Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani: The data of 23% of Emirati households and 47% of individuals has been collected so far

Sharjah , 23rd  October 2017:  The Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) announced that the recently launched “Tahdeeth” project has so far contacted more than 13, 000 Emirati families, who were covered by the 2015 population census, in the first 15 days of the implementation of the project, covering the period from October 7-22.

The department has managed in a short period of time to make 13, 000 calls from its call centre, leading to updating data of 6, 700 Emirati households whose members amounted to 55,000 citizens, while the number of incomplete families reached 5800 households.

The process of making phone calls is expected to finish by the end of the first week of December, while the field work to collect data from some families, including the elderly, is expected to be completed by the end of the second week of December, 2017.

“The launch of the statistical project is in line with the directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide integrated statistical information on the living conditions of the emirate’s citizens, covering their health, economic, social and housing status,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of DSCD.

He added: “DSCD continues its efforts to contribute effectively towards improving the living conditions of the emirate’s citizens who hold family registration books or Emirati passports issued by Sharjah government, whether those living in the emirate or beyond.”

The DSCD Chairman said the project is carried out by the department in the implementation of its integrated work strategies and objectives to support the development process and move forward in realizing the ambitions of Sharjah’s citizens by providing an integrated and modern statistical system that supports improving their conditions and provide information necessary for relevant authorities, especially after the lapse of two years since the 2015 census.”

During the first two weeks of its launch, the project managed to comply with the operational plan set by the department by the completion of 23% of Emirati households, and 47% of individuals. “This is a sign of the effectiveness of the project, based on the statistical figures provided by the Sharjah Census  2015, and also reflects the great cooperation shown by all t families that were contacted either through their good response to the phone calls or by sending their documents,” Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani said.

He pointed out that providing a comprehensive and fully updated database on the living conditions of citizens will help decision makers when formulating their future strategic decisions that meet people’s aspirations and ambitions, thereby serving the emirate’s flourishing economic and social status.

The DSCD has depended on collecting its data by phone calls supported by electronic systems, through smart mobiles and devices and via instant messaging applications and emails. It will contact about 25,000 Emirati families with the aim of providing a comprehensive and accurate database on the living conditions of the emirate’s citizens that include changes in their conditions that have happened since the Sharjah Census 2015 until 2017.

The department urged Emirati citizens to cooperate with its teams and comply with the process by sending a copy of the two sides of their family registration books and IDs, as well as other requested documents, via its WhatsApp application or by email to ensure the smooth facilitation of the data collection procedure.
DSCD was tasked with carrying out a comprehensive population survey in 2013 and then conducted the general census of population and housing in 2015. It says that the launch of the “Tahdeeth” project two years after the last population census is necessary to update the demographic information about the emirate’s citizens in order to assess their living conditions.