ABU DHABI – Since the launch of the Volunteer License service in September 2021, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Community Development (DCD) has issued 20,000 individual volunteer licenses, promoting and encouraging a culture of volunteering in the emirate. This is part of its efforts to increase individual participation in various volunteering activities, establish a volunteering system, foster an ideal volunteering environment, and provide opportunities for community engagement.
Under the Volunteer License Service, DCD offers three types of licenses – licenses for individuals wishing to volunteer, volunteer team licenses for groups of five or more, and licenses for entities involving volunteers. The license is offered to entities from all sectors – including the public, government and third sector – who are willing to involve volunteers in their operations and programmes.
Mubarak Salem Al Ameri, Executive Director, Social Permits and Control, DCD, said: “By issuing 20,000 volunteer permits in Abu Dhabi, we believe we have been able to raise awareness among community members about obtaining the necessary requisites to ensure that they engage in a variety of volunteering activities rights and obligations. As one of the most important pillars of solidarity between citizens and residents of the emirate, this issuance further significantly strengthens the concept of social responsibility and helps to establish a comprehensive framework for volunteer activities.”
Al Ameri added: “Abu Dhabi’s volunteering management policy focuses on developing an effective environment to support the emirate’s volunteering system. This is done by raising awareness and promoting participation. It also provides the opportunity to enroll volunteering individuals and teams without being affiliated with an entity or institution.”
Al Ameri said the move upholds the rights of volunteers and outlines the obligations of volunteers – including individuals, volunteer teams and organizations looking to seek volunteers, as Abu Dhabi’s volunteering system is integrated in legislation and policy , to strengthen the legal volunteering framework. He further emphasized that DCD is working with the UAE Foundation to promote a culture of volunteering and offer various volunteering opportunities through its official platform, which is also the official way to apply for a license.
In order to establish a legal framework for voluntary service activities, clarify the rights, obligations and responsibilities of all parties involved, ensure that the value and quality of voluntary work is promoted, and benefit the entire society, before obtaining a voluntary service license to engage in voluntary service in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, you must Volunteer first.
There are nine different types of volunteering in Abu Dhabi including traditional volunteering, social affairs volunteering, emergency volunteering, volunteering at events, virtual volunteering, visitor volunteering, institutional volunteering, professional volunteering and volunteering abroad.
Individuals wishing to obtain a volunteer service license can apply through the “volunteer.ae” platform through the link https://volunteers.ae/abudhabiComplete the form and attach the required documents.