Sharjah has reached a major international milestone by becoming an Advanced Affiliate Member of the World Health Organization's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. Sharjah 's Advanced Affiliate Status upgrade recognizes the emirate's progressive social policies and its long-standing commitment to improving the health and happiness of older people. Sharjah's new status moves it up from basic membership to a more important role in the global network. This is because it has done a good job of following WHO age-friendly standards and creating social programs that are open to everyone. This award not only strengthens Sharjah's role as a model for age-friendly urban development, but it also gives the city more resources to help other cities in the region and beyond. The emirate has already helped Oman and Kuwait share their knowledge and set up collaborative knowledge exchanges with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Sharjah's new membership makes it a regional center for technical advice. This will help the global effort to build cities that are welcoming to everyone, including older adults.
The achievement shows how Sharjah's Advanced Affiliate Status steady leadership vision has changed the city's social landscape over the years. Maryam Majid Al Shamsi, the head of the Sharjah Social Services Department, congratulated the UAE leadership and said that the success is based on the emirate's human-first philosophy, which is led by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. She said that Sharjah's focus on health and well-being includes people of all ages, but that they pay special attention to making sure that seniors stay active, supported, and involved in the community. Al Shamsi said, "Sharjah has developed a careful, people-centered strategy that gives seniors the tools they need to live active and fulfilling lives." He also said that the advanced membership level allows the emirate to reach more people around the world by sharing best practices with partners around the world. The emirate's commitment is clear in its strong network of services and programs, many of which were among the first to adopt global standards and have since grown into cutting-edge projects that other cities want to copy.
It has taken years for Sharjah Advanced Affiliate Status to reach this higher level. Asma Al Khudri, the head of the Sharjah Age-friendly City Office, says that the emirate joined the WHO's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities for the first time in 2016. Sharjah has put into place a lot of different plans, policies, and community-focused programs over the past eight years to improve the health of seniors and make sure they are active members of society. The move to Advanced Affiliate Membership in 2024 shows how far Sharjah has come and how ready it is to take on a bigger role in the world. Al Khudri said that the new status lets Sharjah take part in global talks in a bigger way, work with experts from other countries, and help shape the next generation of age-friendly standards. She said that Sharjah's continued leadership as the first Arab city in the network shows the emirate's innovative approach and ongoing dedication to setting new standards in senior support and inclusive urban design.
As it moves into this new phase, Sharjah Advanced Affiliate Status will play a bigger role in helping cities set up or improve age-friendly frameworks. Al Khudri said that the emirate has learned a lot over the years and is ready to help more cities make systems that make life better for older people. "This milestone strengthens Sharjah's international recognition and improves our ability to align local policies with global best practices," she said, stressing that the upgrade is not the end of the journey but the start of a new chapter in institutional development. The award strengthens Sharjah's larger goal of creating a community where seniors are respected, involved, and supported. It also helps Sharjah and the UAE become global leaders in creating urban areas that are welcoming and friendly to people of all ages.
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