The Emirates News Agency (WAM) delivered extensive, comprehensive coverage of the opening of the “Education in the Service of the Family: From Vision to Impact” conference, hosted in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The forum represents the culmination of a strategic alliance between the Education Interface platform and Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH), aligning directly with the objectives of the “Year of the Family 2026” and the “National Family Growth Agenda 2031.”
Convened under the overarching theme “National Visions for Building an Aware and Empowered Generation,” the opening proceedings drew prominent government ministers, senior officials, academic scholars, and key public- and private-sector leaders. The collective goal: charting a unified strategic roadmap that bridges the household and the modern educational ecosystem amid the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence.<br/>
Hessa Buhumaid: Digital Awareness as a Cornerstone of Social and Human Balance
Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA), delivered the Day One keynote address titled “Digital Wellbeing for Our Children: Family-School Partnership in Raising a Digitally and Socially Intelligent Generation.” Her Excellency affirmed that the UAE does not perceive technology or AI as an existential risk that warrants isolating children; rather, the nation stands as one of the world’s leading investors in frontier technologies. Consequently, the national imperative is to nurture a generation grounded in genuine social intelligence and authentic human connection, preventing youth from retreating behind digital screens.
Reviewing empirical findings from the periodic Dubai Social Survey, Buhumaid revealed that 41.9% of respondents spend more time on their smartphones than planned, while 22% think about their mobile devices constantly. She stressed that transforming these indicators into preventative policy is the essence of genuine digital wellbeing. She underscored the role of parental modeling and the landmark regulatory decision establishing age 15 as the minimum threshold for independent social media accounts, observing that parents cannot expect children to unplug if adults remain perpetually tethered to their own screens.<br/>
An Academic Vision Harmonizing Cultural Heritage with Modern Innovation
Speaking to WAM, His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, underscored that the gathering’s core thesis recognizes the household as education’s primary, irreplaceable stakeholder. He explained that digital transformation and AI-augmented curricula have fundamentally redefined pedagogical responsibilities between home and classroom. Dr. Al Dhaheri highlighted that the conference’s scholarly agenda brings together 11 researchers presenting 11 targeted peer-reviewed working papers, specifically designed to bridge theory and actionable policy frameworks that reinforce national identity and civic belonging.<br/>
Cross-Sector Integration Across the Education Interface and MBZUH Conference
The first panel discussion generated substantive dialogue on harmonizing institutional and civic action. His Excellency Abdullah Ali Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Family and Child Sector at the Ministry of Family, affirmed that investing simultaneously in education and the family represents direct, foundational investment in human capital, directly advancing the goals of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.<br/>
From a preventive security standpoint, Brigadier Dr. Khalfan Saeed Al Naqbi, representative of the Ministry of Interior, highlighted home stability as the ultimate anchor of societal security. He reviewed the ministry’s proactive interventions designed to shield youth against cyber extortion, digital bullying, and privacy breaches through early intervention protocols and psychological counseling frameworks.<br/>
Addressing private enterprise and workforce alignment, Sultan Al Ghaithi, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at AD Ports Group, affirmed that developing national talent transcends immediate job placement. Instead, it demands structured, long-term career roadmaps and early operational leadership training across maritime logistics, transport, and international trade nationwide. Abdullah Mohamed Al Jneibi, Managing Director and Head of Government and Public Sector Banking at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), explained that modern banking necessitates critical reasoning and digital fluency alongside technical expertise, noting that national professionals now constitute nearly half of FAB’s overall workforce.<br/>
Pioneering Initiatives and Long-Term Strategic Alliances
Dr. Wdeema bin Hamoodah Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairperson of the Exhibition and Conference Higher Committee and faculty member at MBZUH, stated that Bin Hamoodah Group’s sponsorship of the platform demonstrates a dedicated private-sector commitment to human capital development, ensuring ethical grounding develops alongside technical prowess. Furthermore, Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa, Founder of the Salon Al Multaqa Literary Salon, introduced a dedicated initiative titled “A Generation That Reads, Questions, and Creates,” highlighting intellectual dialogue as an essential component of student character development.<br/>
Dr. Mouza Saeed Al Badi, Chairperson of the Higher Committee of Education Interface, emphasized that convening the Education Interface and MBZUH Conference was deliberately planned to formalize substantive agreements and develop family-centered frameworks prior to the annual exhibition at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Al Hatali, Head of the Media Committee, affirmed that ongoing communications aim to translate academic research into enduring societal awareness that nurtures future generations.
Related Coverage & Resources:
AD Ports Group: Developing National Talent is a Strategic Investment in the Nation’s Future
Hessa Buhumaid: Digital Awareness is the Foundation for Raising a Balanced Generation
[Learn more about the Education Interface Exhibition here]
[Discover the sponsors and strategic partners of Education Interface here]
