The UAE Community… When a Cohesive Family Cares for Orphans
Abu Dhabi(News Desk):: Throughout the history of the United Arab Emirates, social cohesion has been the safety valve and the cornerstone upon which the nation relies to face challenges and master the art of creating opportunities. Since the founding of the Union, the UAE has chosen to make the family the nucleus of national development, and solidarity and mutual support the guiding principle of its policies and initiatives, placing human beings at the forefront of its priorities.
Today, in the “Year of the Family,” this vision is renewed in a contemporary context that affirms that societal stability begins with the stability of the family and each of its members, and that protecting the most vulnerable is not a seasonal act of charity, but a comprehensive national responsibility.
From this perspective, and believing in the necessity of standing by all segments of society and supporting the less fortunate, orphan care stands out as one of the highest forms of social solidarity, representing a true test of the maturity of societies and their ability to protect their most vulnerable members.
From Temporary Giving to Sustainable Impact
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Awqaf and Minors’ Funds Management Authority – Abu Dhabi Awqaf launched the “Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans” campaign on February 18, 2026. This initiative reflects a profound understanding of shared social responsibility.
The campaign is not based on the logic of immediate donations, but rather establishes a sustainable endowment model that ensures contributions are transformed into assets that are invested and managed with an institutional mindset. This guarantees the continuity of support for orphans in the areas of education, healthcare, and a dignified life.
This vision aligns with what the Authority has emphasized across its various media platforms: that endowments represent a qualitative shift from temporary support to a long-term development system that strengthens social cohesion and establishes a lasting impact from which future generations will benefit. Noble Values with a Visionary Leadership
His Excellency Abdulhamid Mohammed Saeed, Chairman of the Awqaf and Minors’ Funds Management Authority, affirmed that the “Year of the Family” is not merely a symbolic title, but a renewed call to recall the essence of Emirati identity, which is founded on compassion and solidarity. He added, “The year 2026 dawned on the United Arab Emirates under the banner of ‘The Year of the Family,’ bestowing upon it a new meaning of human warmth and reminding us that the family is not simply a social framework, but the primary nurturing environment in which the first signs of security and belonging are formed, and where the principles of loyalty blossom.”
He pointed out that “at the heart of this profound ethical framework, the care of orphans emerges as an unparalleled human value. Preserving the dignity of orphans, attending to their needs, and managing their lives is a living manifestation of the spirit of justice that permeates Emirati society. From this overflowing wellspring of humanity, the Authority launched the ‘Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans’ campaign, a noble initiative whose importance transcends mere financial support, striving to build a complete life: housing, education, care, and empowerment opportunities.” Thus, the “Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans” campaign comes as an extension of an uninterrupted legacy of giving, proving that orphans in the UAE are not on the margins, but at its very heart.
In his speech, His Excellency recalled the values instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, values that Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation,” continues to nurture and strengthen, making family care and community inclusion a comprehensive national approach.
Solidarity in All Circumstances
The Emirati community has proven, on numerous occasions, that its cohesion is not circumstantial, but structural. In times of challenge, expressions of solidarity intensify, initiatives of giving are strengthened, and the collective feeling that everyone is responsible for everyone else emerges. Hence, the “Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans” campaign comes as a practical embodiment of the idea that the entire community is the nurturing family for the orphan, and that investing in their psychological, educational, and social stability is an investment in the balance of society as a whole.
His Excellency noted that Islamic texts bear witness to the greatness of this message; For God Almighty said in Surah Al-Baqarah: “They ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘Whatever good you spend is for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do – indeed, God is Knowing of it.’” And the Messenger of Mercy, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like these two in Paradise,” gesturing with his index and middle fingers, thus making this sponsorship a ladder by which one ascends to the company of the Chosen One, and giving a path that unites this world and the Hereafter.
The Year of the Family… A Commitment That Transcends a Year
While 2026 is designated the “Year of the Family,” the initiatives stemming from it affirm that the values embodied in this slogan are not bound by a specific timeframe. Rather, they establish a phase where partnerships between individuals and institutions are strengthened, and where giving becomes a sustainable system.
Thus, the “Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans” campaign is not merely a charitable initiative, but the most beautiful expression of a national vision that believes endowments are a developmental tool, sees solidarity as a societal force, and trusts that the family is the broadest framework that embraces all who need security and belonging.
In the UAE, as His Excellency the Chairman of the Authority stated, orphans are not on the margins of the scene, but at its very heart. He explained that the “Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans” campaign is an extension of an uninterrupted journey of giving, based on the belief that orphans are a seed of hope, a spark of the future, and a shining piece of a nation that has chosen to be humanitarian first and foremost, remaining the great home that no one leaves, no matter how difficult the times.-End-
