Two years after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) created the region’s first Ministry of Happiness and Wellbeing in 2017, its ranking went from 28 to 21 in the 2019 World Happiness Report. Egypt was ranked 137 out of 156 countries in the same report and, what may come as a surprise to some, less economically developed or politically stable countries like Lebanon, Libya and Somalia ranked higher on the happiness scale. The scale measures factors such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and transparency versus corruption. Taking the UAE as a model, there are calls among some in Egypt that creating a similar enterprise here may be the best thing for the country. UAE’s Ministry of Happiness and Wellbeing aims to help government entities, companies in the private sector and non-profit organizations in improving the conditions for their employees in order to enhance their levels of productivity and engagement at work, according to the official government website. Is Egypt up to the task? Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department Omneya El Naggar believes that happiness should be the result of efficient…
