Pre-Oil Social Services in the UAE

Pre-Oil Social Services in the UAE

• Pre-Oil Social Services in the UAE were based on tribal ties and kinship.
• Optional Social Services were provided by tribal members in cases of:
  • Shipwreck
  • Emergency
  • Death
  • Theft
• Obliged Social Services were mandatory and collected from tribe members engaged in economic activities like pearl trading. This system was called "Al Taraz".
• Voluntary and Humanitarian Services included:
  • Hosting events
  • Lending money
  • Supporting divorced women and children
• Pre-Oil Health Services relied on traditional methods like:
  • Herbal medicine
  • Fire stinging
  • Cupping
  • Religious practices
• High Infant Mortality Rate: This highlighted the limited healthcare facilities in the pre-oil era.

Characteristics of Social Welfare Before Federation

• Social Cohesion: Traditional social welfare systems in the UAE were fundamental to maintaining social cohesion.
• Moral Duty: Providing social services was considered a moral duty and was offered without discrimination.
• Responsibility of the Wealthy: The wealthy were expected to contribute to the well-being of the community.
• Social Solidarity: Tribal solidarity formed the basis of social welfare.
• Absence of Specialization: There were no specialized professionals in social welfare.
• Lack of Formal Policies: Social welfare programs were not guided by written policies.

Social Systems in the Emirati Society (Old and New)

• The Union of the 7 Emirates and the Discovery of Oil marked the beginning of modern social systems in the UAE.
• The Industrial Environment: The discovery of oil transformed UAE society, driving urbanization, modernization, and economic growth.
• Manifestation of Change:
  • Emergence of Large Cities: Urban centers like Dubai and Abu Dhabi grew rapidly.
  • Mass Migration: Increased migration from Arab and foreign countries led to the emergence of diverse communities.
  • Commercial Markets: The establishment of large-scale markets facilitated trade and economic activity.
  • Women's Participation in Employment: More women entered the workforce across various industries.
  • Spread of Cultural Institutions: Cultural institutions and youth development organizations emerged, raising public awareness.
  • Education Expansion: The establishment of schools and educational institutions was a crucial part of societal development.
  • Improved Living Standards: Increased income and economic opportunities led to a significant improvement in living standards.

Social Development and Services After Federation

• "Welfare and Care State": The UAE embraced the concept of a "welfare and care state", focusing on meeting society's needs related to income, education, health, food, and housing.
• Key Developments:
  • Social Affair Sector: The social affair sector became significantly developed.
  • Health Services: The UAE made major advancements in healthcare infrastructure and services.
  • Housing Services: Improvement in housing facilities led to higher living standards and more leisure time for the population.

Happiness in the UAE

• Government Service Satisfaction: In 2016, citizen satisfaction with government services reached 64%.
• Minister of State for Happiness: The UAE established the Ministry of State for Happiness in 2016, with the goal of making it the happiest country in the world.
• National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing: The UAE launched this program to promote employee satisfaction, healthy lifestyles, and overall happiness.
• UAE's Happiness Ranking: The UAE consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the Arab world, according to the World Happiness Report.
• Cities Happiness Index: Abu Dhabi and Dubai are recognized as the happiest cities in the Arab region based on the Cities Happiness Index.

Educational Development in the UAE

• Early Education: Education in the UAE dates back to ancient civilizations.
• Informal Education
  • Traditional Teachers (Mutawwa & Mutawaa): Male and female teachers provided informal education in homes, merchants' shops, and mosques.
  • No Salary: Mutawwa received donations from parents.
• Semi-Formal Education (1903-1953)
  • Pearl Merchants' Influence: Developed education emerged due to the influence of pearl merchants.
  • Curriculum: Subjects included: Quran, Prophet's biography, tajweed, dictation, jurisprudence, math, grammar, literature, reading, history, geography, and later English.
• Online Education
  • Hamdan University: Offered online classes before the pandemic.
  • Pandemic Lockdown: Schools and colleges transitioned to online learning.
  • Teacher Training: Wide-scale teacher training was provided to facilitate effective online teaching.
  • Advantages: Accessibility, comfort of home, flexibility, cost savings, safety, improved teaching methods.
  • Disadvantages: Technical challenges, increased screen time, social isolation, financial barriers to acquiring technology, student dependence, distractions, difficulty in teaching practical subjects, questionable grade credibility.