The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi has launched the second package of its Emirati Family Growth Programme, Numou, approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council under His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The timing gives this launch particular weight, coming in the Year of the Family. It reflects the family’s place at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s development priorities and turns this year’s goals into initiatives that reach people’s daily lives, built on the conviction that strong families are the foundation of a thriving society.
The second package arrives two years into the programme’s journey, following the rollout of its first package of services in 2024. It marks a move to a broader phase that meets citizens’ needs at every step, from preparing for marriage, through starting a family and having children, to achieving stability and prosperity.
A suite of services in step with the leadership’s vision for young people and Emirati families
The second package comprises six initiatives that support the stability and growth of the Emirati family. They include Ghars, a programme that shapes character from an early age by instilling the values, skills and awareness young people need to build stable Emirati families in the future; and Ezwatna, a set of exclusive privileges for large Emirati families with five or more children.
The package also enhances a number of existing services. The home visits service for parents will be expanded to cover all newborns, not just the firstborn as before. Rental assistance for newlyweds will be updated to give young couples greater stability and ease their financial burden, in line with changes in the property market.
In the belief that society’s many parts must work together, Numou also opens the door for individuals, institutions and companies to help achieve its goals. The Seed association will be established to raise awareness of the value of marriage and family life and to prepare those about to marry. while strengthening the shared responsibility of institutions and individuals to direct their contributions towards initiatives that support family growth.
Details of each initiative, eligibility criteria and start dates will be announced through the official channels of the responsible entities, on a phased timetable that ensures services are ready and reach the intended groups.
Since their launch, the Emirati Family Growth Programme and the Medeem initiative have contributed to encouraging young Emiratis to marry earlier, while supporting the growth and stability of Emirati families. Data shows that births among families benefiting from Medeem increased by 9.1% between 2024 and 2026, while the average age of marriage among male participants decreased by 1.6 years. Marriage registrations also increased by 16% in 2025, reflecting the impact of the support and empowerment provided to young people preparing for marriage.
Shamis Al Dhaheri: The Emirati family is the bedrock of our society, and its growth carries our national identity forward
His Excellency Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Emirati family is the bedrock of our society. Its growth carries our identity forward and safeguards the sustainability of our journey. In Abu Dhabi, we don’t see family support as a response to immediate needs. It’s a long-term commitment that starts with preparing young people to start their own families and continues with support at every stage of growth.”
He added: “The second phase of the Emirati Family Growth Programme embodies that commitment through a broader package that is more closely attuned to the reality and aspirations of families. Our aim is that when a citizen decides to marry or have children, they find a supportive environment that eases their burden and gives them the confidence and ability to build a stable family that grows and thrives in Abu Dhabi.”
“Our investment in the family today is what builds Abu Dhabi’s future,” he continued. “Every family that starts on solid foundations, and every child raised in a stable environment, adds real strength to our society and to the sustainability of its development. We will keep developing the programme in line with families’ needs and the results we see in practice, and keep bringing our partners together to achieve its goals through 2030, creating an impact that carries through to future generations.”
Hamad Al Dhaheri: Numou moves to a more integrated, efficient phase with greater impact for Emirati families
His Excellency Eng. Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, explained that the second phase of the programme represents a shift in both its scope and how it is delivered. It draws on the results of the first phase and on close monitoring of the changes and needs that shape the family formation journey, turning them into more precise, better connected and measurable interventions.
He said: “Our priority over the coming period is to make sure we’re ready to deliver, that the relevant entities are working in step, and that we use data to offer a smoother, more efficient experience that reduces the steps and the time between applying and receiving support.”
He stressed: “The success of this package will be judged by whether it reaches beneficiaries and makes a real difference in their lives. We will track results continuously and use their feedback to address challenges early and refine how we deliver, so that the impact lasts and resources go where they are most relevant to the reality and aspirations of the Emirati family.”
Hamad Al Muhairi: Initiatives that reflect the importance of joined-up national efforts to support and empower the family
His Excellency Hamad Hareb Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, said: “The approval of the new package of the Emirati Family Growth Programme reflects the wise leadership’s care for the Emirati family and its commitment to stability and well-being, as the family is the foundation on which our community’s sustainable development is built.”
He added: “These community initiatives affirm the importance of joined-up national efforts to support and empower the family and respond to its needs in ways that improve quality of life and stability. At Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, the Emirati family is at the heart of our priorities. We are developing an integrated housing system that takes families’ needs into account and supports their stability, helping to build more cohesive families and a more prosperous society.”
Mohamed Al Balooshi: Numou opens the way for individuals and institutions to support family growth
His Excellency Mohamed Al Balooshi, Acting Director-General of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, said: “The Emirati Family Growth Programme opens the way for community members, the private sector and the third sector to help support family growth and to direct social contributions towards solutions and initiatives that match families’ real needs. Supporting the family is a shared responsibility, and it requires pooling resources and expertise to create an impact that reaches the whole of society.”
He added: “At Ma’an, we direct contributions towards the social priorities most closely tied to family life, and we build partnerships that let every sector play an effective part in achieving the programme’s goals. Through this collaboration, we can develop innovative initiatives that support families at every stage of growth and widen the impact of community participation on Abu Dhabi’s future.”
The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi oversees delivery of the new package in cooperation with the relevant entities, with clear roles and responsibilities to ensure the initiatives work together and are easy for beneficiaries to access.
Details of each initiative, eligibility criteria and start dates will be announced through the official channels of the responsible entities, on a phased timetable that ensures services are ready and reach the intended groups.
The Emirati Family Growth Programme was launched in 2024 under the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy, to support family growth and encourage marriage and childbirth. The Department, working with its partners, continues to evaluate the programme’s results and develop its initiatives to ensure a lasting impact on the lives of families and the community of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
