Dubai, UAE – September 2026: SmartLife Foundation has launched its Smart Sustainable Family initiative, bringing families together to understand sustainability, explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and turn everyday choices into meaningful action.
The inaugural session, held on 13 September at the Head Office of Dar Al Ber Society on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, brought together 80 families, along with representatives from government entities and leading corporate organisations. Participating families took a pledge towards the SDGs and committed to exploring practical ways to create positive impact within their homes and communities.
Inspired by the UAE Year of Family 2026 and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Smart Sustainable Family is designed to encourage parents and children to learn, plan and act together. Rather than viewing sustainability as a distant global challenge, the initiative focuses on how small, practical decisions at home can contribute to wider social and environmental change.
Keynote speech was delivered by Nesar Reza Khan, Specialist in Sustainable Development Goals highlighted the importance of making sustainability economically viable so that governments and organisations can adopt and scale initiatives that benefit society. He also emphasised the importance of families understanding the SDGs and recognising the role they can play in creating lasting impact for future generations.
The interactive programme encouraged families to discuss sustainability habits that can be incorporated into everyday life. Each family was then encouraged to identify a goal that was meaningful to them and develop a one-month Family Impact Plan outlining specific actions they could undertake together.
Importantly, the initiative does not end with the event. Families are encouraged to implement their plans at home and within their communities, document their progress and subsequently share their achievements and the impact they have created.
The Smart Sustainable Family journey follows a simple action-oriented model:
REGISTER → LEARN → CHOOSE A GOAL → CREATE AN IMPACT PLAN → TAKE ACTION → SHARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT
By involving parents and children together, Smart Sustainable Family aims to make sustainability engaging, practical and achievable, while encouraging families to see positive social impact as a shared responsibility across generations.
SmartLife plans to conduct a series of such sessions until December 2026. Individuals and families living in the UAE, as well as those wishing to represent their families in their home countries, are encouraged to participate.
We also invite corporate organisations to host exclusive sessions for their employees in partnership with SmartLife.
About SmartLife Foundation:
SmartLife Foundation is a Dubai-based multiple award winning non-profit organisation registered with the Community Development Authority of Dubai. Through education, skills development, health and wellbeing, community engagement and specialised programmes, SmartLife works to empower frontline and blue-collar communities while creating opportunities for individuals, families, volunteers and organisations to contribute towards positive social impact.
SmartLife’s programmes are supported by volunteers, government entities, community partners and corporate organisations across the UAE, with its initiatives contributing towards several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
