DAD: Building trust between communities and government at IGCF

September 10, 2025 / 8:16 PM

Sharjah 24: as part of the first day of the 14th IGCF at Expo Centre Sharjah, the Districts Affairs Department platform hosted a panel titled“The Role of Districts Affairs Department in Enhancing Government-Community Communication” The session featured H.E. Mohammed Hassan Al Dhahouri, member of the Federal National Council and the Arab Parliament, and Dr Salah Obaid Al Ghoul Al Salami, Chairman of Dibba Al Hisn City Council, and was moderated by journalist Mohammed Al Ali. It was attended by senior officials, community representatives, and distinguished guests.
The session also welcomed Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Districts Affairs Department, and Dr Abdullah Suleiman Al Kabouri, Director of the Department, alongside other invited guests and forum participants.

A structural relationship beyond organisational frameworks

His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al Dhahouri outlined his vision of government community communication, emphasising that it is a structural relationship going beyond organisational frameworks to embed the concept of “participatory citizenship.” He explained that the Districts Affairs Department acts as a bridge of trust between citizens and government, with its councils providing a practical two-way communication mechanism from citizens to government and vice versa.

He added that this system aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, who made sure that the primary role of suburban councils is to convey citizens’ voices to officials and monitor essential services affecting daily life.

A distinguished model for community empowerment

Al Dhahouri highlighted that this approach represents a unique Emirati and Sharjah model for community empowerment. The councils identify family needs, hold meetings, and gather proposals, providing valuable knowledge for decision makers. He noted that if systematically documented and analysed, council outputs become a knowledge resource for shaping more practical national policies, which he incorporates into parliamentary work through questions and recommendations.

Activating diverse community engagement tools

Dr Salah Obaid Al Ghoul Al Salami emphasised that government communication succeeds only when centred on people, citing His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in the forum’s opening session. He explained that distrects councils, including Dibba Al Hisn, utilise diverse tools for community engagement, from face-to-face meetings to digital channels. The council’s social media account recorded over 200,000 interactions in three months.

Working in the spirit of integration and community reform

Al Salami presented the “Isnadi” initiative, which leverages local expertise for consultations and volunteer activities, highlighting the council’s focus on integration, social reform, and fostering a culture of solidarity among residents. He also noted the “Yalsatna” meetings, which connected residents with officials via an online platform, producing 42 recommendations forwarded to relevant authorities demonstrating serious follow- up and ongoing discussion.

A trusted bridge between residents and executive authorities

The session concluded that the Districts Affairs Department and its councils are the foundation of Sharjah’s government community communication system. They act as a trusted bridge between residents and executive authorities, contributing to service and development decisions that reflect current realities and anticipate future needs, enhancing social cohesion, and implementing the leadership’s vision of people centred governance and sustainable development.