The Emirates celebrates the International Day of Happiness

The UAE celebrates the “World Happiness Day”, which falls on March 20 of each year, continuing its relentless efforts to reach members of society, including citizens and residents, to the highest levels of satisfaction, happiness and quality of life.

The UAE is one of the first countries to include “the happiness of society” among the various mechanisms and forms of government work, and considering it the main criterion in measuring the size of its progress and success.

The UAE continues to achieve advanced centers in global happiness reports issued annually by the Sustainable Solutions Development Network of the United Nations General Secretariat, whose results are issued based on eight indicators that include: the share of individuals from income, average age at birth, social support, freedom of individuals in making decisions related to their lives, the level of generosity and generosity of individuals, the level of corruption, positive, and positive. Anxiety and depression levels.

The occasion is of special importance this year in the UAE to coincide with the “Year of Society”, which represents a group of goals, programs and initiatives, a road map towards a more happier, stable and luxurious life for all members of society and establishes the values ​​of cooperation and solidarity among them.

During the past years, the UAE launched many governmental initiatives and various events that targeted the achievement of the happiness of society, as it announced in 2016 the establishment of the position of Minister of State for Happiness, and after amending the ministerial formation in October 2017, a new ministerial portfolio was added to the position of Minister of State for Happiness to become the Minister of State for Happiness and the Quality of Life, and during the ministerial amendment in July 2020, the quality of life and happiness file moved to the Ministry of Community Empowerment.

National Program for Happiness and Quality of Life

The UAE put what could be considered a national charter for happiness in 2016, with the launch of the National Program for Happiness and Quality of Life, from which many initiatives have emerged with the aim of creating a happy and productive work environment in the federal government offices, in compliance with the creation of the happiest environment for society.

The Council of Ministers has approved the National Charter for Happiness and Positive, which provides for the commitment of the UAE government through its supreme policy, plans, projects and services of all government agencies to create the appropriate environment for the happiness of the individual, the family and society, and consolidate the positive value in them what can achieve themselves and their aspirations.

The UAE government launched the national survey of happiness and positivity, with the aim of measuring the levels of happiness and positivity in the country, defining the priorities of society and the sources of happiness in relation to its various segments, establishing a national database and using the survey results, to benefit from the federal and local government agencies in developing legislation, policies, programs and services to achieve positivity and happiness of society.

The UAE has recognized the national policy of digital life quality, a supportive framework within the ability to achieve a positive and safe digital society, in line with the directions of the national strategy for the quality of life 2031, and in line with the centenary of the Emirates 2071, by working to achieve its development goals towards the future.

The UAE joined the global alliance of happiness and quality of life, which was launched on February 12, 2018, and included ministers from 6 countries, the UAE, Portugal, Costa Rica, Mexico, Kazakhstan and Slovenia, and the launch of the coalition came in the wake of the momentum achieved by the global dialogue of happiness and quality of life that was held on the eve of the World Government Summit at its sixth session.

In August 2018, the Council of Ministers adopted a “policy of returning to schools”, to enhance the role of the family and achieve a balance between social and practical life, and focus on strengthening and consolidating social relations in society, which is consistent with the leadership orientations to facilitate parents and students.

In 2019, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Life Quality Strategy -2031, which aims to make the UAE a world leader in the field of quality of life and enhance its position to be the world’s happiest state.

The strategy is based on a national framework that includes three main levels “individuals, society and the state”, and includes 14 axes and 9 strategic goals that include enhancing the lifestyle of individuals by encouraging the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, promoting good mental health, adopting positive thinking as an essential value, and building life skills.