This Brief Note examines the United Arab Emirates’ designation of 2026 as the Year of the Family and considers its implications for international social work in a context where most residents are expatriates. The analysis identifies two shifts that are relevant for the global profession. The first involves rethinking how social workers engage with macro-level structures that shape family life. The second highlights imbalances created when the well-being of one group relies on the labor of another whose family cohesion is constrained. These reflections offer insights for practitioners working in diverse and stratified social contexts.
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