Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week To Promote Family-Friendly Initiatives In November 2026

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has announced the upcoming Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, scheduled for 16th to 22nd November 2026. The theme for this edition is "Together We Can Make Abu Dhabi a Family-Friendly Emirate." This announcement follows the successful 2025 event held across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra.

In 2025, the week-long event featured over 300 community activities delivered by more than 70 partners. It attracted over 65,000 attendees and accounted for approximately 55,000 participation hours. The event was supported by Platinum Partners ADNOC (Energy Partner), the National Academy for Childhood Development (Visionary Partner), and PureHealth (Health Partner). Strategic support came from the Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Department of Culture and Tourism.

Sana bint Mohamed bin Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of ECA, played an active role during the week. She visited Danat Al Emarat Hospital on World Children’s Day to congratulate new parents, emphasizing the significance of early childhood years. Additionally, she visited Emirates Humanitarian City to engage with 130 young children and their families residing there.

The awareness campaign titled "Their Early Years Matter" was a significant part of the event. It generated over 109 million views and more than 862,000 engagements. Furthermore, 600 copies of the Parents’ Mental Wellbeing Guidelines were distributed to raise awareness about mental wellbeing and promote positive family practices.

In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), a Parent Pack was distributed through various educational institutions. This included distribution across 257 schools, 235 nurseries, and 37 charter schools throughout the Emirate.

Looking forward to 2026, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week will host the WED Forum. This flagship gathering is part of the World Early Childhood Development (WED) Movement. It serves as a global platform where leaders, experts, and innovators discuss future directions in early childhood development.

The success of previous events underscores Abu Dhabi's commitment to fostering a family-friendly environment. By engaging communities and promoting awareness about early childhood development, these initiatives aim to create lasting positive impacts on families across the region.

With inputs from WAM