ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Aldar and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural Center have signed a three-year partnership agreement to promote cultural learning, knowledge exchange and community engagement among Aldar employees, their families, schools and communities across the UAE.
The agreement was signed at the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Palace in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, and Bayan Al Hosani, Chief People and Communications Officer of Aldar.
The agreement was signed by Mariam Hamad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, and Salwa Al Maflahi, Executive Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach at Aldar.
Under the partnership, a Reading and Cultural Dialogue Council will be established for Aldar employees under the Shamma Mohammed Council for Thought and Knowledge. The council will provide a platform for reading, cultural dialogue, knowledge exchange and intellectual development.
The two organisations will also collaborate on professional, personal and social skills training for Aldar employees through the Roya Academy, based on identified needs. Family awareness and education programmes will also be organised at Aldar facilities.
Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan said: “This partnership creates a new platform for us to come together around culture, knowledge, human empowerment, and social responsibility, and to translate these shared priorities into initiatives that touch people’s lives and create an impact that extends far beyond individual events or programmes.”
She added: “Our ambition for this partnership is not simply to add another activity to the calendars of two organisations. It is to open new doors for people: for a talent waiting to be discovered, an idea that needs an opportunity to grow, an employee who finds in the workplace a space for reading, dialogue and personal development, or a family that gains access to knowledge capable of making a positive difference in their lives.”
Bayan Al Hosani, Chief People and Communications Officer of Aldar, said: “At Aldar, we see culture and knowledge as foundations of the communities we build. This partnership enables us to engage our stakeholders in initiatives that create wider social impact and broaden community participation, while strengthening connections to Emirati culture and national identity across the UAE.”
She said the partnership also reflects Aldar's contribution to the UAE's Year of Family and the ambitions set out in Centennial 2071.
The partnership will enable Aldar employees with distinctive talents and capabilities to participate in cultural and social initiatives organised by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions. It will also support employee welfare, empowerment and talent recognition.
The Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Association for Future Generations will deliver community programmes across Aldar's educational institutions, creating opportunities for young people to contribute ideas and participate in cultural, educational and volunteering initiatives.
Through Aldar Estates, the initiatives will also extend to third-party communities and clients, involving developers, asset owners and community stakeholders across the UAE.
The partnership will provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in community initiatives, supporting their growth and contribution to the local economy.
Sustainability will be another area of collaboration, with awareness programmes encouraging residents and tenants to participate in water conservation, energy efficiency, responsible consumption and waste reduction.