UAE Launches 'One Million Volunteer Hours' Initiative

Feb 24, 2026

81 min

Feb 24, 2026 16:32

UAE launches ‘One Million Volunteer Hours’ initiative to boost student and parent engagement

## Nationwide Volunteer Initiative

The UAE Ministry of Education has introduced a new initiative called "One Million Volunteer Hours" to encourage students and parents to engage in volunteer work. This program aims to foster social responsibility and civic engagement across the country.

## Target Audience

The initiative is designed for students from kindergarten to Grade 12 and their parents. It encourages participation in both school and community activities, with a structured system to track volunteer hours.

## Volunteer Hour Calculation

Participants will earn two hours for school-based volunteering and three hours for community activities coordinated with approved organizations. Family-led activities at home, supervised by parents, will count as one hour and must be documented with schools.

## Areas of Focus

The initiative focuses on six main areas: educational activities, national initiatives, behavior and positive education, digital and innovation-based volunteering, environmental and health activities, and organizational work. Each area contributes a specific percentage to the overall volunteer target.

## Age-Specific Activities

Younger students will participate in activities like school clean-ups and tree planting, while older students will engage in digital citizenship, health campaigns, and national events. Secondary students will support ministry initiatives through media and training workshops.

## Performance and Incentives

The program includes performance indicators to track progress, such as total volunteer hours and parent participation rates. Participants will receive incentives like official certifications and recognition awards. Volunteers under 18 must register on the UAE Volunteers platform and obtain parental consent.

## Program Phases

The first phase runs from February to June 2026, featuring Ramadan-related activities. Future phases will focus on national identity, innovation, and mental health, among other areas.

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