The Ministry of Family and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to support the “Family First” programme by enhancing the transport system, public amenities, infrastructure, and both public and private urban spaces. The initiative contributes to strengthening family stability and enhancing quality of life, in line with the objectives of the National Family Growth Agenda 2031.
The partnership reflects an advanced model of integration between social policy and urban planning through the development of a family-friendly urban environment that embeds family growth concepts within public transport services and modes, road infrastructure, and urban development areas.
Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, said: “Our partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority represents a practical extension of the ‘Family First’ programme and a qualitative step in expanding its scope to include one of the sectors with the greatest impact on families’ daily lives transport and urban mobility.”
Her Excellency added: “Through this collaboration, we translate the objectives of the National Family Growth Agenda 2031 into tangible design and operational standards within the transport system and urban facilities, thereby firmly positioning the family as a national priority in urban planning and reinforcing the integration of social policies with development projects.”
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The partnership with the Ministry of Family reflects RTA’s commitment to working closely with strategic partners to enhance the integration of roles and deliver sustainable social impact.”
The collaboration will contribute to the development of new planning standards that incorporate family growth concepts into the design of transport stations, public facilities, and urban development areas, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global model for human-centred urban planning.
“Dubai’s development vision places people first, with the family at its cornerstone. From this standpoint, RTA has been keen to ensure that the transport system serves as a key enabler of quality of life strengthening family stability and supporting social cohesion.”
“RTA has translated this direction into practical initiatives aimed at enhancing quality of life for various segments of the community. These include exempting senior emiratis from parking fees, offering discounted public transport fares for senior emiratis and students, and granting People of Determination exemptions from Salik toll fees, parking charges, public transport fares, as well as vehicle registration and renewal fees.”
RTA supports the Year of Family through a package of initiatives, including organising a mass wedding for Emirati RTA employees who are preparing for marriage, and supporting productive family projects while promoting home-based entrepreneurship.
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The initiatives also include providing a mobile nursery service for female employees by refurbishing a public bus and equipping it with educational and recreational facilities, transforming it into a temporary rest area for employees’ children during official working hours on Fridays.
As part of its responsibility to the community, RTA also provides a range of services and initiatives. It has allocated 243 cabins for women and children on Dubai Metro and Tram, processed more than 12,000 requests for the installation of celebratory and condolence signage, and provided more than 31,000 nol cards to students.
The programme will initially be implemented in the Emirate of Dubai as part of a phased expansion plan that includes strengthening partnerships and extending its scope across the Emirates.
