Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses the activities of the initiative "Dubai lunch" It emphasizes the role of neighborhood councils in consolidating the values of social cohesion
DUBAI, 16 December / WAM / His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, witnessed the activities of the “Dubai Lunch” initiative, in response to the invitation of his father, Mohammed Juma Al Naboodah, at the Al Khawaneej Majlis of the Community Development Authority, where His Highness met with more than 200 notables and people of the Deira region, in a community meeting that embodied the spirit of the Emirati councils. Authentic, deeply rooted values of rapprochement, communication and social cohesion.
The “Dubai Lunch” initiative is a community initiative that aims to strengthen human ties and strengthen neighborhood bonds between neighborhood residents, through lunch meetings held in Dubai neighborhood councils, thus restoring these councils’ historical role as unifying spaces that bring people closer and establish the values of familiarity and community cohesion.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “In Dubai, we are keen to ensure that our development process keeps pace with balanced development in human relations within neighborhoods, because strong cities are not measured by their infrastructure alone… but by the strength of their social fabric, the closeness of their people to each other, and their ability to preserve their values in light of rapid transformations.”
His Highness continued, saying: “The Emirati councils were and will remain the cornerstone of social construction. They are a space for dialogue, a platform for rapprochement, and a school where values are transmitted before words. Through the Dubai lunch, we aim to consolidate the values that have shaped Dubai’s character since its beginnings: compassion, communication, hospitality, and shared responsibility. These values are not only part of our memory, but also of our future. If we want our future generations to live in a strong, safe, and balanced society, we must give them a model.” “Living for sincere human relations and initiatives built on true encounter and continuous communication.”
The activities of the “Dubai Lunch” initiative are held in Dubai neighborhood councils, where these councils host open community lunch meetings that bring together people in a friendly atmosphere that reflects the values of authentic Emirati hospitality, and consolidates the customs of the people of Dubai and the principles of the cohesive and cohesive Emirati society, and also revives the social role of the councils as platforms for meeting, dialogue, and building neighborhood ties.
These meetings aim to enhance social capital, build sustainable relationships between residents of one neighborhood, and activate community participation in public life, in line with the priorities of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, and contribute to strengthening community cohesion at the neighborhood level.
The first activities of the initiative will be launched at Al Khawaneej Council, under the supervision of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, the entity responsible for activating the role of neighborhood councils as a pillar for deepening community cohesion and promoting common values among community members.
For her part, Her Excellency Hessa bint Issa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, said that the Dubai Lunch Initiative reflects the vision of the wise leadership in making people the focus of development, through initiatives that are close to people and touch their daily lives, noting that the Council is no longer just a meeting place, but has become a space for building sustainable human relationships that contribute to enhancing the quality of life.
Her Excellency added that this initiative comes at a time when Dubai is preparing for the Year of the Family 2026, to constitute an important community platform to consolidate the values of cohesion and communication, and to revive the authentic social role of the Emirati councils, in a way that strengthens the societal fabric and brings the members of one neighborhood closer together, within a framework of common awareness and belonging.
This initiative comes in line with the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, under the slogan “The Family is the Foundation of the Nation,” and with the vision of the Year of Society 2025, which aims to build a more cohesive society capable of producing authentic human relationships. It also paves the way for a system of social initiatives that will expand during the Year of the Family 2026, given that family and community communication is a fundamental pillar of Dubai’s identity and its unique social model.
The “Dubai Lunch” initiative confirms Dubai’s commitment to building a close and continuous society, based on the values of giving, solidarity and shared responsibility, and reflects the general trends of society in strengthening human relations and consolidating Dubai’s social identity as a city that provides a unique model in the cohesion of its communities and the strength of their ties.
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