Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | HH Sheikha Dr Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan participates in DEWA's Good Citizenship and Building the Future session

Her Highness Sheikha Dr Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, participated in Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)'s Youth Council virtual session on Good Citizenship and Building the Future. During the session, Her Highness touched upon many topics such as Moral Values and the Formation of Citizenship; Family and School: Partners in Developing Values of Good Citizenship; The challenges of Good Citizenship in Light of Digital Citizenship; The importance of Good Citizenship in Building the Future of Emirati Civilisation.

 Her Highness Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan said: “Citizenship is not just a term that defines the relationship between the individuals and their homeland; it is the rights they enjoy, which are provided by the state as well as their duties towards their county. Balancing this relationship establishes belonging and loyalty to the homeland and society, which is not limited to time or place. Wherever you are, the belonging and love to your country remain unchanged. Consolidating good and positive citizenship begins with establishing the concept in children, where education plays a role in its development and consolidation”.

“Building a real sense of the value of fellow humans and their right in life and coexistence, that everyone is equal before the law and in their rights and duties, contributes to developing the values of loyalty and belonging among children to the family and then to society and the homeland. A person cannot belong to his or her country without being affiliated and loyal to his or her family. This can only be achieved through a sound upbringing system within the family and school, especially in the early years, which form the person’s personality and principles. The virtual community has become more extensive than the real one. We notice the mutual effects and influence among all nationalities and cultures, and a unity in some vocabulary and ethics of virtual relationships that build intangibly a single identity that expands to absorb all real identities. Therefore, the UAE has launched the National Council for Quality of Digital Life, which aims to maximise the positive aspects of digital citizenship to be in harmony with the positive and good real citizenship of Emirati people. The Positive Digital Citizenship Values and Behaviours Code features the values and behaviours that enhance the digital world environment. This highlights the need to communicate the values of tolerance, coexistence, noble human values and pluralism that characterise the Emirati community,” added Her Highness.

Concluding her speech, Her Highness commended DEWA’s Youth Council for orgnising the meeting and for the efforts in cultural and social development for Emirati young people to achieve the true meaning of good citizenship.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the role Her Highness Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan in investing in the competencies of Emirati youth to realise the visions of the next fifty years, and support their efforts in facing current and future challenges, to achieve sustainable development and create a competitive national economy based on knowledge, innovation and future technological applications.

“We are keen to realise the forward-looking vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to enrich the life of the people, instil a culture of sustainability, and enable the youth to continue the UAE’s development process to achieve its goals. The UAE Centennial 2071 and the National Youth Strategy have been put in place to ensure that the future generation can skilfully lead the nation and become pioneering models to fulfil the country’s ambitious strategies, putting them on par with their counterparts globally. Following in the footsteps of our Founding Fathers and the noble values instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we are committed to strengthening the national identity and consolidating its elements among the new generations, and promoting the practices of belonging and national loyalty and the values of good citizenship among all segments of society. We work tirelessly so that daughters and sons of Zayed remain a beacon that spreads love, tolerance, benevolence and giving, and contributes to shaping a more sustainable and brighter future for generations to come,” added Al Tayer.

The session falls within the framework of the national initiatives launched by DEWA's Youth Council, and comes in line with its strategy, which is based on five main themes: National Identity and Values, Continuing Education, Professional Development, Future Accelerators and Innovation; and Sustainability. Moreover, the event reflects DEWA's efforts to enhance the capabilities of DEWA’s young employees and providing a positive and motivating environment that unleashes their potential to support DEWA’s leadership and excellence.