Sharjah 24: More than 60 Sharjah government and private institutions, from different sectors, have committed to adopting the concepts and standards of age-friendly cities by the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC), established by the World Health Organisation, through coordination with the Executive Office of the Sharjah Age-Friendly City Programme of the Sharjah Social Services Department, aiming at developing initiatives that benefit the elderly and spreading the culture of age-friendly cities.

The department seeks to improve the services provided to this main segment of society, and to ensure that it enjoys well-being, security, family stability, and social inclusion in accordance with the best social practices, in addition to providing preventive and developmental social services in all fields, as a contribution to the process of sustainable development for the community of Sharjah.

Among the institutions active in providing supportive initiatives for the elderly is the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), which is one of the entities cooperating with the Executive Office of the Sharjah Age-Friendly City Programme and has provided specific initiatives for the elderly, most notably “experts or tourist guides for the elderly”.

His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, stressed the importance of the participation of the elderly group in tourism whereas they enrich the tourism sector. In addition to the availability of tourist destinations suitable for this category in different parts of the Emirate of Sharjah, as it is an age-friendly city.

His Excellency pointed out that SCTDA is working with its partners in the hotel sector to provide facilities that are elderly-friendly, in accordance with the standards guide issued by the Authority to develop the hotel and hospitality sector. A group of hotels falls under the category of age-friendly hotel establishments in Sharjah.

The SCTDA also contributes effectively, in cooperation with its strategic partners, to providing various tourism programmes and initiatives aimed at making senior citizens happy and engaging them in society by providing them with knowledge about the new tourism sector in Sharjah, including projects and tourist destinations, in addition to organising tourist visits to different destinations in the Emirate.

His Excellency continued by saying that at the beginning of this year, in cooperation with the Sharjah Social Society Department, a large number of elderly people attended the Sharjah Light Festival, one of the major events in the Emirate, where they enjoyed watching the display on the facades of the University City Hall building in Sharjah. 

Regarding the initiatives presented by SCTDA, His Excellency stated that there are several types of initiatives that the Authority organises and participates in, in support of senior citizens, whereas the Vocational and Tourism Training Department organised six training sessions for 69 senior citizens in the field of tourism guidance over the course of the years 2022 and 2023, aiming to introduce developments in Sharjah tourism sector.

SCTDA also organised, within its programme of tourist tours and visits, the “My Journey” programme, which includes a group of tourist tours for about 94 elderly people, including in-person and virtual tours, and this experience provided an opportunity for them to enjoy visiting various tourist attractions.

The elderly workshops included training materials on the importance of the profession, the role of tour guides and everything related to the tourism sector in general and the Emirate of Sharjah in particular. 

The training materials were distributed to the participants and included multiple topics on types of tourism, the qualities of a tour guide, and comprehensive tourist information about the Emirate of Sharjah. These training workshops are presented by a trainer specialised in the field of tourism, and at the end of each workshop, participants receive certificates of participation for completing the programme.

Al Midfa stated that SCTDA initiatives and programmes, which are dedicated to the elderly, have received positive interaction and response from senior citizens and are aimed at integrating and involving them in society. Therefore SCTDA is keen to continue and develop these constructive community activities and initiatives throughout the year.

Al Midfa concluded by stressing the importance of strategic and community partnerships between Sharjah government and private sector institutions, describing them as an important success factor for any project or initiative, as the return and impact are great at various levels for the Emirate, socially and economically. 

Al Midfa also praised the successful, fruitful and continuing partnership between SCTDA and the Sharjah Social Services Department, which has a positive impact on society and considered to be a noble goal that contributes to the stability and happiness of the Emirate’s society and providing a decent life for its members.

Asma Al Khudari, Director of the Executive Office of the Sharjah Age-Friendly City Programme, confirmed that the Sharjah Social Services Department, through addressing all the different departments and institutions, aims to increase the number of initiatives and projects that include international standards for age-friendly city specifications. 

Asma Al Khudari added that the Department goal is to create a comprehensive and sustainable physical, health, social and cultural environment that allows older people to benefit from its resources easily and conveniently, leading to healthy and effective aging, improving their quality of life, and sharing their experiences with others to contribute to achieving community development.