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The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre Participates in the GCC Economic Competitiveness Forum to Establish a Unified Framework

08 Dec 2024

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) participated in the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Economic Competitiveness Forum, organised by Qatar’s Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.

The forum brought together representatives from GCC member states with the aim of establishing a unified framework to enhance economic competitiveness, expand areas of cooperation, and build future partnerships. The goal was to improve the GCC’s standings in global competitiveness reports and indices. During the event, the FCSC shared insights into the UAE’s institutionalised approach to managing global competitiveness, through an operational framework overseen by the National Competitiveness Committee.

The forum featured two key sessions: "The Future of GCC Competitiveness" and "Methodologies of Global Reports." These sessions highlighted the role of GCC competitiveness centres in shaping strategies and policies to bolster the region’s competitive capabilities.

Participants also discussed the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum, which assesses the performance of 141 countries across 103 indicators, grouped into 12 main pillars. These include macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, innovation capacity, and business dynamism.

Hanan Ahli: Achieving GCC Aspirations for global Leadership in Competitiveness Indices

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that the UAE’s participation in the forum reflects the depth of partnerships among GCC member states and the UAE leadership’s commitment to advancing collaborative efforts. These endeavours aim to achieve shared ambitions and position the GCC as a leader in global competitiveness indices.

She noted that the FCSC, operating within an organisational framework led by the National Competitiveness Committee, has developed an innovative and modern model. This approach enables the professional management of the competitiveness portfolio, fostering transformative change and realising future aspirations.

It is worth noting that the FCSC monitors more than 22 competitiveness reports issued by international organisations and tracks over 1,350 global competitiveness indicators across critical sectors such as the economy, health, education, and gender balance. The Centre aligns its efforts with global trends that enhance the UAE’s competitiveness, ensuring its appeal regionally and internationally.

The National Committee on SDGs Emphasises the Importance of Investing in Young Talents and Enhancing International Partnerships

13 Nov 2024

His Excellency Abdulla Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, emphasised the UAE’s wise leadership’s commitment to investing in Emirati youth, highlighting the nation’s dedication to equipping young talents with the skills necessary to contribute to shaping the UAE’s future vision and advancing sustainable development efforts. H.E. noted that the National Committee on SDGs has actively empowered youth to engage in strategic planning and decision-making processes, pinpointing their pivotal role in implementing sustainability agendas both nationally and globally.

This came during the fourth committee meeting, attended by Her Excellency Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy; His Excellency Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Community Development; Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Communities at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; His Excellency Dr. Hassan Obaid Al Mheiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Education; and Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).

In addition to, Her Excellency Bérangère Boell-Yousfi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the UAE; Eng. Nawal Yousef AlHanaee, Director of Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; His Excellency Maywand Jabarkhyl, CEO of the Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI), members of the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals, and representatives from the Ministry of Interior attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the achievements of the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals in its second term and its pivotal role in supporting decision-making, thus ensuring inclusive policies to align with the aspirations of future generations.

Youth Advisory Council Achievements

The Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals highlighted its key accomplishments in promoting national efforts toward sustainable development. The council launched several initiatives, including "Knowledge Without Borders," which shared the best sustainability practices with over 27 countries, and "Art and Culture for SDGs" which established more than six partnerships to enhance the art and culture ecosystem for sustainability. During COP28, the council hosted a series of international dialogue sessions, with the most notable being the "Health and Climate Change Forum." which focused on exploring the future of healthcare and enhancing preparedness for emerging health-related challenges.

National and Global Updates

Bérangère Boell-Yousfi made a presentation to the committee members, summarising key outcomes from the "Summit of the Future" held by the United Nations in New York in September. The presentation focused on international efforts to accelerate sustainable development, emphasising the importance of international and regional cooperation in achieving sustainable development, and the role of data in tracking progress on both the national and global levels.

The committee further discussed updates on the national plan on SDGs, where Her Excellency Maria Al Qassim presented the Ministry of Economy’s sustainability initiatives, including plans for sustainable tourism, circular economy, sustainable financing, and initiatives to encourage the private sector to adopt the sustainability agenda.

Humanitarian Efforts Focused on Sustainability

The Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative team presented the initiative’s achievements, focusing on sustainability and empowering low-income Afghan communities that have faced significant challenges over the past three decades due to wars and natural disasters. The initiative employed over 8,000 Afghans, 70% of whom are women, provided monthly healthcare to over 25,000 people, and enabled 20,000 children to attend school, providing aid to a total of 1.8 million people.

The National Committee on SDGs is responsible for coordinating efforts among entities to align national policies, strategies, and targets with sustainable development goals, fostering and building national skills to achieve these goals, addressing challenges through partnerships at the local and global levels, preparing national reports, and managing the collection and sharing of SDG data across the UAE.

FCSC Promotes Global Partnerships with International Statistical Offices at the BRICS Meeting

11 Nov 2024

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) participated in the 16th Meeting of Heads of BRICS National Statistical Agencies, held in Kazan, Russia. The meeting comes within the activities of the BRICS Summit, in which the UAE participates for the first time as a member of the BRICS.

Meeting of Heads of BRICS National Statistical Agencies serves as an effective platform for decision-makers, statisticians, and global experts in big data, paving the way for sharing knowledge, exploring collaboration opportunities, and getting acquainted with cutting-edge, statistics-related scientific and innovative technologies. The meeting focused on implementing impactful projects and initiatives to support the ongoing evaluation of emerging global needs.

Hanan Ahli: An Opportunity to Highlight the UAE’s Leadership in Digital Transformation and Statistical Excellence

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that participating in this important event provided an opportunity to build bridges and foster effective partnerships with the National Statistics Offices of the BRICS. Furthermore, it paved the way for developing global and innovative statistical systems, using top-notch, reliable data to showcase the UAE’s pioneering model in digital transformation and the application of state-of-the-art solutions to achieve statistical excellence, support development programmes, and address future needs and challenges.

H.E. Hanan Ahli said that the UAE and its statistical landscape are committed to continuously enhancing the national statistical effectiveness, leveraging modern tools and methodologies to ensure the publication of reliable data on the UAE Unified Numbers, through efficient, adaptable, and agile statistical systems that uphold the highest standards of integrity, while adapting to evolving changes.

"We look forward to building effective partnerships with the National Statistics Offices of BRICS as we approach the activation of the UAE’s membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission, 2025-2028. Our goal is to develop statistical communities, build capacities, and exchange expertise in the fields of statistical governance, the use of big data, and leveraging data science in developing official statistics," she added.

The BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2024

During the meeting, the "BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2024", compiled by representatives from the National Statistics Offices of BRICS countries, was launched. It features key economic and social statistics and indices of member countries, such as GDP, inflation rates, price indices, population, employment, and unemployment indicators, etc. Members highlighted that promoting statistical partnerships and cooperation is pivotal to achieving fruitful outcomes in the BRICS statistical activities.

The UAE delegation held bilateral meetings with H.E. Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary General of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of India, and H.E. Mao Shengyong, Deputy Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The meetings focused on the development of statistical systems, enhancing the role of statistics and data in future readiness across vital sectors, utilising alternative technologies and AI tools for data collection and analysis to support decision-making and strategic planning.

UAE is the 1st globally in the Network Readiness Index according to the UN E-Government Survey 2024

25 Sep 2024

The UAE achieved a perfect score of 100 percent in Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (first in the world), the 1st place in the Human Capital Index in Asia and the Arab world, and the first position in the world in the Content Provisioning and Institutional Framework sub-indices.

Talal Belhoul Al-Falasi:

“With these results, we benefit from the achievements of the efforts of the government, and the minds and hands of the people of this generous nation under the vision of our wise leadership."

Majed Sultan Al-Masmar:

“We appreciate the efforts of our partners whether federal or local government entities, or telecommunications service providers (Etisalat & e and du), who have worked together as one national team in the digital transformation journey."

Hanan Mansoor Ahli:

“The results of the UN E-Government Survey reflect the UAE’s effectiveness of the digital government enablers and the integration of data and statistics across various government entities.”

The Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) announced that the United Arab Emirates has achieved outstanding results in a number of indicators related to government and digital services as per the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024, which focuses on the role of governments in accelerating digital transformation and artificial intelligence for sustainable development, and providing services that enhance the quality of life of community members.

The UAE in the lead

The report announced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) indicated that the UAE ranks first globally in the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), with a full score of 100%. The report also indicates that the UAE advanced 34 points in the Human Capital Index (HCI), moving from 44th to 10th place, and getting placed first in Asia and the Arab world in this index. This result reflects the considerable efforts made towards national competencies in the UAE, and provide them with the necessary skills to navigate the era of accelerated digital transformation and technological shifts.

The report pointed out that the UAE belongs to the top rated countries in the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), which constitutes the general framework for a set of criteria. The UAE achieved a score of 95%, and advanced two places from what it had achieved in the previous assessment in 2022; thus, maintaining its position on the list of most developed countries in the world.

Among the results of the report are also the UAE’s full score in the e-government literacy (EGL) index, and the world’s first full score in the content provisioning and institutional framework standards, which are two sub-indices of the Online Service Index (OSI).

A new peak

His Excellency Talal Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of TDRA, praised the results achieved by the UAE in the UN E-Government Survey 2024, which reflects the efforts of various federal and local government entities, saying: “With these results, the UAE has established a new milestone in its journey towards a brighter future, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, along with the government. Today, we reap the rewards of a track record of efforts and achievements by the minds of the people of this generous country, in order to solidify the foundations of a digital knowledge society and economy, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI and other transformative technologies”.

His Excellency affirmed, "The UAE’s progress in digital government is an outstanding model in integrating human creativity with technology to facilitate people’s lives. The UAE government has been proactive in investing in the telecommunications sector as part of a forward-looking vision in line with the directives of the wise leadership. For over more than two decades, major investments have been made in telecommunications infrastructure. This, accompanied by the upskilling of government cadres has reflected on our country’s progress in this vital sector, which represents the basis of sustainability and creating the future."

One team; one goal

For his part, H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of TDRA, stressed that the UAE’s keenness to develop the ICT sector stems from the vision of the wise leadership that this sector is the backbone of development and driver for all other sectors.

H.E. said, "When it comes to global competitiveness and sustainable development strategies, the Telecommunication infrastructure Index stands out as one of the most important pillars as it reflects the level of progress of countries in employing future technologies to create the desired future. We are proud that the results of this index placed the UAE at the forefront of the global scene, and we are reaping the fruits of a long journey of pioneership, effective strategies, insightful vision and joint efforts. Today, the UAE has become an inspiring story in the systematic digital transformation, which supports the digital economy and smart cities based on the principles of inclusive government, customer centricity, business continuity and proactivity. If these results have put us on the top globally, we see this as an important incentive for us to continue to implement the strategic motto of Vision 2031, which is to move from one milestone to another."

H.E. added "Of course, I cannot fail to point out that this index is not the only one in which we have achieved full leadership, as we are today in the first place in Asia and the Arab region in the Human Capital Index, and we have achieved a full score in the e-government literacy sub-index, first in content provisioning and first in institutional framework in the OSI. I would like to point out that these achievements would not have been possible without the spirit of partnership that we shared with federal and local government entities, and especially with telecom service providers in the country (e& and du). I extend my thanks and appreciation to them all.”

On her part, H.E. Hanan Mansoor Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said, “The results of the UN E-Government Survey 2024 are a reflection of the effectiveness of digital government enablers, and the efficient telecommunications infrastructure that supports Intergovernmental Integration projects and initiatives. It is also a reflection on the integration of data and statistics, which enhance the implementation of future technologies to ensure government readiness for a sustainable future.”

The UN report highlights TDRA’s efforts to enhance capabilities in digital transformation, and the focus on developing governance and public services by adopting several initiatives. One such initiative being the unified automated chat platform for government services, "U-Ask", which relies on generative artificial intelligence to ensure smooth access to e-government services. Efforts also include the Federal Network (FedNet) initiative, which contributes to enhancing the digital efficiency through AI solutions, and the digital national identity initiative "UAE PASS", which is the first digital national identity for all citizens, residents and visitors, allowing users to access services of local and federal government entities, and other service providers. The UAE also applies best standards and global practices to ensure consistency and accessibility across federal government websites.

The UN-DESA launched its report entitled "e-Government Survey” for the first time in 2003, to be released every two years to monitor the extent of development in digital governments and determine the progress levels in their various tracks. The survey primarily aims to help decision-makers and those responsible for digital transformation to proceed with their plans based on reliable analytics and benchmarks which include government portals, services, content, e-participation, data, etc. regionally and locally. The UN-DESA has been developing its standards in this regard in line with emerging developments and technologies, in order to achieve compatibility between such standards and the SDGs as they stand today.

The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals stresses the importance of the availability of modern data and statistics to introduce the country’s efforts globally

19 Sep 2024

The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals stressed the importance of the availability of modern data and statistics to introduce the UAE’s efforts globally in all vital sectors, and the need to expand the base of specialized national experts to facilitate the implementation of sustainable development goals, enhance efforts to ensure data standardization, improve the quality of associated reports, and improve coordination levels between national and international bodies to ensure transparency and reduce duplication in efforts to accelerate the achievement of global goals.

This came during the third meeting of the committee chaired by Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, and in the presence of Her Excellency Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Policies and Studies Sector at the Ministry of Economy, His Excellency Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Welfare Affairs at the Ministry of Community Development, Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoodi, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and His Excellency Hassan Obaid Al Muhairi, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies Sector in Ministry of Education.

The meeting was also attended by HE Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, HE Colonel Dr. Rashid Khalfan Al Dhakhri, Deputy Director of the General Department of Strategy and Performance Development at the Ministry of Interior, HE Rashid Mohammed Al Hemeiri, Director of the Development and International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Eng. Nawal Yousef Al Hinai, Director of the Future Energy Department at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Abdullah Lootah stressed that the UAE leadership focuses on enhancing investment in national talents and cadres in order to enhance their participation in achieving the country’s future visions and directions, and enhance its contribution to advancing and accelerating efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, stressing the importance of integration in the national effort and expanding cooperation, partnership and coordination at the international level to achieve global development goals.

Abdullah Lootah said that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals has worked since its inception to support national initiatives aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals, and to enhance national capacity-building efforts to enable them to participate in this global march, which reflects the keenness of the country. The UAE is actively involved in creating a better future for future generations.

During the meeting, the members of the committee stressed the importance of enhancing transparency in the exchange of data between national and international bodies to ensure consistency of reports and achieve integration between the concerned parties, and reviewed a number of successful international experiences in improving data systems and the possibility of benefiting from them in supporting the national system for data collection and analysis.

The meeting stressed the importance of focusing on achieving sustainability indicators comprehensively through coordination at the national and global levels and improving data flow, in addition to focusing on building the capacity of national task forces through training programs that adopt continuous learning to ensure the sustainability of data quality, and discussed ways to improve the availability of data related to the sustainable development goals, the main challenges in the subject of data, in terms of its quality and flow, and efforts to apply international standards in data collection.

The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the work of the Committee in ensuring the continuation of data collection related to the Sustainable Development Goals, coordinating meetings to review indicators, and continuing to work in partnership with international organizations to build Capacity in the field of methodologies for calculating indicator data, and working with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on a plan to harmonize and update data, review data availability and the rate of achievement of data indicators.

Members of the committee discussed ways to enhance work and coordination with the concerned authorities to spread the culture of sustainability and awareness of the sustainable development goals, and activate community partnerships to highlight the UAE’s efforts in this field.

The members of the committee were briefed on the achievements of joint work to achieve the sustainable development goals, as the last period witnessed the participation of more than 350 people in meetings that dealt with enhancing cooperation with 34 international organizations, as well as cooperation with 37 federal and local government agencies, in addition to the implementation of more than 100 hours of workshops and events, and the focus was on building national capacities through 24 workshops, while 27 technical meetings were held to follow up on the implementation of the national plan.

The participants learned about the level of progress in achieving the sustainable development goals through the National Data Plan, which increased during 2024 to 58%, compared to 42% achieved last year. The global achievement rate of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this year is 17%, according to the recently announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

It is noteworthy that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals undertakes a number of key tasks, including coordinating with the concerned authorities to align and review national policies, strategies and targets with the sustainable development goals, building and strengthening national capacities to achieve sustainable development goals and face challenges through partnerships locally and globally, preparing national reports on the country’s results and efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, and coordinating with the authorities to prepare and disseminate data related to sustainable development goals at the state level.

UAE’s GDP hits AED430 billion in Q1 2024

09 Sep 2024

ABU DHABI, 9th September, 2024 — Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said that the preliminary estimates of the UAE’s GDP growth in the Q1 2024, issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), underline the resilience and vitality of the national economy and exemplify its ability to continue on the path of sustainable growth.

He highlighted that the country’s real GDP reached AED430 billion in Q1 2024, recording a remarkable growth of 3.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023, while the non-oil GDP grew by 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the country adopted an innovative economic model that supports its future vision, along with effective national economic strategies, enhancing openness to the world, promoting partnerships, and transitioning towards an economic model based on flexibility and innovation," Bin Touq added.

He emphasised that the national economy’s positive results reinforce achieving the economic objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision, which includes raising the country’s GDP to AED3 trillion by the next decade.

Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said, "The financial and economic data and indicators endorsing the growth of the UAE’s GDP Q1 2024 reflect the resilience of the country’s vital economic sectors. It highlights the effectiveness of the concerted efforts to implement wise leadership’s directives to enhance sustainable economic diversification, reduce dependence on oil, promote investments, and attract capital and innovative and emerging projects to the country."

She added that the UAE’s advanced rankings in multiple global economic competitiveness indicators can be attributed to several factors, including the stability of the financial system, the strength of the national economy, and the effectiveness of economic legislation and policies applied in the country, besides their ability to adapt to changes and face regional and global challenges.

Based on the data released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, financial and insurance activities have emerged as the leading non-oil economic sector contributing to the UAE’s GDP growth, with a remarkable growth of 7.9 percent. This growth can be attributed to the significant increase in the local credit granted to the private sector, which led to a six percent growth and positively impacted the rebound of non-oil economic activities.

Following closely behind in the second place are transportation and storage activities, which grew 7.3 percent. This growth was driven by a notable increase in the number of travellers at the country’s airports during the first three months of this year, reaching 36.5 million travellers, a growth rate of 14.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

The UAE’s ports have demonstrated exceptional performance during this time, with Dubai’s international ports witnessing a 3.7 percent growth in the number of containers handled, while Abu Dhabi’s ports experienced a 36 percent increase in cargo handling volume on an annual basis.

Ranking third, construction and building activities experienced a growth rate of 6.2 percent, which aligns with the several development projects initiated by the UAE government in early 2024. They saw a substantial rise in the government’s public capital expenditures, reaching AED4.8 billion, compared to that of Q1 2023.

The restaurant and hotel sector secured the fourth spot with a 4.6 percent growth during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Moreover, the UAE emerged at the forefront of the global tourism landscape, attracting a substantial number of tourists from around the world.

In particular, Dubai witnessed a remarkable influx of 5.18 million international tourists, representing an 11 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Abu Dhabi also maintained its exceptional performance in key tourism indicators, including the average hotel occupancy rates and revenue per available rooms.

Trade activities made the largest contribution to the non-oil GDP, accounting for 16.1 percent. Manufacturing activities come in second at 14.6 percent, with financial and insurance activities ranking third at a rate of 13.4 percent.

Construction and building activities contribute 11.8 percent, followed by real estate activities with a contribution of 7.1 percent.

Discussing efforts to achieve Gulf statistical excellence at the global level

20 Aug 2024

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center discussed with a delegation from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the national and joint efforts of the GCC countries towards achieving global statistical excellence, and the two sides discussed ways to enhance fruitful cooperation frameworks and expand areas of future partnerships.

This came within a visit by the delegation of the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, headed by Intisar bint Abdullah Al-Wahaibi, Director General of the Center, during which she met with Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center and the Federal Center team.

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre plays an active role in the Standing Committee for Statistical Work Affairs of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, which includes the heads and directors of national statistical agencies in the member states, in addition to a representative from the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the Director General of the Gulf Statistical Center, and the Committee supports the Gulf statistical work roadmap, efforts to harmonize and coordinate work in the region and enhance statistical capacities in the demographic, social, economic, environmental, energy and tourism sectors. Methodologies and data quality, indicators of development, progress and sustainability, information and statistical awareness.

National Projects

The meeting discussed the strategic national statistical projects of the UAE, their role in serving development programs at the national and international levels, and their contribution to improving the UAE’s competitiveness in global reports and indicators and achieving the goals of sustainable development 2030, and the meeting praised the role of the GCC Statistical Center in monitoring figures and statistics concerned with vital sectors in the GCC countries, and introducing the experience and specificity of the GCC countries and what they represent of a unified economic and social bloc, in addition to supporting National strategic decision-making and planning processes for current and future Gulf projects.

Strengthening Gulf work mechanisms

Hanan Mansour Ahli affirmed the firm commitment of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre in the UAE, to support the strengthening of the mechanisms of joint statistical work of the Gulf statistical centers, and the employment of modern and innovative technologies and harnessing big data science and artificial intelligence to serve the development of vital sectors and keep pace with international practices In the field of statistics.

She praised the efforts and initiatives of the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and its effective role in raising the efficiency of the Gulf statistical system.

UAE Model For

her part, Intisar bint Abdullah Al Wahaibia praised the efforts of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center in highlighting the UAE’s pioneering statistical model, which was reflected in her selection as a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission for the period 2025-2028, noting that the UAE’s membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission contributes to strengthening the joint Gulf statistical work.

She said that the distinguished level of cooperation between national statistical centers and agencies in the GCC countries represents an important factor in promoting joint Gulf action, implementing the strategic plan for joint Gulf statistical work, harmonizing national statistical strategies with international best practices in this field, and exchanging knowledge and experiences to enhance statistical capabilities at the level of the GCC countries.

Enhancing Gulf statistical cooperation

The meeting discussed ways to benefit from the UAE’s hosting of the regional headquarters of the United Nations Big Data Platform, and to enhance Cooperation between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center and the Gulf Statistical Center in this field in light of the capabilities provided by the platform that support the development of accurate official statistics, build capacities for the use of big data and data science in statistical authorities in the region, benefit from successful practices and exchange experiences and knowledge in employing modern technology for data analysis, in a way that contributes to innovating solutions and developing distinguished services that enhance efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, and create an incubating and supportive environment for innovators in the field of advanced data science in Gulf states.

The meeting discussed projects and initiatives related to linking and integrating statistical data between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center and the Gulf Statistical Center, which include data collection, exchange, processing and dissemination automatically and securely, to support the preparation of statistical reports and studies in many fields in the GCC countries, which contributes to strengthening joint Gulf action.

Preparations of statistical center’s

The meeting touched on the preparations of the official statistical centers in the GCC countries and the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. To celebrate the Gulf Statistics Day, which falls on December 24, 2024, which will be celebrated by the Center with all statistical centers and agencies in the GCC countries on December 9, 2024, in order to emphasize the importance of statistics and its role in the development planning process, and to consolidate the partnership between the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to improve and develop the statistical environment.

It is worth mentioning that the establishment of the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf was announced and the adoption of the Omani capital Muscat as its permanent headquarters in December 2012, to represent an official source of data, information and statistics of the GCC countries, and its statute was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council, which includes Their Majesties and Highnesses the heads of member states: the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait.

Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019 is Announced

24 Dec 2018

In partnership with the Ministry of Community Development and National Statistical Centers

Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019 is Announced

The survey covers more than 20,000 households in the country in the largest socio-economic statistical project
The fieldwork will take one year and cover all seven Emirates
350 field researchers will be supported by advanced statistical tools

20 December 2018 – Dubai, UAE

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority announced the official launch of the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey at a press conference today. The announcement was made by HE Hessa bint Isa Buhamaid, Minister of Community Development and the UAE and was attended by HE Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority. Also present at the event was HE Humaid Rashid Humaid Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi , Director of Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, HE Ahmad Abdulla Al Suwaidi, Director General, Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi, HE Arif Obaid Al Muhairi, Executive Director, Dubai Statistics Center, HE Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Director of Fujairah Statistics Center, Dr Ibrahim Akoum, Executive Director, Ras Al Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies and Mrs Hessa Zayed, Fieldwork Manager, Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Center.

During the press conference, HE Hessa bint Isa Buhamaid announced the launch of the survey’s fieldwork that will be targeting more than 20,000 Emirati and non-Emirati families distributed across the seven emirates. Her Excellency said that the UAE family has been and will remain the focus of the Ministry of Community Development and all government agencies for decades and until this very moment. This focus, she added, will grow further in the future in accordance with the directives of the UAE leadership. Her Excellence also noted “The happiness of the UAE community and ensuring prosperity and sustainable development is the focus of our attention, which is why we work with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and all national statistical centers on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey Project.”

“We recognize the importance of this survey because it provides data and statistics that are an accurate reflection of the income and expenditure levels at a household level in the country. Thus, decision makers will be able to utilize the data produced by the survey to design, launch and implement various impactful social and economic programs aimed at improving all aspects of life for individuals and families such as housing, education and health; reiterating the UAE’s status as a destination for happiness and prosperity,” Added HE Buhmaid.

Her Excellency also stressed the importance of the families’ response and cooperation, “Cooperating with with the field researchers is imperative for the success of this important national project.”

HE Abdulla Nasser Lootah, expressed his excitement in launching the Household survey. “We are proud to launch the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019. This national project, which is being implemented over a period of one year, reflects the strong cooperation, collaboration and teamwork spirit between the Ministry of Community Development and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and all national statistical centers in the UAE,” he added. “This survey is regarded as one of the most importance statistical projects because of the type of data it produces. Data that is crucial for any decision makers who is seeking to develop strategic plans and initiatives that can positivity impact the lives of families in the UAE”

Approximately 350 field operators, consisting of observers, supervisors, researchers and experts spread across all emirates, will be working on the project. This number does not include the office staff providing support at the FCSA and national statistics office.

All field teams attended intensive training and are equipped with latest advanced field tools and methodologies such as geo-spatial positioning systems, mobile applications on handheld devices, and other advanced techniques and modern statistical methods to ensure accuracy and quality of results.

Emirate	Sample Familes per Emirates	Percentage
Abu Dhabi	8784	42%
Dubai	3816	18%
Sharjah	2304	11%
Ajman	1632	8%
Umm Al Quwain	1248	6%
Ras Al Khaima	1632	8%
Fujairah	1296	6%
Total	20712	100%

Table (1) Sample breakdown per Emirate

The survey will help extract more than 65 indicators such as the basket of goods and services, consumer price indices, cost of living index, and price indices to help assess the level, direction and structure of the economic well-being of families.

The survey also provides accurate information on the demographic, social and economic characteristics on the components of society, including gender, age, nationality, educational level, marital status, labor force, occupation, economic activity, employment status and others.

The survey helps to update the base years of statistical indicators, such as inflation rates, as the periodicity of survey implementation extends to five years, providing seasonal coverage of household income and expenditure rates.

In both constant and current prices UAE Maintains Positive Economic Growth

12 Jun 2018

Real GDP 2017 generates 0.8% growth and 2.5% growth for non-oil sectors in 2017
Current GDP for 2017 achieves 7.2%

Dubai, UAE – 12 June 2018

HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, pointed out that preliminary estimates issued by the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics indicate growth in the economic performance of the UAE in general; which came as a result of growth in oil resources and rise in international oil prices and growth in non-oil sectors. His Excellency also lauded UAE’s success in economic diversification, expansion of the economic production base, and the importance of strategic initiatives and programs aimed at increasing reliance on non-oil sectors and the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP.

According to National Accounts preliminary estimates by the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics for 2017, the general results of the preliminary estimates of UAE macroeconomic indicators indicated growth of GDP by 0.8% in real (constant) prices in 2017 compared to 2016

The data also show that GDP estimates for 2017 at real prices (base year 2010) amounted to approximately AED 1422.2 billion in the UAE, compared to about AED 1411.1 billion in 2016.

From an economic diversification perspective, preliminary estimates indicate that estimates of GDP at current prices of non-oil sectors amounted to approximately AED 1092 million, with a growth rate of 3.2% (current prices) and 2.5% (constant prices) the end of 2017 compared to 2016.

In terms of contribution of economic sectors to the current GDP, data showed that activities related to the Extraction of Crude Oil and Natural Gas, has contributed to about 22.3%. Both Wholesale and Retail Trade activities contributed to 12.3% and Manufacturing activities amounted to approximately 4.8%, while Construction activity contributed with 8.7%.

The contribution of financial services activities, on the other hand, amounted to 9.6%. The Public Administration, Defense and Social Security sector also showed an increasing contribution to the GDP, reaching about 7%. In terms of the growth rate of the activities and the economic sectors, which constitute the GDP of 2017 compared to 2016, oil activities achieved a positive growth of about 23.7%. The public administration, defense and social security sector also marked a growth of about 11.4%.

Non-oil activities, on the other hand, showed mostly positive growth. Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Management activities achieved the highest annual growth rate of 9.4%, followed by Human Health and Social Services activities by 6.3%. Administrative Services and Support Services increased by 5.5%, while Manufacturing Activity grew by 4.8%. Arts, Entertainment, Promotion and Other Services activities grew by 3.8%, Education Activity grew by 2.9%, while growth rate in the Transport and Storage sector reached 2.5%.

In real prices, the highest growth rate was recorded by Accommodation and Food Services activity by 8.5%. Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Management activities grew by 8%. The General Government sector achieved a growth of 6.2%, Health and Social Services by 4.4%, while the Oil Sector achieved negative growth (-3%) due to the government’s policy of reducing production, as a result of the increase in global oil prices and other sectors.

UAE Showcases Pioneering Expertise in Statistics at UN World Data Forum 2018

09 Sep 2018

Dubai, September 8, 2018

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has signed strategic partnership agreements with statistics centres across emirates to coordinate efforts to support the UN World Data Forum 2018, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24, 2018.

Now in its second edition, the Forum will welcome 1,500 prominent experts in the field of data and statistics from around the world, to showcase the UAE’s pioneering experience in collecting, analysing and benefiting from big data.

The agreements were signed at the FCSA headquarters in Dubai by representatives from the various statistics centres, including Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD); Dubai Statistic Center; the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development; and the Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Centre.

His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, said: “The Authority is committed to fostering cooperation and consolidating all efforts to ensure a successful second edition for the UN World Data Forum. Furthermore, we are working to develop efficient systems for statistics in the UAE and highlight the achievements registered in the sector. These partnerships we are forging with statistics centres across the country will help introduce all of us to international success stories and best practices in statistics and data, which, in turn, will help us position the UAE as a leading international hub for knowledge.”

For his part, H.E. Rashid Lahej Nasser Saeed Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Forum’s importance lies in providing an ideal platform for sharing experiences and identifying best practices in the statistics sector; it offers an opportunity to showcase the UAE’s experience in harnessing advanced technologies and channelling them towards building national capacities and honing statistical skillsets. All of this will ultimately serve the government’s plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote the welfare of the community, and ensure a better future for our coming generations.”

H.E. Arif Al Muhairi, Executive Director of Dubai Statistics Center (DSC), added: “The UN World Data Forum is a global event that will be hosted this year by the UAE. We are proud of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and its commendable efforts to win the bid and host the Forum. With this strategic partnership now in place, we will be sparing no effort to support the Authority and ensure success of the event, which we are honoured to be part of, and especially that it will now carry the name of the UAE.”

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, underlined the importance of the Forum, saying: “The UN World Data Forum is an ideal platform for sharing experiences, transferring knowledge and building partnerships to enhance data at the regional and global levels. The Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development is taking part in the event to assert its commitment to partnership and cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, as well as to ensuring that the Forum comes out with innovative results that positively influence the future of the data sector.”

Meanwhile, H.E. Dr Hajar Saeed Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Centre, revealed that the Centre will be launching a number of data-related initiatives, projects and workshops, noting: “Hosting the second edition of the Forum adds to the UAE’s commendable track record of achievements on a regional and international level. Several developed European nations came forward to host the major event – countries such as Finland and Switzerland. Nevertheless, the United Nations selected the UAE to be the host, which reflects the Emirates’ dedication to excellence; and the bid submitted by the FCSA undoubtedly played a major role in securing the nomination.”

On a similar note, Dr Ibrahim Saad, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, said: “The success of the UAE’s bid to host the UN World Data Forum 2018 asserts its advanced position and high competitiveness in terms of hosting international conferences. It also highlights the growing importance of data for governments around the world, which calls for further developing data collection and processing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”

Reiterating the significance of these agreements, Dr Ibrahim Akum, Director of Center for Statistics and Studies in Ras Al Khaimah, said: “The UN World Data Forum is growing all the more significant seeing as we live in the era of the digital revolution. Statistics – and data, in general – has become a focal point of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a catalyst to the transformations taking place around the world. Those with an interest in statistics and data will be setting their sights on the UAE to discover the latest development in the data sector, set to be revealed at the prominent international event where local and international speakers will mingle with pioneers in statistics and data.”

H.E. Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, said: “We are proud to be coordinating and joining hands with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and offering our support to ensure success and excellence in organising this global Forum. We are confident that the event will, without doubt, serve as a prominent platform to share insight into practical ways for optimising data, as well as the best ways to collect and analyse it.”

The agreements signed between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and statistics centres in all seven emirates seek to strengthen partnerships among all signatories to gather support for the UN World Data Forum 2018, and then benefit from its outcomes and takeaways in various sectors.

National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals Holds 3rd Meeting in the Lead-Up to UN World Data Forum 2018

04 Sep 2018

Dubai, September 3 2018

The UAE’s National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which includes 17 federal entities, recently held its third meeting for 2018, primarily discussing preparations for the upcoming second edition of the UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24, 2018.

The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, and H.E. Jameela Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, both of whom applauded the Committee for its efforts and preparations for the Forum, stressing the necessity of ensuring governance when implementing SDGs and of harmonising efforts among Committee members, as per the directives of the UAE’s leadership. Their Excellencies reiterated their support for the member entities’ efforts to provide the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) with accurate and current data.

“This Committee was formed in 2017, and in its one year and eight months of existence, it has registered outstanding achievements,” said H.E. Buhumaid, expressing her delight at the fact that the representatives of the 17 member entities are young Emiratis with great enthusiasm to serve their country.

For her part, H.E. Al Muhairi said: “We all work together to promote our country and continuously enhance its international standing in terms of sustainable development, and the UN World Data Forum presents an ideal platform to showcase our national achievements. The UAE has progressed from 77th place to 60th on the SDG Index; this is testament to the exceptional leadership of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”

Thanking Their Excellencies the Ministers for their attendance and contribution to the meeting, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, said: “Our work with the member entities of the Committee centres around the National Agenda’s metrics, which, in turn, offer the necessary support to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Furthermore, we concentrate on data and statistics, which are essential for driving success at the Government level till 2021 and beyond.”

The 17 Committee members were thoroughly introduced to the upcoming UN World Data Forum (www.unwdf.ae) set to be held in the UAE under the theme “Better Data for Better Generations”. The event will be hosting more than 80 sessions that feature over 100 speakers from all around the world.

The team organising the Forum reiterated its potential as a platform for forging international partnerships and closer relations with the private sector – a key step for implementing SDGs. The meeting then moved on to a case study on DP World and its progress in achieving SDGs locally, regionally and internationally.

On the same note, the team outlined the progress made with regards to the Global Leadership Councils for SDGs initiative, announced at the World Government Summit, where work is underway to expand these Councils.

The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals holds periodic meetings at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority’s headquarters in Dubai.

Sharing knowledge and expertise on global trends in big and open data

31 May 2017

Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and Mastercard Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Dubai-UAE, 30 May 2017

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has signed a MoU with Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry. The MoU aims to provide both parties with a strategic platform for the exchange of expertise and knowledge, especially in the areas of data and statistics, including big and open data in the UAE.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Abdullah Naser Lootah, Director General of FCSA, and Mr. Khalid Elgibali, Division President, Middle East and North Africa at Mastercard. The two parties agreed to explore various strategic opportunities to develop a joint framework aimed at enhancing capacity in the fields of data and knowledge products and services related to diverse sectors, such as retail, tourism and trade in the UAE. Furthermore, the two parties will examine and analyze purchase patterns and spend behavior, together with the identification of opportunities for the public as well as the private sectors to provide locals and residents with better services and products in view of the increasing demand for such solutions and seasons of high purchasing volumes.

H.E. Abdullah Naser Lootah pointed out: "We are constantly working to further enhance the national statistical ecosystem with all our stakeholders locally and internationally. This lies at the heart of our strategy and endeavors to enhance the UAE’s international competitiveness. I believe there is a great opportunity for the private sector to play a major role in the development of the national statistical system. We are looking forward to Mastercard’s extensive experience and innovation in the area of big and smart data."

Khalid Elgibali shared: "Mastercard has always been keen to establish effective strategic relationships and partnerships with the government sector. We are pleased to sign this MoU with a leading government institution such as the FCSA, with whom we share a common vision and goals for the greater empowerment of societies through the power of big data and by leveraging technologies that will contribute towards positive transformation in the local economy."

As part of its mandate, FCSA aims to create a world-class national statistical system by adopting global standards and expertise, and deploy advanced and innovative technological solutions. "The involvement, cooperation and collaboration of the private sector is fundamental for the success of this collaboration. We look forward to the outcomes of this partnership with Mastercard," concluded H.E. Lootah.

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“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

Highlight the strength of the Unified UAE Numbers to support the UAE’s global competitiveness journey.

Ensure the highest levels of transparency and accuracy in producing national data.

Reduce duplication and support mechanisms for integration and coordination between federal and local data-producing entities.

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

Raise statistical awareness among individuals in society through interactive visual content.

إبـــــراز قـــــوة أرقـــــام الإمـــــارات المـــــوحدة، لدعـــــم مسيـــــرتنــــــا في التنــــــافسيــــــة العــــــالميــــــة.

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.

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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

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“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

Highlight the strength of the Unified UAE Numbers to support the UAE’s global competitiveness journey.

Ensure the highest levels of transparency and accuracy in producing national data.

Reduce duplication and support mechanisms for integration and coordination between federal and local data-producing entities.

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

Raise statistical awareness among individuals in society through interactive visual content.

مبــــــادرة "رســـــــمي"

تهـــدف علامــــة اعتمــــاد "رســــمي" لـ:

إبـــــراز قـــــوة أرقـــــام الإمـــــارات المـــــوحدة، لدعـــــم مسيـــــرتنــــــا في التنــــــافسيــــــة العــــــالميــــــة.

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.