As the mother of a teenage boy, I know first-hand how intensely worrying this stage of parenting can be. We carry so many fears at once – afraid something might happen to them, that they’re spending too much time online, or that they’ll fall in with the wrong crowd.
When they’re home, we worry they’re not active enough; when they go out, we worry about where they are and who they’re with. That tightness in the chest every time they step out of the door is something only a parent truly understands.
Every mother of a teenage boy fears that her son could become dependent on something, whether it be excessive gaming, smoking, substance use, or simply the adrenalin rush teenagers so often seek.
It is one of the many parts of motherhood no one warns you about. We know teenagers need to fill their time – what keeps us awake at night is how they fill it.
Al Mubarakah Foundation was established to ensure those hours are filled with purpose – and not by chance. It offers a place where boys are not only safe, but actively learning resilience, discipline and values.
For a parent, that is an immeasurable relief.
In this edition, we speak to Sheikha Shamma bint Khalifa bin Hamdan, granddaughter of the late Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed, the UAE’s first Minister of Interior – a man who believed that the role of the police was not to intimidate, but to stand alongside the community.
Today, she continues his legacy not through enforcement, but through empowerment.
It is a philosophy that mirrors her grandfather’s. Sheikh Mubarak helped build the foundation of the UAE’s security system on trust and community cohesion rather than intimidation – and that legacy lives on in the way Al Mubarakah works with adolescents today.
Thank you for reading.
How an Abu Dhabi youth foundation is championing Emirati values to shape the next generation
Al Mubarakah Foundation does not make a lot of noise. It works steadily and intentionally, which may be why it has endured.
The foundation was established in 2016 by Dr Sheikha Mouza bint Mubarak, daughter of Sheikh Mubarak.
Today, that legacy continues through Sheikha Shamma, who oversees programmes designed to keep young people anchored during the years when they are most likely to drift.
“We don’t work through authority. We work through identity, dignity and purpose,” Sheikha Shamma tells The National. Her approach stems from how she was raised.
“I am also a proud daughter of parents who shaped my outlook in very distinct ways. My father modelled integrity, discretion and an unwavering sense of duty. My mother instilled in me a love for community and learning. Their influence is present in every element of our work.”
Sheikha Shamma speaks quietly and with intention. She is not loud, not overly active and never forceful. There is a pensiveness to her, a way of taking in what is being said before she responds – thoughtful rather than animated.
Did you know?
The name “Al Mubarakah” is both a personal tribute and a public message. It honours the legacy of Sheikh Mubarak – whose life was rooted in service, wisdom and nation-building.
The name also draws from the Quranic image of “a blessed tree that gives its fruit in every season”.
Landmark law expands fostering network in the UAE
The UAE has rolled out significant reforms of its law on fostering to offer greater support to children in need of a loving home.
Non-Emirati couples and single women are now allowed to foster children in the UAE for the first time.
Fostering children was previously limited to Emirati Muslim married couples and Emirati Muslim women between the ages of 30 and 50.
The amendment to the law means any married couple who are both over the age of 25 can apply to foster a child, regardless of nationality or religion. Women over the age of 30 can also apply to become foster parents, with no upper age limit.
'He charmed so many': Wife pays tribute to late husband honoured by UAE President
The wife of David Heard, who received a posthumous Abu Dhabi Award on his behalf from President Sheikh Mohamed, paid tribute to her late husband for his lasting legacy.
It is 20 years since the launch of one of the UAE’s most meaningful national honours, the Abu Dhabi Awards, created to credit quiet heroes whose work has strengthened the country and its communities.
Over two decades, the programme has recognised 110 people whose service has left a measurable imprint on the nation. Some of them are no longer alive, yet their contributions continue to be felt.
This month, The National spoke to two families who accepted the award on behalf of loved ones, each of whose life's work still resonates long after their passing.
Dr Frauke Heard-Bey, who herself received the Abu Dhabi Award in 2007, accepted the honour on behalf of her late husband, David Heard, a respected historian, author and photographer whose work documented the country’s early development.
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