{"id":72722,"date":"2026-10-02T13:12:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T09:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/?p=72722"},"modified":"2026-10-02T13:12:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T09:12:54","slug":"dcd-launches-jiran-programme-to-promote-community-engagement-and-foster-a-sense-of-belonging-among-new-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/dcd-launches-jiran-programme-to-promote-community-engagement-and-foster-a-sense-of-belonging-among-new-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"DCD Launches \u201cJiran\u201d Programme To Promote Community Engagement And Foster A Sense Of Belonging Among New Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Abu Dhabi<\/a> Department of Community Development (DCD) has launched the Jiran volunteer programme in collaboration with the Emirates Foundation, and in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), during the Liveability and Investment Exhibition \u201cLIVEX 2026\u201d, organised by the Department of Municipalities and Transport.<\/p>\n

The programme aims to help new residents settle into life in Abu Dhabi and build connections within their local communities through a welcoming environment that reflects the UAE\u2019s values of hospitality, while introducing them to the services, opportunities, and amenities available in their neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

It forms as part of DCD\u2019s ongoing efforts to enhance quality of life and strengthen community connections across the emirate. As Abu Dhabi continues to grow and welcome people from around the world, Jiran will help residents settle into their new surroundings, build meaningful local connections, and take an active part in community life.<\/p>\n

Jiran, the Arabic word for \u201cneighbours\u201d, reflects the programme\u2019s focus on welcoming newcomers, building lasting connections, and creating communities where everyone feels they belong.<\/p>\n

The programme is supported by a network of volunteers recruited and trained by the Emirates Foundation. Through specialised training, volunteers are equipped to welcome new residents, answer their questions, and help them settle into life in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

They will provide practical information about government services, schools, healthcare facilities, community spaces, and other essential local amenities. Volunteers will also introduce new residents to local initiatives and events, encouraging them to get involved and connect with their communities.<\/p>\n

The programme will also include information resources designed to introduce new residents to Abu Dhabi\u2019s culture and way of life. New arrivals will also receive welcome gifts featuring locally made products, along with direct access to trained volunteers who will act as trusted points of contact as they settle into life in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

The programme will initially be introduced across Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Reem Island in partnership with ADREC and ADGM. The pilot phase will help assess the programme\u2019s impact and refine its approach before it is expanded to other areas across Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the initiative, H.E<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Mohammed Hilal Al Balooshi, Executive Director of the Community Engagement and Empowerment Sector<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0at the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development, said: \u201cThe Jiran programme reflects DCD\u2019s vision of building stronger, more connected communities by encouraging meaningful relationships and a culture of community participation. As Abu Dhabi continues to welcome people from around the world, initiatives such as Jiran help new residents get to know their local communities and feel a sense of belonging from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al Balooshi<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0added: \u201cThe Jiran programme demonstrates an innovative approach to community engagement by encouraging residents to play an active role in welcoming and supporting new arrivals. The programme also embodies the UAE\u2019s values of solidarity, cooperation, and tolerance, while helping to strengthen quality of life and reinforcing Abu Dhabi\u2019s position as an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone who calls it home.\u201d<\/p>\n

H.E<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Rashed Abdulkarim\u00a0Al Blooshi, CEO of the Registration Authority (RA) of ADGM, said,<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0\u201cADGM is committed to building a vibrant and connected community that supports the people who live, work and thrive within our jurisdiction. Through our partnership in the Jiran programme, we are pleased to help welcome new residents, foster meaningful community connections and contribute to an inclusive resident experience that reflects Abu Dhabi\u2019s exceptional quality of life.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

Ghazi Saeed Al Ateibi is the Executive Director of the Real Estate Transactions Sector<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0said: \u201cThe strength of a real estate market is not measured by transactions alone, but by its ability to create places where people choose to live, settle and build their future. As custodian of Abu Dhabi\u2019s real estate sector, our mandate gives us an important role in supporting that wider ambition, including through collaboration across government. Jiran is a strong example of this, bringing ADREC\u2019s role in the real estate ecosystem together with the Department of Community Development\u2019s community mandate to support new residents as they settle into Abu Dhabi and become part of its communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mohamed Al Hosani, Director of the Leadership and Empowerment Department at Emirates Foundation<\/b><\/strong>, said: \u201cAt Emirates Foundation, we believe volunteering is a powerful tool for strengthening community participation and building closer connections across society. Through Jiran, we are recruiting and equipping volunteers to provide a welcoming and supportive experience for new residents, helping them get to know their communities and settle into life in Abu Dhabi from their very first steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al Hosani added: \u201cOur collaboration with the Department of Community Development and partners reflects our commitment to empowering people to play an active role in creating sustainable social impact. We look forward to Jiran helping foster a culture of participation and connection, while strengthening a sense of belonging across all segments of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The programme is being delivered in collaboration with the Emirates Foundation, which is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers, overseeing its implementation, and supporting its future expansion. This partnership will help ensure the programme\u2019s long-term success and maximise its impact across Abu Dhabi’s communities.<\/p>\n

The partnership also demonstrates a shared commitment to developing innovative initiatives that strengthen social connections and foster a greater sense of belonging across Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development (DCD) has launched the Jiran volunteer programme in collaboration with the Emirates Foundation, and in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), during the Liveability and Investment Exhibition \u201cLIVEX 2026\u201d, organised by the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The programme […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","animate-on-scroll"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72722"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72724,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72722\/revisions\/72724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}