Dubai: The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai organized a participatory design session at Al Khawaneej Majlis, focusing on enhancing social financial benefit services and strengthening financial empowerment programmes for Emirati citizens. The session was attended by 60 community members, highlighting the Authority's dedication to involving the community in service design and quality improvement.
According to Emirates News Agency, the session aimed to explore ways to enhance financial benefit services to support the quality of life and financial stability of Emirati families. The Community Development Authority (CDA) presented its comprehensive financial benefits framework, including the monthly financial benefit, housing support, home furnishing grants, and benefits for minors, with a focus on eligibility criteria and support mechanisms.
The Authority revealed that more than 10,000 Emirati citizens benefit annually from the monthly financial benefit, with total disbursements exceeding AED 1.9 billion over the past three years, underscoring the significant social impact of these programmes.
The session also highlighted the Dubai Empowerment Programme, designed to transition beneficiaries from reliance on government support to financial independence through two integrated pathways: employment empowerment and economic empowerment. The programme has successfully enabled 2,940 citizens to secure employment between 2023 and 2025, in addition to supporting 194 home-based entrepreneurs.
Shaikha Al Jarman, Executive Director of the Social Development Sector at the Community Development Authority (CDA), emphasized that community engagement is a strategic pillar in advancing the social sector. She stated that developing social financial benefit services requires listening to the community to build a more flexible and responsive system that meets the needs and aspirations of Emirati families.
Al Jarman added that these participatory sessions reflect a commitment to applying best practices in social innovation and strengthening integration between government entities, the private sector, and the community, ensuring more impactful and effective services.
Maitha Al Shamsi, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment Sector at the CDA, stated that their strategic efforts focus on empowering individuals and families to actively participate in society, providing tools and programmes that support their financial and social independence.
Participants praised the participatory design session and the initiatives it encompassed, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy programmes in raising family awareness about resource management and fostering sustainable financial behaviors. They also appreciated the Authority's approach of working directly with families through field visits, which enables a deeper understanding of their needs and challenges.
The CDA continues to expand the impact of its programmes through strategic partnerships with key government and private entities, as part of the Dubai Social Agenda 2033, aiming to enhance the quality of social services and improve community well-being.
The session concluded with an open discussion and a survey to gather participants' feedback and expectations, reflecting CDA's commitment to social innovation and the development of services that respond directly to community needs.
