A countrywide policy to protect the rights of senior citizens, offering them health insurance and greater social inclusion, was approved by the UAE Cabinet on Sunday.
The National Policy for Senior Emiratis aims to ensure elderly Emiratis remain active members of society and have access to the services they need.
The policy is built upon seven main components: healthcare, community involvement and active life, effective civic participation, infrastructure and transportation, financial stability, safety and security and quality of life.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the cabinet meeting on Sunday and began the session by replacing the term ‘elderly’ with ‘senior Emiratis’, as a sign of respect to the older generation.
"They are senior in experience, in service to this country and the highest in our eyes and hearts," he said on Twitter.
He said the policy includes establishing specialised health insurance, that covers medical issues most commonly experienced by senior citizens, organised sports activities to keep them fit and healthy, and special discount rates for public transport.
Initiatives including medical training for caregivers and forming provide basic health insurance plans for senior citizens across the country are part of the components dubbed the "healthcare hub".
Training centres to provide senior citizens with "modern skills" will be also established under the policy, as will a consultancy programme whereby experienced retirees from a variety of fields can offer their expertise to current employees.
A scheme to customise homes based on peoples' individual needs will also be launched, Sheikh Mohammed said.
Programmes to protect the elderly from abuse and violence will also be introduced, he said. This includes training to help others detect abuse and a hotline for the elderly to use to report such cases.
The policy comes as part of efforts from President Sheikh Khalifa to cater for all segments of UAE society and ensure senior citizens' well-being, reported state news agency Wam.
The move comes as a relief to elderly Emiratis living in the Northern Emirates who say they have been struggling to make medical payments with their meagre monthly pensions.
Fisherman Jasim Ahmed, 54, lives in Fujairah with his 75-year-old mother. She is paid out a pension of about Dh4,000 a month which he said seldom covers her needs.
“[The elderly] need special care and not all the families can provide that as many can’t afford to pay for a house nurse or even cover their medical expenses if they were transferred to private hospitals or clinics,” said Mr Ahmed.
"My mother will definitely be happy when I tell her about the new policy, we trust our leaders and we are very confident that they will always come up with decisions that support our needs.
"The elderly people are our pride and they are very important and they deserve the best," he said.
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Read more:
'Don't forget us': UAE's elder citizens yearn for the chance to remain part of the community
'This is all because of Zayed': Elder Emiratis tell of lives before unification
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Ayshah Al Antali, 58, said she hoped that the specialised health insurance for the elderly would include home medical care.
"Our aunt is nearly 76 years old and her son brought a housemaid to take care of her but they are not experts and don't know how to deal with the elderly people," said Ms Al Antali, who lives in Dibba with her 10 children.
She said she would be keen to learn new skills at one of the new training centres.
"I'm a homemaker and having the opportunity to learn new skills is very exciting to me and will encourage us all to keep giving back to the community and our country."
There are about 25,000 elderly people in the UAE that the Ministry of Community and Development actively communicates with and gives financial and community support to, according to Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development.
"In addition to this, the ministry adopted a national value and approach to care for the elderly people for the first generations who participated in building the country," she told The National.
This month, on the International Day of Older Persons, elderly Emiratis had one message for the country's younger generation: "Don’t simply ignore us".
In response, Ms Buhumaid announced a campaign to recognise the needs of the elderly, named "Your blessing is our duty", and opened a day-care club for elderly people in Umm Al Quwain, the second after one in Ajman. The intention is to expand the centres into a nationwide communications hub between elderly people.
There are up to 700 million people across the globe who are over the age of 60, presenting new challenges for every government. The number of people over 65 will more than triple to 2.1 billion by 2050, according to the World Economic Forum.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch
Funding: Self-funded to date
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
F1 line ups in 2018
Mercedes-GP Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas; Ferrari Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen; Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen; Force India Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez; Renault Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr; Williams Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa / Robert Kubica / Paul di Resta; McLaren Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne; Toro Rosso TBA; Haas F1 Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen; Sauber TBA
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
