The social policy of the UAE

charitable societies as a model

Abstract

The study aims to identify the social policy of the UAE by studying charities as a model for social institutions. The study adopted a qualitative approach. The SWOT analysis method was used for qualitative personal interviews with three focus groups. The study population consists of workers and administrators in three charitable associations and institutions represented by Dar Al Ber, Beit Al Khair, and Al Ihsan Charity. Each group consisted of six people from the administration and staff of the association. The results of the study indicated that there are many strengths in the work of charities, which involve the breadth of the community sphere, the use of technologies, automation, and electronic databases, as well as the funding, donations, and large financial support that these associations receive from individuals, the government, and private institutions. In addition, the existence of an organized and well-established legislative framework to regulate charitable work. In contrast, there are many weaknesses, including low human competence in aid departments in some associations, incompatibility between the number of employees and the volume of work assigned to the departments, a lack of qualification and job training processes, and a difference in the method of data entry for case managers or concerned employees. On the other hand, there are a number of opportunities for the development of charitable work, including the development of cadres who work in charitable societies, spreading the culture of charitable work, helping children of poor families or those unable to complete their education, and strengthening relations between institutions working in the charitable field and social institutions. Nonetheless, the total dependence of poor families on charities and the lack of planning constitute the most important threats that prevent charities from achieving their goals.