A delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain visited the elderly care home of the Department of Social Services in Sharjah, to learn about the home’s experience and the services it provides to the elderly, in addition to learning about the experience of the Sharjah Age-Friendly Office. The Emirates Retired Association and the Emirates Society of Friends of Senior Citizens also participated in the tour. The Bahraini delegation was headed by Sultan Al Ali, Director of Dar Al Karama for Social Welfare, and members included Zahra Awad from the Riffa Cultural Charitable Society and Naima Abdul Karim Al Balushi from the Al Hikma Retired Society.

The delegation was accompanied by Sharifa Abdullah, head of the Support Services Department at the home, where the delegation learned about the elderly residents there, and the various services, programs, and activities they receive, including social, religious, recreational, health, and others. In turn, Aisha Hashem, Head of the Compliance and Conformity Department at the Sharjah Age Friendly Office, talked about Sharjah’s experience in joining the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Network, of which Sharjah has been the only Arab member since 2016 until today.

Hashem explained the importance of the visit because it strengthens relations between Arab countries and conveys some experiences to encourage Arab countries to join the network and become its members, which we seek to achieve to increase Arab cities’ accession to the organization, which will strengthen our position and participation in the global network of age-friendly cities.