The United Arab Emirates has officially launched the Year of Family 2026 under the tagline Growing in Unity, reaffirming a nationwide commitment to stronger family bonds and social cohesion. In an in-depth conversation with MedEdge, Dr. Saad Omar Alkhanbashi, Executive Director, Counselling and Integration Sector of the Family Care Authority, shared how family stability shapes healthcare outcomes, wellbeing, and community resilience, highlighting the vital link between healthy families and a healthy society.
Healthy life with healthy family
Speaking about the relationship between family stability and health outcomes in the context of designated ‘Year of Family’ Dr. Saad Omar opines that family stability is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health outcomes. “Stable family environments shape behaviours, emotional resilience, and access to care from early childhood through adulthood. At a community level, family stability reduces demand on emergency, healthcare and social services, creating more resilient and cohesive societies, he shares.
“The UAE’s decision to designate 2026 as the Year of the Family reflects a growing recognition that health does not begin in hospitals. It begins in homes, relationships and early life experiences”, he emphasises.
Challenges shaping family life in UAE
Answering about the social well being challenges faced by the families in the UAE today, the doctor said, “families here face a complex mix of health and social challenges that are closely interconnected. These include rising mental health pressures, parenting stress, lifestyle-related chronic conditions, care giving demands for children, elders and people of determination, and the impact of social transitions on family cohesion”. He emphasized that, The Family Care Authority adopts a holistic, family-centred approach focusing on early identification of vulnerability, preventative intervention, and coordinated support across health and social care systems rather than addressing these issues in isolation.
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Early family support reducing healthcare burdens
On the question how early family support translates into reduced healthcare burdens, Dr. Saad Omar explains, “Mental health support, parenting guidance and preventive care help families manage stress, build resilience and create healthier environments that reduce future demand on acute and specialised health services”.
“At a national level, this approach shifts healthcare from reaction to prevention, strengthening families early, improving population health outcomes, ease pressure on healthcare systems and more effective investment in long-term wellbeing rather than late-stage treatment”, he added.
Community based initiatives as a support system
Emphasizing the elements of family well-being, Dr.Dr. Saad Omar Alkhanbashi explains, “Community settings often serve as the first point of engagement for families, enabling early support, informal guidance and timely referrals before challenges escalate. According to him collaboration between social care, healthcare, education, justice and community partners ensures that families experience coordinated, seamless support rather than disconnected services.’’
In conclusion he said, “At FCA we see collaboration as a strategic necessity. By working across sectors and alongside communities, we strengthen prevention, improve service outcomes, and build a shared responsibility for family well being”, which according to him is critical during the Year of the Family, as it allows to translate national intent into meaningful, on-the-ground impact for families across Abu Dhabi.
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