• Home

Book unveils UAE's happiness concept

Dubai - The book was launched to mark the occasion of the International Day of Happiness on March 20.

Happiness in the UAE is the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation's Founding Father. It is no more a far-fetched dream, rather it has become a culture, a policy, a reality and a tangible approach to life in the UAE.
To shed more light on the whole concept of happiness and how it is an important element in everything the UAE does, the Watani Al Emarat Foundation launched a book titled Happiness is a way of life in the UAE, in the presence of Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness.
This is the first such book in Arabic and was launched to mark the occasion of the International Day of Happiness on March 20. The English version will be launched soon.
Dr Bahija Masri Edelbi authored the book, which is the idea of researcher Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi, general director of the Watani Al Emarat Foundation.
The book offers the basic definition, philosophy and pillars of happiness, its language and how it is embedded in the very constitution of the UAE.
It talks about how the UAE has launched the national programme of positivity and happiness; how happiness is now being ingrained in education, health sector and what the roles played by the Ministers of Tolerance and Happiness.
"In this book, we are just trying to educate people that the idea of happiness as a way of life is not foreign, but something mentioned in the Holy Quran, Hadith and old sayings as well. We are telling people that happiness isn't just about money, but how much people around you are happy. It is time you change your attitude towards happiness. The message of the book is making happiness a way of life," Al Falasi told Khaleej Times.
"This book is a step in documenting aspects of happiness and positive philosophy in the UAE and through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which emphasises that people's happiness is the ultimate goal of the government," he added.
Al Falasi added that the foundation always seeks to be the mirror that reflects the government's philosophy of action and interaction between leadership and society.  It seeks to implement this goal of 'understanding happiness' through philosophy, research and books.
Al Roumi affirmed in her speech that "the happiness of society is the primary task and the ultimate goal and the end result of the integrated work of all government agencies, which is a measure of the level of success and achievement in government work."
saman@khaleejtimes.com