As the ‘Year of the Family’ nears, parent-friendly workplaces are becoming an imperative in the UAE

Worldwide labour markets today are under pressure. Rising attrition and intensified competition for skilled talent are reshaping employer priorities. The organisations that thrive today are those that embrace a simple economic truth: supporting parents and families is one of the highest‑return on investment strategies available to them.

This message is reinforced by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority’s latest Parent-friendly Label – or PFL – impact report, Thriving Through Talent, which captured the insights of more than 11,000 employees across 83 organisations. The evidence shows that when employers prioritise family well-being, they strengthen the foundations of productivity, loyalty and long‑term competitiveness. This year’s findings are especially timely as the UAE prepares to mark 2026 as the “Year of the Family”, a national moment to reaffirm the central role of families in shaping our country’s future.

The UAE’s economic model has always been anchored in human development, and at its heart lies the family. Support for the family unit starts at the highest level of national leadership and is deeply embedded in the UAE’s vision for long-term prosperity, as well as social and cultural cohesion.

President Sheikh Mohamed, continuing the legacy of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, consistently reaffirms the country’s unwavering commitment to family stability and cohesion. At an event recently organised by the Early Childhood Authority, Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the UAE’s steadfast commitment to supporting family stability and cohesion, describing the family as the foundation of a strong society.