Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has introduced a comprehensive family initiative named after her. The Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Family Program is designed to promote family stability, enhance community values, and ensure a balanced work-life dynamic for Emirati families.
This initiative reflects Sheikh Mohammed’s vision of reinforcing family as the cornerstone of a unified and thriving society. Sheikha Hind emphasized the program’s focus on uplifting Emirati households, stating, “Strong families are vital for a brighter future. We aim to ensure lasting happiness and stability for every family, empowering them to raise future generations who will shape a better tomorrow.”
Key Features of the Program
The initiative offers financial, social, and educational support to strengthen family well-being. Its components include:
- Wedding Support: Financial aid, free wedding venues, and reduced housing loan premiums. Beneficiaries earning up to AED 30,000 now enjoy monthly premiums as low as AED 3,333.
- Housing Assistance: Priority allocation of ready-made homes for loan recipients in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment.
- Work-Life Balance: Flexible work policies for government employees, such as 10 days of paid marriage leave and remote work on Fridays for mothers in their first-year post-maternity.
- Educational Programs: Awareness initiatives focusing on financial management, social values, and housing education.
The program aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33, aiming to double the number of Emirati households in Dubai by 2033 while fostering happy and connected families. It also contributes to broader national priorities by promoting Emirati family stability and community growth.
In its inaugural year, the program facilitated 344 weddings, representing 28.3% of all Emirati weddings in Dubai. This led to a remarkable 10.1% increase in Emirati weddings compared to the previous year.
By addressing the costs of weddings, providing financial support through the Esaad card, and offering free neighborhood Majlises and wedding halls, the program significantly reduced the financial burden on young couples.
