Page 224 - FDF QUARTER 2 REPORT 2025 (ENGLISH)

existing and proposed services and shared their perspectives and opinions transparently in a
dialogue-driven environment that promoted experience-sharing and encouraged new initiatives.”

Muneera Majid Al Ali, Director of the Research and Studies Department at FDF, said, “In line with
our relentless efforts to reinforce social monitoring and gain a broader understanding of societal
changes, we have employed a comprehensive methodology that blends both quantitative and
qualitative sources. The dialogue forums are one of our key qualitative tools, which played a pivotal
role in collecting community insights and opinions on priority socials issues.”

These sessions highlight an effective interactive approach to opening direct communication
channels with community members and key stakeholders. It enables more precise understanding
of social reality from different perspectives and contributing to the provision of more responsive
services in line with the requirements.

She added, “Apart from the forums, FDF also depends on a wide array of data sources, such as
official records, the Digital Social Observer platform, service performance outcomes, and findings
from field studies and social research, to develop a comprehensive and reliable understanding of
social dynamics.” The Foundation underscores that understanding the community's perspective is
not a routine task but a cornerstone in building evidence-based and reality-driven policies.

Muneera Majid Al Ali, added, “The forum looked into a range of important themes, aiming to
understand the expectations of senior citizens concerning the centre's services, while also
identifying their key service priorities within the area. It assessed the effectiveness of current
services and their contribution towards improving quality of life. The discussions also addressed
the spatial requirements within the centre, the efficiency of communication channels with the
Foundation, and the participants' future expectations for the services offered, all with the
overarching goal of shaping a service ecosystem that aligns with their aspirations and enriches
their overall experience.”

She noted that the insightful discussions that unleashed during the forum resulted in several key
outcomes, most importantly the clear identification of senior citizens' primary needs at Al Mirfa
Center. Participants expressed a strong interest in upgrading existing facilities and introducing new
recreational amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness centre, and a majlis, as well as organising
social events like outings and competitions. They also outlined their service priorities, with health
forum services ranked the highest, followed by the social forum and the My Happiness forum. The
majority of attendees confirmed that the services currently provided align well with their needs and
have positively influenced their physical, mental, and social well-being. Furthermore, participants
emphasised the importance of enhancing support services, including the establishment of a
physiotherapy centre. The findings also indicated that social media platforms were considered the
most effective means of communication with the FDF, outperforming other methods such as the
website or phone calls.
She went on to note that, based on the forum's outcomes, researchers at the FDF recommended
that the Foundation continue hosting dialogue forums, as they serve as a valuable tool for
strengthening communication between the FDF and the wider community. These sessions play a
key role in refining and customising services to reflect the real needs of senior citizens. The
researchers highlighted the importance of prioritising core services, particularly those delivered

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