International Day of Happiness is an annual event that encourages people all over the world to be “mindful, grateful, and kind.”
Official Date: March 20
Established by the United Nations General Assembly, this day calls upon people to appreciate and celebrate their lives and the things that make them feel happy and fulfilled.
Key Focus Areas
- Emphasize the importance of uniting efforts to create a happier and kinder world for everyone.
- Improve the social, economic, and environmental well-being around the world, thereby enhancing “gross global happiness.”
- Invite international and regional organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations, and individuals to participate in the International Day of Happiness through different awareness and educational activities.
- Raise awareness on the need to change individuals’ attitudes and perspectives on happiness and invite them to focus on human happiness and well-being as opposed to solely focusing on economic growth.
- Recognise happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and as one of the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals.
Top Facts
- The UAE ranked first among Arab countries in the World Happiness Report 2020.
- According to UN World Happiness Report 2017, the UAE ranked 21st as the happiest country globally.
- Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the happiest cities in the Arab region.
- The UAE ranked 11th in the world on the Citizens' Happiness Index.
- The UAE ranked 19th in the world in the Expatriate Residents’ Index among 117 countries.