Abu Dhabi, November 20, 2025: On the occasion of World Children’s Day, Her Excellency Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), conducted a field visit to several families and newborns at Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi, a M42 partner. During the visit, Her Excellency met with mothers and medical staff, expressing her appreciation for their efforts in supporting children’s health and family wellbeing from the very first moments of a child’s life.

Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail was accompanied during the visit by H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH); Mr. Dimitris Moulavasilis, Group CEO of M42 and Dr. Summia Zeher, CEO of Women & Children’s Care within M42's Global Patient Care platform and CEO of Danat Al Emarat Hospital.

The visit came as part of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week 2025, taking place from 17 to 23 November under the theme “Together We Can Make Abu Dhabi a Family-Friendly Emirate”, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA). The week aims to celebrate the importance of the early years of life and raise community awareness about the family’s vital role in nurturing a creative and capable generation. A variety of educational, health, recreational, and awareness activities are being held across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra.

During the visit, Her Excellency emphasized that the early years of a child’s life, from pregnancy up to the age of eight, represent the most crucial stage in human development, during which over one million neural connections are formed every second and nearly 90% of brain development is completed. She added that these years lay the strong foundation for a child’s lifelong health, learning, and wellbeing, noting that investing in early childhood is an investment in human capital that drives the nation’s growth and prosperity.

Her Excellency stated: “Celebrating World Children’s Day embodies the UAE’s deep commitment to caring for children and supporting families from the very first moments of life, ensuring we raise a generation that is creative, healthy, and confident. When we give our children love, care, and education in their early years, we build a stronger, more cohesive, and prosperous society.”

She further affirmed that the early stage of a child’s life is the starting point for building individuals capable of learning, creating, and actively participating in society. During this period, a child’s curiosity and learning ability grow rapidly, while cognitive, social, and emotional skills begin to take shape. This makes the early years a golden opportunity to lay the foundation for a promising future for generations to come.

Scientific research confirms that investing in early childhood delivers higher social and economic returns than any other stage of life. Every dirham invested during this period can save up to 22 dirhams in future health, education, and social care costs. Moreover, children who grow up in loving, safe, and nurturing environments develop emotional resilience, self-confidence, and essential life skills that enable them to learn, adapt, and succeed.

In this context, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority recently launched its awareness campaign “Their Early Years Matter”, which aims to enhance community understanding of the importance of this critical stage in a child’s life and encourage families to recognize the power of simple, everyday moments in shaping their children’s futures. The campaign features a variety of community and media activities that highlight the role of families in supporting children’s growth and wellbeing.

These efforts fall within the framework of the Year of Community 2025, which focuses on strengthening family cohesion in the UAE and building connected and resilient communities that place the wellbeing of children and families at the heart of their priorities, which aligned with the wise leadership’s vision of making Abu Dhabi a global model in empowering families and supporting early childhood development.

On this occasion, ECA reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with local and international partners to realize its vision of enabling every child to thrive and reach their full potential in a safe and supportive family and community environment, emphasizing that early childhood is the foundation upon which the UAE’s bright future is built.