The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, hosted the high-level conference titled “Education in the Service of the Family: From Vision to Impact,” hosted by Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH) through a strategic joint organization with the Education Interface platform, under the patronage of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Over three consecutive days, Aletihad Newspaper tracked the proceedings of this national summit, which convened ministers, senior dignitaries, academic researchers, and decision-makers across public, academic, and private spheres. The event closely aligned with the UAE’s formal declaration of 2026 as the “Year of the Family” and the strategic directives of the “National Family Growth Agenda 2031.”
The conference established a dialogue-driven and practical framework to formulate clear pathways reinforcing community stability and adapting educational curricula to the requirements of the digital age and artificial intelligence. It also served as a comprehensive intellectual springboard preceding the 12th edition of the annual Education Interface Exhibition at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.<br/>
Visionary Leadership Prioritizing Human Development
The newspaper highlighted the keynote address delivered by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who affirmed that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, places human capital development and empowerment at the heart of national priorities. His Excellency pointed out that education represents an authentic catalyst for anchoring national identity, advancing noble humanitarian values, and fostering balanced global openness.<br/>
His Excellency remarked that the family and the school represent twin pillars enabling society to ascend toward future milestones. He stressed that confronting contemporary cultural currents and digital challenges necessitates empowering parents and establishing engaging, transparent educational environments equipped with continuous digital communication channels with households. Sheikh Nahyan commended the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, noting his dedication to unifying community capabilities in service of human and cognitive development.<br/>
Digital Wellbeing and Cross-Sector Synergy Addressing Technological Shifts
Aletihad spotlighted the Day One proceedings, where Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA), delivered an address examining “Digital Wellbeing for Our Children.” She emphasized that conscious engagement with technology and artificial intelligence does not imply shielding youth from the world; rather, it aims to protect their psychosocial balance and embed parental role modeling before passing legislation, commending the regulatory guidelines establishing 15 as the minimum age for managing personal social media profiles.<br/>
Dr. Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, reiterated that educational success originates within the home. He noted that the conference’s scientific agenda brought together 11 scholars to discuss translating pedagogical principles into measurable field policies that support domestic cohesion within digital spaces.<br/>
During the panel titled “Integrated National Roles in Family Empowerment and Youth Development,” Abdullah Ali Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Family, emphasized that cross-investment between education and the family directly serves Emirati citizens. Brigadier Dr. Khalfan Saeed Al Naqbi, representative of the Ministry of Interior, stated that a stable household constitutes the first line of defense for national security, detailing proactive intervention and prevention roadmaps to shield students from cyberbullying and digital extortion.<br/>
These insights aligned with the contributions of Sultan Al Ghaithi, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at AD Ports Group, and Abdullah Al Jneibi, Managing Managing Director at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), regarding the role of corporate leaders in providing early vocational pathways that reflect labor market realities beyond conventional academic degrees. Dr. Wdeema bin Hamoodah Al Dhaheri underscored the private sector’s role in honing competencies while safeguarding cultural identity, while Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa introduced the initiative “A Generation That Reads, Questions, and Creates” to encourage dialogue and analytical reasoning.<br/>
Methodological Frameworks and High-Impact Recommendations for the Family-School Partnership
Specialized sessions explored early childhood development with contributions from Her Excellency Naema Al Sharhan, Moza Al Qubaisi, and Dr. Maria Al Hatali. The curriculum-focused session concentrated on anchoring national identity, featuring research from Dr. Sheikha Al Karbi, Dr. Majda Al Blooshi, and Dr. Saif Al Neyadi. Concurrently, Dr. Mouza Saeed Al Badi, Chairperson of the Higher Committee of Education Interface, affirmed the commitment to turning technical disruptions into practical solutions and sustainable initiatives that nurture social cohesion.<br/>
The conference concluded with a keynote address by His Excellency Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat, and Deputy Chairman of the UAE Fatwa Council. Dr. Al Darei explained that education and the family mutually reinforce one another to build human character and protect social cohesion. He proposed creating a standardized benchmark index to evaluate the impact of curricula on domestic stability and leveraging artificial intelligence to build live digital portals that support the family-school partnership and track national family readiness.
The proceedings culminated in the launch of the “Family Book,” an intellectual and documentary volume co-published by Education Interface and Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, featuring empirical research and scholarly recommendations addressing digital parenting and social solidarity.<br/>
Aletihad concluded its coverage by affirming that the conference outcomes proved that strengthening the family-school partnership serves as an indispensable pillar for preparing an intellectually and ethically grounded generation capable of driving the future economy and leading the UAE’s sustainable development.
Related Coverage & Resources:
Under the Patronage of Saif bin Zayed: Nahyan bin Mubarak Delivers Keynote Address at the “Education in the Service of the Family” Conference
Conclusion of the “Education in the Service of the Family” Conference Proceedings
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