During the UAE's “Year of Community,” the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development (DCD) has unveiled significant growth in the city's volunteering sector for 2025. This data evidences a rising culture of altruism and enhanced community involvement in Abu Dhabi.
Reports show that volunteers logged over 2 million hours in 2025, with roughly 30,000 individuals signing up. The number of volunteering opportunities listed on the official platform surged to 3,394, reflecting a 34% increase from 2024. The economic impact of these volunteer efforts is estimated at over AED146 million (around $39.6 million).
The statistics demonstrate consistent annual growth, with volunteer hours jumping from 1.7 million in 2024 to over 2 million in 2025, alongside a significant increase in the overall economic contributions of these activities. This positive trend emphasizes volunteering's crucial role in Abu Dhabi's social development agenda.
As part of initiatives under the Year of Community, DCD has broadened its outreach through partnerships with governmental agencies, the private sector, and schools. Throughout 2025, the department held various meetings and interactive discussions with 26 partner organizations, aiming to raise awareness about volunteering and foster participation from both institutions and individuals.
Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, the Executive Director of Community Engagement and Empowerment at DCD, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration reflected in these results. He pointed out that DCD has enriched the volunteering ecosystem by creating policies and frameworks aligned with global best practices that foster a structured environment for community involvement.
He further stressed the Emirates Foundation's role in managing the National Volunteer Platform, which assists volunteers via digital tools and tailored programs designed to bolster their preparedness and sustainability into the future.
DCD also noted a transition in Abu Dhabi's volunteering landscape, moving from individual efforts to a formalized system grounded in governance and impact measurement. This evolution is crucial for enhancing social capital, uplifting living standards, and actively empowering communities via organized involvement.
Looking ahead, as 2026 is recognized as the “Year of Family,” DCD intends to further encourage family engagement in volunteering. They aim to introduce adaptable and inclusive options for families, encouraging collective participation in community service while instilling values of responsibility, leadership, and generosity in future generations.
Such initiatives are poised to generate lasting social benefits, enhancing community unity across the emirate.
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