Efforts to Boost UAE's Declining Birth Rate Revealed
In a bid to boost fertility and enhance family well-being, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively implementing several strategies to support families, as part of a broader vision to counter the country's low fertility rate.
Last month, the United Nations Population Fund published a report revealing that nearly 20% of reproductive-age adults in 14 countries, including the UAE, believe they will be unable to have the number of children they desire. This trend is reflected in the UAE, where there has been an 11% drop in births among Emiratis between 2015 and 2022.
To address this issue, the UAE government is focusing on a multi-faceted approach, providing financial, legal, workplace, and social support measures to encourage higher birth rates and empower Emirati families comprehensively.
One key initiative is the provision of financial incentives for families. This involves offering monetary benefits to couples to help offset costs associated with childbearing and raising children. The Emirati Family Growth Programme, approved by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi last year, is part of the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy and aims to enhance family stability and reinforce community cohesion.
The UAE is also improving maternity and paternity leave policies and creating more family-friendly workplace environments. These measures aim to enable parents, especially women, to balance work and family life more effectively.
Accessible and affordable healthcare and childcare are also crucial components of the UAE's family support strategy. Fertility treatments, prenatal and postnatal care, and quality childcare services are being made more accessible and affordable to support families through the pregnancy and child-rearing stages.
Recent legal reforms are also modernising family laws to strengthen the rights of mothers and children, especially in situations like divorce and custody. This reflects a supportive social framework for families, reflecting the UAE's focus on the family unit, unlike some western societies that are becoming more individualist and atomised.
Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, emphasised that behind every data point about declining birth rates is a young couple making decisions about marriage and family. The UAE is looking past hard numbers and general trends to appreciate the complexities of raising a family.
The UAE is working towards improving accessible schools, high-quality healthcare, and flexible employment as part of their efforts to support families. This holistic approach to family support is part of the UAE's vision to build a supportive society where people feel empowered to take on the ups and downs of parenthood.
In conclusion, the UAE's focus on the family unit may be one of the reasons that decision-makers are addressing family-related challenges as human issues. The UAE is not just focusing on finances to incentivise more young people to start families, but also on improving the quality of life for families, making it easier and more attractive to have and raise children.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE), recognizing the need to boost fertility and enhance family well-being, is actively implementing strategies across Asia and the Middle East.
- The UAE's efforts to counter its low fertility rate extend beyond financial incentives, encompassing legal, workplace, and social support measures.
- Last month, a United Nations report highlighted that in 14 countries, including the UAE, 20% of reproductive-age adults fear they cannot have the desired number of children.
- In response to this trend, the Emirati Family Growth Programme was approved by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as part of the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy.
- To create a more family-friendly environment, the UAE is improving maternity and paternity leave policies and making quality childcare services more accessible and affordable.
- The UAE's efforts to strengthen family units through legal reforms are designed to empower women and strengthen the rights of mothers and children, particularly in divorce and custody matters.
- The UAE's family support strategy also includes plans to improve accessible schools and high-quality healthcare, reflecting a holistic approach to family well-being.
- Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, emphasizes that behind the declining birth rates are young couples making personal decisions about marriage and family.
- By addressing family-related challenges as human issues and focusing on improving the quality of life for families, the UAE aims to build a supportive society that encourages parenthood and personal growth.
