United Arab Emirates

Two emirates are participating in the Child Friendly Cities Initiative in the United Arab Emirates: Sharjah, which was recognized as a Child Friendly City in May 2018, and Abu Dhabi, which obtained the status of CFCI Candidate City in February 2024.

SHARJAH

Sharjah is the third largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates, with a population of over 1.79 million (2022). Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate has striven for over 50 years to build a city where children and young adults live in a secure environment, enjoy their rights, and have access to basic services as well as platforms where their voices can be heard.

The Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO), an affiliate of Sharjah Health Authority, was established in 2011 to work in collaboration with relevant bodies to design and implement targeted strategies and programs to support the rights of children and youth.

Sharjah became the first Child Friendly candidate city in the region in February 2017, and was the first city in the Middle East to become a Child Friendly City recognized by UNICEF in May 2018 - the first in the world to obtain the title after implementing the new guidelines and criteria launched by UNICEF in 2018.

Sharjah’s CFC project is implemented by the Sharjah Child-Friendly Office, a dedicated government entity headed by Dr. Hessa Khalfan Alghazal Alsuwaidi, Executive Director of the office. To preserve the title, the emirate is executing a five-year action plan, overseen by the Sharjah Child-Friendly Office.

ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI is a diverse and globally connected city. The capital of the United Arab Emirates is home to more than 200 nationalities. It is an aspiring global financial center, a growing innovation hub, a leading energy producer, a world-class tourist destination, and a cultural center. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the UAE and is divided into three regions: Abu Dhabi City on the coast, Al Ain in the east, and Al Dhafra in the west.

Abu Dhabi ensures that children, parents, and caregivers access appropriate services and resources to support optimum child development. Its vision is that every young child can flourish to their full potential in a safe and family-friendly environment.

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) is a government entity established in 2019, based in Abu Dhabi, that supports holistic early childhood development. It develops policies and laws, inform decision-making through research, and transform behavior. ECA aims to promote optimal child development and well-being through four sectors: health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Family Support, and Education and Early Care, from the early stages of pregnancy to the age of 8.

Along with the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood, ECA has analyzed the situation of children in Abu Dhabi across critical dimensions.

In February 2024, Abu Dhabi obtained the status of CFCI Candidate City and will now launch a comprehensive set of initiatives under an Action Plan that it has designed to obtain the recognition as Child Friendly City.