Dubai Community Contributions Establishment Organises JOOD Retreat To Enhance Community Engagement And Sustainability

The Dubai Community Contributions Establishment (JOOD) organised the ‘JOOD Retreat’ to enhance community contributions. This event, part of Dubai's strategy to institutionalise humanitarian work, gathered representatives from various sectors. The aim was to create a comprehensive roadmap for future community contributions in Dubai, aligning with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the UAE’s Year of Community.

The retreat's agenda included thematic dialogue sessions and workshops across four main pillars. The first pillar, ‘Sustainability of Well-being’, aimed to transform giving into a sustainable system ensuring long-term societal well-being. The second pillar, ‘Engage and Co-create’, encouraged moving beyond traditional collaboration models towards innovative approaches for cross-sector integration and co-design culture.

Dr. Ahmed Tahlak from Tarahum Charity Foundation highlighted the need for indicators to measure social and economic effectiveness. He emphasised empowering those in need to play active roles in society. Sunny Varkey, Chairman of GEMS Education, stated that success is measured by contributions rather than achievements, praising the UAE and Dubai governments for their commitment.

Ahmed Darwish Al-Muhairi noted that the JOOD Retreat supports implementing the Dubai Social Agenda 33 through initiatives empowering community-giving ecosystems. Innovative tools and expanded public-private partnerships contribute to sustainable development and strengthen Dubai’s global leadership in humanitarian work.

The retreat concluded with discussions on adopting smart technologies like AI in community platforms under the fourth pillar, ‘Adapt to Lead’. These technologies are seen as essential enablers of stakeholder trust and delivering impactful user experiences. This aligns with JOOD’s role as a leading platform for giving.

Unified Framework for Community Contributions

A unified framework was established to align social responsibility agendas across government, semi-government, and private sectors. This ensures complementarity of roles and coordination of efforts according to local, national, and global priorities. A comprehensive strategy was approved for managing diverse community resources effectively.

The retreat also featured a segment called ‘Narrate to Inspire’, where participants shared real-life stories of community giving. These stories highlighted inspiring examples of how individuals contribute meaningfully to society, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts in achieving sustainable goals.

Commitment to Lasting Impact

Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid emphasised that the JOOD Retreat represents a strategic move towards a future-ready model for community contributions. She noted that this model extends beyond financial contributions by including time, knowledge, and expertise sharing. It strengthens social solidarity inspired by Dubai’s belief that nothing is impossible.

The retreat outlined a vision for cross-sector collaboration enhancing institutional integration and strategic partnerships. Regular impact measurement was emphasised to reinforce JOOD’s role as a leading platform for giving while attracting initiatives with lasting impact.

The outcomes reflect Dubai’s inclusive approach to humanitarian work through active participation from leaders, experts, and practitioners. This supports the emirate’s vision of establishing a global model for community development that elevates quality of life while advancing Sustainable Development Goals.

With inputs from WAM