Page 176 - FDF PR REPORT - JUNE 2025 (ENGLISH)_Neat

6/9/25, 11:10 AM FDF organises dialogue sessions to enhance quality of life for senior citizens in Abu Dhabi
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 majority of attendees
confirmed that the services currently provided align well with their needs and have positively influenced

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/events-and-conferences/fdf-organises-dialogue-sessions-to-enhance-quality-of-life-for-senior-citizens-in-abu-… 3/4