Abu Dhabi’s Department of Community Development (DCD) has shared the results of the sixth cycle of the Quality of Life Survey, which was launched during 2025, highlighting continued improvements across several key social indicators in the emirate. DCD also launched the seventh cycle for 2026 in March, which will run for three months and serves as a key tool for capturing the community’s voice and supporting data-driven decision-making.
The results showed sustained growth in community participation since the survey’s launch, with the number of participants increasing from 51,413 in 2018 to 115,801 in 2025. This reflects growing awareness among community members of the importance of contributing to the development of policies and services based on their actual needs and priorities.
The sixth cycle recorded high levels across several social cohesion indicators. Satisfaction with social relationships reached 75.8 per cent, while satisfaction with family life stood at 78.4 per cent, marking a notable upward trend compared to the previous year’s 70.9 per cent. Additionally, 94.1 per cent of respondents reported feeling safe while walking at night, reflecting the strength of the emirate's safety and security systems. In the housing sector, satisfaction with housing reached 71.5 per cent, a notable improvement from the previous year, and underscoring the quality of residential infrastructure.
In terms of personal well-being, the average happiness score increased to 7.88 out of 10, continuing an upward trend over recent years. Satisfaction with work-life balance also improved to 51.1 per cent, compared with 46.8 per cent in the previous year.
DCD confirmed that the survey results have, over the past years, contributed to supporting the launch and development of several social strategies and initiatives across the emirate, reflecting the transformation of data into practical decisions and tangible programmes that serve different segments of society.
Dr Aref Al Hammadi, Acting Director General for Strategic and Digital Affairs, said: "The Quality of Life Survey represents a key tool for capturing the community’s voice in Abu Dhabi and serves as a cornerstone in supporting data-driven decision-making. The results of the sixth cycle reflect the level of community engagement and trust, while also highlighting areas of improvement and challenges that we continue to address through evidence-based policies and initiatives. We invite all members of the community to participate in the seventh cycle, as every voice contributes to building a more cohesive society and enhancing quality of life for current and future generations."
DCD is inviting community members to participate in the seventh cycle of the Quality of Life Survey through the following link: bit.ly/ADQL7.
DCD emphasised that community participation remains the cornerstone for developing more effective services and policies that reflect the needs of society and enhance the quality of life in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
