UAE consistently ranks as one of the happiest nations in the world. In reality, government policy has been centered on the ideas of happiness, positivity, and wellbeing for a number of years. Our government established the National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing and nominated a Minister of State for Happiness. This initiative attempts to encourage the UAE’s population, government, and larger society to promote wellbeing as a way of life and increase the general happiness of the country. The programme was launched in 2016 by the UAE government and is led by the Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing. The program has launched several initiatives such as the School of Life which fosters life skills among individuals in society, an online campaign for mental support for all UAE residents to help them overcome the psychological impact resulting from the spread of COVID-19. In addition, it has published a guide that helps both government, non-profit and private organizations promote happiness and wellbeing at their workplace and a nutrition labelling policy to promote healthy lifestyle and wellbeing in the UAE.

The appointment of CEOs for happiness and wellbeing at all government entities, the creation of councils for happiness and wellbeing at federal entities, the allotment of time for happiness-related programs and activities at the federal government, the establishment of offices for happiness and wellbeing, and the conversion of customer service centers into customer happiness centers are some of the initiatives in Dubai’s happiness policy field.

These efforts were fruitful! The UAE has regularly rated among the top 25 happiest nations in the world since the inaugural World Happiness Report was released in 2012!