Shared Humanity in a Shared Land: The UAE’s Year of Community
President His Highness Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared 2025 as the “Year of Community” throughout the UAE. This nationwide initiative will strengthen family and community bonds. The program preserves cultural heritage, builds intergenerational connections, and creates inclusive spaces that encourage collaboration, belonging, and shared experiences.
The UAE has guided its projects, initiatives, and policy decisions through yearly themes across its seven emirates since 2016. This initiative’s Shared Humanity in a Shared Land approach shows a genuine commitment to accept new ideas and value from communities of all backgrounds. The program welcomes everyone who calls the UAE home to contribute to society through community service, volunteering, and meaningful initiatives that promote shared responsibility. The unifying slogan “Hand in Hand” captures the spirit of unity and collective progress that will shape UAE’s community future.
What is the Year of Community?
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The Year of Community represents a steadfast dedication to promoting unity, collaboration, and collective progress throughout the UAE. The leadership’s vision aims to create a more connected society that strengthens social bonds and welcomes shared responsibility among all residents.
The meaning behind the theme
The UAE’s foundational values of ambition and humanity, optimism and resilience, authenticity and openness shine through the Year of Community. This national initiative inspires behaviors that strengthen community bonds within families and society while preserving cultural heritage. The focus extends to building intergenerational relationships and creating inclusive spaces that build collaboration and a sense of belonging.
Three fundamental pillars support this initiative. First, to Unite by strengthening community bonds and preserving cultural heritage. Second, to Contribute by building a culture of shared responsibility and active participation through service and volunteering. Third, to Grow by tapping into the potential of individuals, families, and organizations through skill development and breakthroughs.
Why 2025 was chosen
The UAE’s tradition of using yearly themes guides national priorities and directs projects in the seven emirates, making 2025 the perfect time for this initiative. Social cohesion becomes even more crucial in today’s digital world, and the Year of Community serves as a timely reminder. The initiative celebrates the UAE’s cultural diversity while supporting the development of a strong and flourishing nation.
The slogan ‘Hand in Hand’ explained
“Hand in Hand” captures the spirit of unity, cooperation, and collective action. President Sheik Mohamed emphasized this message when he stated, “Hand in hand we will work to strengthen social bonds, foster shared responsibility, and unlock potential for inclusive and sustainable growth”.
True progress comes through collaboration rather than individual effort. His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reinforced this idea by noting that “the foundation of our nation’s strength lies in a united community, where individuals are connected, and care is extended to each other”. Strong communities run on fortified families and create the foundation for future generations.
Key Initiatives Driving the Year of Community
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The UAE’s Year of Community has launched several programs that bring residents together throughout the emirates. These programs reflect the national vision to strengthen social bonds and promote shared responsibility.
Volunteering and social service programs
The UAE Year of Community works with Emirates Foundation to create more volunteer opportunities nationwide under the “Hand in Hand” slogan. This collaborative effort shows impressive results. Volunteer hours now have a financial value of more than 124 million dirhams—14.7% higher than last year. Emirates Foundation plans to roll out more community-focused initiatives that match national priorities. Their main programs include Takatof for structured volunteering, Sanid for emergency response preparation, and Volunteers.ae, which serves as the national volunteering platform.
Cultural heritage and intergenerational events
Bringing generations together is the life-blood of the Year of Community. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai hosted a special event on the International Day of Older Persons. Seniors showed their creative skills through interactive workshops. The Sharjah Institute for Heritage brought people of different ages together to celebrate marine heritage. They revived traditions through Al-Nahma sea chants and storytelling.
Skill-building and innovation workshops
The Digital School and ATAYA Initiative launched ‘Skills Academies’ to give 5 million African youth the ability to access specialized training programs. The UAE Ministry of Culture’s summer camp offers about 215 events. These include interactive workshops and specialized training courses that welcome people aged 6 to 60+. Programs cover visual arts, performing arts, heritage, literature, and new technologies like metaverse and artificial intelligence.
Environmental and sustainability projects
Emirates Nature–WWF created “Sprint for Change,” a summer series that inspires environmental action across the UAE as part of the Year of Community. Participants learn about three main environmental challenges—climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss—through expert-led workshops and community activities. The program has:
- Interactive online workshops on climate scenarios and eco-footprints
- In-person events at recycling facilities and sustainable businesses
- Creative community impact challenges like native plant growth documentation
How the UAE Community Can Participate
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Community participation is the life-blood of the Year of Community. UAE residents have many ways to participate in building a more connected society.
Opportunities for residents and citizens
The national volunteering platform Volunteers.ae connects people with opportunities that match their skills and interests. Volunteer participation has grown by 22.7% compared to 2024. The platform welcomes anyone above 14 years old through a straightforward process. New volunteers need to sign up, verify their contact details, pick their causes, start volunteering and receive certificates. Programs like Takatof help create a volunteering culture, while Sanid trains volunteers to respond during emergencies.
Corporate social responsibility programs
Businesses play a vital role alongside individual efforts through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. The CSR UAE Fund, 7 years old under Cabinet Decision No. 2 (2018), creates the framework that guides business contributions toward national priorities. Volunteer efforts have generated AED124 million in value during 2025 – this is a big deal as it means that a 14.7% rise from last year. Organizations can join by registering on platforms, creating volunteering opportunities, choosing volunteers and sharing their impact reports.
Using social media to spread awareness
Digital channels help increase the Year of Community’s impact. People can use hashtags like #YearOfCommunity and #HandInHandUAE to inspire action and spread awareness. The UAE’s steadfast dedication to digital inclusion will give all community members a chance to join this nationwide conversation. Stories of effective contributions shine a light on local heroes and inspire others to help build a stronger, more inclusive society.
Building a Shared Future Through Inclusion
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The UAE’s vision for 2025 puts inclusion first. Their innovative programs bring people together in shared spaces to create meaningful experiences.
Creating inclusive public spaces
The Hewi Dubai initiative shows UAE’s dedication by turning public spaces into vibrant community hubs. These areas draw inspiration from “fareej”—traditional Emirati neighborhoods built around shared spaces. They welcome people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The MyDubai Communities platform helps people find groups that match their interests. This platform connects Dubai’s 3.85 million residents who come from almost 200 different nationalities.
Encouraging collaboration across cultures
Cultural centers, community events, and festivals bring people together in the UAE. These gatherings create opportunities for meaningful conversations between different cultures. Companies that embrace inclusive workplace practices see their employees become more engaged and productive. UAE businesses with diverse leadership teams have gained an edge. They attract global investors interested in Environmental, Social, and Governance factors and win government contracts more easily.
Fostering a sense of belonging for all
The UAE government considers tolerance a basic human right. The country’s progressive laws ensure prosperity for its residents from over 200 nationalities. Experts believe that creating spaces where everyone can succeed needs two things. First, old barriers must come down. Second, organizations must build cultures that support inclusion, sponsorship, and visible advocacy.
The UAE’s national story enters a transformative chapter with the Year of Community in 2025. This initiative stands as proof of the country’s steadfast dedication to building stronger social bonds while keeping its cultural heritage alive. The three pillars—Unite, Contribute, and Grow—are the foundations of community-building efforts in all seven emirates.
“Hand in Hand” means more than a slogan. It captures the basic belief that people achieve real progress by working together. The UAE’s commitment to promoting shared responsibility shows in its impressive volunteering hours, now worth over 124 million dirhams. Programs in cultural preservation, skill development, and environmental sustainability give people many ways to participate meaningfully.
Strong communities flourish when everyone feels included and valued – this forms the heart of UAE’s strategy. Public spaces welcome residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The country’s cooperative spirit and tolerance have become the life-blood of this vision, recognizing valuable contributions from its 200+ nationalities.
The Year of Community builds lasting social bonds that will extend way beyond the reach and influence of 2025. This nationwide effort reflects the leadership’s dream of a united UAE where people from different backgrounds share experiences and create a stronger future—truly hand in hand. Residents turn this vision into reality through active involvement and shared purpose, creating a model of community strength that strikes a chord beyond UAE’s borders.
