Page 240 - FDF QUARTER 2 REPORT 2025 (ENGLISH)

included an introduction to the forum’s goals and pillars and division into smaller groups led by
specialised staff members to discuss specific questions leveraging a precise scientific approach.
The responses were recorded and assessed using the Mentimeter system, which helped to exhibit
results while also allowing a direct and transparent communication with attendees and enhancing
the forum’s overall result.

H.E. Al Baloushi said, “The Foundation has leveraged a comprehensive approach, merging
qualitative analysis to open-ended responses with data analysis tools to find percentages and
averages for closed-ended questions to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results. The series
commenced with the first forum held at Al Mirfa Centre in February 2025, under the theme
‘Assessing the Needs of Senior Citizens.’ The event convened 23 senior citizens and their
companions and ensured their active participation. During the session, attendees looked into
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

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citizens-in-abu-dhabi/