Abu dhabi: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has officially announced the opening of registration for the second phase of the 'Mu'azzaz' Project for Healthy shopping malls and centers 2026, with applications open until 30 June. The project aims to embed preventive health concepts within shopping environments and transform them into destinations that support healthy behaviors, thereby enhancing quality of life.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Mu'azzaz initiative was launched by the Gulf Health Council in collaboration with the GCC General Secretariat through the Joint Committee for Healthy Cities. It is designed to empower shopping malls and commercial complexes to play an active role in fostering sustainable, healthy lifestyles among visitors and employees. This is achieved by implementing clear standards and defined criteria that promote public health, raise community awareness, and encourage the adoption of sustainable healthy behaviors.
MoHAP has invited shopping malls and commercial complexes wishing to participate in the initiative to register through the provided online link. Notably, three shopping centers in the UAE were awarded the Diamond Classification, the highest GCC accreditation level, after achieving scores exceeding 95 percent across evaluation criteria. These include City Centre Al Zahia, Al Rahmaniya Mall Sharjah, and City Centre Fujairah, recognized for their excellence in implementing a comprehensive system of health standards and providing safe, inclusive environments that support the wellbeing of both shoppers and staff.
These results follow a comprehensive evaluation and audit conducted by MoHAP to assess compliance with GCC Healthy Shopping Mall standards, in collaboration with key national partners. These partners include various health and safety authorities across the UAE, demonstrating a commitment to a collaborative approach in improving public health standards within commercial spaces.
In the final stage, a GCC delegation comprising representatives from Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman visited the UAE to conduct external audits of qualifying shopping centers. This step was undertaken to verify compliance with standards and sustainability of health practices, reflecting the strength of joint Gulf cooperation and knowledge exchange in advancing community health.
The project methodology is built on six core pillars: healthy lifestyle, awareness, environmental quality, safety and security, community partnership, and quality of services provided to priority groups. This includes the provision of dedicated facilities such as nursing rooms, rest areas, and safe walkways, alongside implementing air quality standards, waste management systems, emergency plans, and safety protocols.
Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, stated that the 'Mu'azzaz' project reflects the UAE's approach to building an integrated health system rooted in prevention and enhancing quality of life through targeted interventions in spaces where people interact daily. Al Rand emphasized that transforming shopping centers into health-supportive environments demonstrates the country's ability to leverage partnerships effectively and develop innovative models responsive to current needs, aligning with the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.
