The Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah (DSCD) launched the 2019 version of ‘Tahdeeth’, a project to provide accurate and updated data on the standards of living of citizens in the Emirate including, married couples and their children, orphans, , widows, divorced women, people with disabilities,  the elderly, childless married women, housing types, employment & educational status.

The launch of Tahdeeth 2019 reflects the directives of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to maintain updated information on Sharjah Emirate’s  households and individuals all the time.

Tahdeeth 2019 is a continuation of DSCD’s data project launched earlier in 2017 to update the database of 25,000 Emirati households and individuals residing in the Emirate of Sharjah, and to monitor the changes in their standards of living in demographics, social, economic and health areas. The survey is based on conducting a comparison between the data collected in 2017 with those of 2019 at the levels of society, households and individuals.

The 2-phase process will assess changes in the population of Sharjah in terms of age group, gender, administrative areas, number of households, average household size, marital status (single, widowhood, divorce, marriage, abandonment), as well as births and deaths.

Other factors include educational status, highest educational attainment, income, bank loans, individuals receiving financial assistance from social services, housing, and average household size. The comprehensive survey will help develop, inter alia, an effective housing plan in the future.

During the first phase of 2019 project, registration in the survey is required during the period  October 8 and runs until October 12, text messages are sent to the mobile number of each household head, with a link to the registration application, allowing respondents to choose their preferred method to update their household data.

In the second phase of the project, running from October 13 to December 6, Emirati households in Sharjah will either receive phone calls from Thadeeth’s call centre or visits by DSCD representatives or will be required to fill the application online to ensure their details are updated.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of DSCD, said that the Tahdeeth 2019 project aligns with DSCD’s strategy to support sustainable development efforts by following trends in social changes, understanding society members’ needs in the social, economic, educational, safety and health areas. In order to achieve this goal, statistical data and information must be provided to all entities involved in community development efforts to enable them to set their priorities and develop smart and effective action plans.

Al Qasimi explained that the Department is committed to providing accurate statistical date to decision makers, in accordance with the best international standards of data collection and analysis, with the support of an expert team of data gathering professionals. He urged all respondents to cooperate with enumerators and provide them with accurate information. This will contribute to enhancing the efforts to improve community services and offer a high standard of living for Sharjah’s people.

Tahdeeth 2019 will cover citizens who live in Sharjah and hold a UAE family book or passport issued by Sharjah or any other emirate, and those citizens living in a household with non-Emirati head. Target respondents also include all non-UAE nationals who live in a household with an Emirati head, as well as citizens living in elderly care homes, orphanages and others, in addition to citizens who reside outside the Emirate and hold a UAE family book or passport issued by Sharjah.