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29 March 2024

Dubai gets 1st employee 'Happiness Fund'

Published
By Staff

Dubai Parks and Resorts, set to be the region’s largest integrated theme park destination on its opening in October 2016, has launched an employee “Happiness Fund”, in line with the UAE’s National Charter for Happiness and Positivity.

The unique concept will provide grants for Dubai Parks and Resorts staff to improve their life and positivity.

The Happiness Fund will be funded by employees through voluntary contributions and will provide grants to staff during major life events such as, celebrating a new arrival, starting a new life or needing support for adverse health.

A Happiness Committee, comprising company personnel, will be formed to measure and review the happiness quotient of their colleagues and guests to the destination alike, to ensure that every moment is amazing.

“The recent decision by the UAE to introduce initiatives that promote happiness and positivity for all residents will have a significant impact on society as a whole,” said company Chief Executive Officer Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi.

“The National Programme of Happiness and Positivity, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and built on three pillars, establishes an innovative institutional and government system to invest in individual’s happiness and positivity, which in turn will boost productivity and innovation. We are in the business of fun, so it is extremely important for all of our employees to ensure that every interaction with a consumer is a happy and fun moment. Our new Happiness Fund will be funded by employees for employees and will provide our entire staff with access to the fund to improve their happiness.”

Other initiatives aimed at boosting employee happiness include an internal Gemba team (meaning ‘the real place’ in Japanese) with the vision to simply bring people together. Since its launch in early 2015, the Gemba team organises team building events, hosts an annual National Day Awareness, and sponsors employees for activities such as the Dubai Marathon.
 
The UAE has been ranked the happiest Arab country in the world since 2012, according to the United Nations World Happiness Report.

In March, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the UAE National Charter for Happiness and Positivity, designed to unite the UAE community. The National Happiness and Positivity Programme includes three pillars; include happiness and positivity in government policies and services, instil values of happiness and positivity as a lifestyle in the UAE, develop tools to measure happiness in the community. The move follows the formation of a UAE Ministry of Happiness in February.