Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Long regarded as the backbone of Emirati society, the family has taken on renewed national significance with the designation of 2026 as the Year of the Family. The move reflects a shared understanding that strong families are essential to building cohesive communities and preserving cultural identity.
The message of the Year of the Family is one Emiratis know well. As the country steps into the year, families are also stepping up to the responsibility of safeguarding long-held national values within their homes and raising generations that will carry this heritage forward.
“The family is considered the first building block and the fundamental pillar upon which society is built,” UAE national Aisha Al Naqbi told Aletihad.
She said this responsibility centres on instilling values while nurturing a well-rounded, future-ready generation capable of contributing to nation-building. “A cohesive family means a safe society and a prosperous nation,” she stressed.
Asma Alzaabi echoed this sentiment: “Through the family, we instill in our children the values of respect, belonging, and responsibility.”
Hamed Al Hamed, founder of Gracia Group and Chairman of the Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association, stressed that “every successive generation is based on the foundations laid within the family”.
Emphasising the essence of family means returning to what matters most, particularly as times evolve rapidly, influencing various aspects of life. In this environment, the Year of the Family carries a clear purpose, he said.
“Our leadership does not place such a name for no reason, but surely with the goal of restoring unity between generations.”
Al Hamed urged communities to actively engage with the year’s initiatives and embrace its mission. “We must give our children more time, connect them with their heritage and ancestors, and preserve this homeland, its customs, and traditions,” he said.
Mariam Al Dhanhani stressed the importance of adapting to change without losing one’s core identity.
“Emirati families can be empowered to keep pace with social and economic changes through conscious education, a balance between modernity and values, government support, and strengthening family dialogue,” she told Aletihad.
In the same vein, Al Naqbi said it is the family that will reinforce deeply rooted Emirati values in future generations. “Parents’ commitment to the Arabic language, national dress, and authentic social practices make upholding identity a natural behaviour, not just slogans,” she said.
Alzaabi also pointed to awareness and dialogue as key tools for navigating change. “This can be achieved through open conversations with children.”
Amna Al Maskari agreed that education and intergenerational dialogue are essential, underscoring the importance of connecting younger generations to Emirati heritage.
“The Year of the Family represents an opportunity to strengthen family bonds and make long-held values a sustainable daily practice,” she said.
From a generational viewpoint, senior citizen Aisha Al Hammadi underscored the elders’ role in keeping families connected.
“Elders encourage people to hold on to the family, to visit and insist on visiting their mothers and grandmothers,” she said.
