Sharjah is officially named a Baby and Family Friendly City, reflecting years of family-centred policies promoting child wellbeing and inclusive community development.
SHARJAH: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has officially declared the emirate of Sharjah a “Baby and Family Friendly” city, marking a major milestone in its push to create inclusive, safe and nurturing environments for families.
This recognition builds on the work of the Sharjah Child Friendly Office, which launched the Sharjah Baby & Family Friendly accreditation in 2024 to embed holistic standards across health services, public spaces and workplaces.
Sharjah has long been a pioneer in maternal and child services—dating back to the 1950s—and recent initiatives include offering a four‑day work week and introducing fully‑paid maternity leave, underpinning its family‑centred urban policy.
The emirate’s leadership in this field has also received international recognition: in 2015 it was announced as the first “Child‑Friendly City” in the region by WHO and UNICEF’s Child‑Friendly Cities Initiative continues to include Sharjah.
In his formal announcement the Ruler of Sharjah reaffirmed that supporting children and families is central to sustainable development and emphasised that the new “Baby & Family Friendly” status positions Sharjah as a benchmark for other cities seeking to foster family‑friendly communities.
