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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
- 35% reduction in the UAE’s consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) over the past decade.
- The reduction reflects the UAE’s commitment to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances.
- The UAE is among the first countries to fulfill its commitment to fully ban consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons since 2010.
The United Arab Emirates has successfully outpaced the internationally set timeline for the gradual phasing out of ozone-depleting substances, reaffirming its leading role in environmental action at both the national and global levels. The UAE has successfully banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons since 2010 and has achieved a 35% reduction in hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption over the past ten years.
Latest figures from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) highlight that the consistent progress in curbing the use of substances that harm the ozone layer reflects the UAE’s commitment to their gradual phase-out. These substances cause harm to the ozone layer, and their reductions demonstrate the UAE’s steadfast commitment to the global framework of agreements and protocols aimed at eliminating such substances within set timelines, with a complete phase-out scheduled for 2040.
The UAE has been a pioneer in supporting global efforts to protect the ozone layer, having joined the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1989, including all its amendments, such as the Kigali Amendment of 2016, which aims to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), substances that do not deplete the ozone layer but contribute to global warming.
In line with these commitments, the UAE has progressively eliminated ozone-depleting chemicals, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons such as Halon 1211, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), while initiating reductions in the use of HFCs in accordance with the Kigali Amendment.
The UAE has further enacted clear legislation regulating the trade and use of hazardous chemicals, including precise requirements for storage, transport, and safe handling, to ensure the protection of the environment and public health.
The UAE continuously collaborates with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), regularly submitting progress reports on fulfilling its international commitments, and actively participating in the global Montreal Protocol meetings, reflecting its steadfast commitment to joint global environmental action.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), baseline consumption of HCFCs under the Montreal Protocol is calculated based on the average annual production or use during a defined reference period. UAE data shows that in 2015, consumption reached 473.90 tons measured in ozone-depleting potential (ODP) terms; already below the internationally required 10% reduction from the baseline of 557.1 tons. By 2020, UAE consumption had dropped to 353.59 tons, representing a 35% decrease.
From 2021 to 2024, the UAE continued to reduce HCFCs consumption, reflecting its ongoing efforts to meet international requirements within the set global timeframe and achieve the 2025 target of 67.5% reduction, ultimately leading to the full phase-out by 2040.
The UAE has achieved a new milestone by entering the list of the world’s top 10 countries for the first time in the World Talent Ranking (WTR) 2025, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne. Among 69 global economies assessed, the UAE ranked ninth worldwide advancing eight places compared to its position last year.
In the latest edition of the report, the UAE outperformed several advanced nations in talent competitiveness, including Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Norway. This leap reflects the UAE’s pioneering position in implementing ambitious development policies, the effectiveness of its national strategies for attracting global talent and expertise, the advanced infrastructure’s readiness to support business and innovation, and its strong international appeal that has made the country a preferred destination for living, working, and investing.
According to the report, the UAE achieved a score of 77.86, securing the first place globally in five competitiveness criteria and ranking among the top 10 worldwide in 15 criteria across the main factors. The country is placed first regionally and globally in the “Readiness” factor, which measures the availability of skills and competencies in the labor market. It also ranked 12th worldwide in the “Appeal” factor, which reflects the ability to attract global talent, and moving up six places from its 2024 ranking in the “Investment and Development” factor, which measures national talent development.
UAE Leads in Global Talent Criteria
The UAE recorded exceptional progress in the 2025 report, achieving remarkable results in several sub-criteria that positioned it among the most competitive nations worldwide. The country ranked first globally in criteria such as collected personal income tax, labor force growth, international expertise, competent senior managers and student mobility inbound.
It also ranked second globally in foreign highly skilled personnel and finance skills; third globally in pupil-teacher ratio in secondary education, health infrastructure, availability of skilled labor, and graduates in sciences; fifth globally in primary and secondary education; sixth globally in apprenticeships; and eighth globally in brain drain and quality of life. These achievements underscore the UAE’s position as a global hub for talent, innovation, and competitiveness.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) stated that this achievement reflects the forward-looking vision of the UAE leadership and its commitment to building a competitive knowledge-based economy that keeps pace with global transformations. It enables both national and international talent to contribute to sustainable growth, while affirming the UAE’s readiness to meet the evolving needs of the labor market through a competitive environment capable of attracting and retaining the world’s best talent.
The FCSC further emphasized that the UAE’s entry into the world’s top 10 in the WTR for the first time highlights the resilience of its national economy, its ability to adapt to global changes, and its focus on investing in human capital. It stressed that developing national talent, attracting global expertise, and building advanced human resource systems are fundamental pillars for strengthening the country’s global competitiveness and leadership.
This milestone demonstrates the UAE’s steady progress in consolidating its status as a leading global destination for talent and expertise, guided by visionary leadership and ambitious policies aimed at building a diversified, resilient economy capable of competing on the world stage and contributing to a more sustainable and advanced global future.
The World Talent Ranking is published annually by IMD to measure countries’ ability to develop, attract, nurture, and retain talent, based on 31 criteria:17 drawn from executive opinion surveys and 14 derived from statistical data covering more than 6,000 senior executives worldwide.
The United Arab Emirates has achieved a historic milestone, with non-oil activities contributing 77.3% to the real GDP in Q1 2025. According to preliminary estimates released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), the UAE’s real GDP grew by 3.9%, year-on-year to reach AED 455 billion, while non-oil GDP surged by 5.3% to AED 352 billion, marking the highest level ever recorded in the history of the UAE. On the other hand, oil-related activities contributed 22.7% during the same period.
H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, stated that the initial figures released by FCSC reflect the robustness, resilience, and exceptional growth trajectory of the UAE’s economy, its ability to sustain extraordinary growth, and the success of the country’s holistic development model. H.E. emphasized that these results reflect investors’ confidence and the global recognition of the UAE’s business and investment ecosystem, which has become a global benchmark for advanced economic policies and pro-growth legislative frameworks.
“Guided by the vision of our wise leadership, the contribution of non-oil activities to real GDP has reached an all-time high of 77.3%; a key milestone in the history of the UAE. This reflects the momentum gained by the UAE’s economic diversification and demonstrates the effectiveness of national strategies to build a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy, fully aligned with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which aims to raise the UAE’s GDP to AED 3 trillion by the next decade,” H.E. added.
Meanwhile, H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, emphasised that these results showcase the efficiency of the UAE’s economic model and the government’s success in implementing the leadership directives to drive sustainable sectoral development. “Our relentless efforts towards economic diversification continue to drive the expansion and resilience of the national economy,” H.E. noted. “Non-oil GDP growth exceeding 5% showcases our commitment to building an advanced, technology- and innovation-enabled economy that empowers businesses and entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into thriving ventures, adding momentum to the UAE’s dynamic economic landscape,” she added.
Leading other sectors in growth during Q1 2025, the manufacturing sector has expanded by 7.7% compared to the same period in 2024. It is followed by finance, insurance, and construction at 7.0% growth each, while real estate activities rose by 6.6% and trade by 3.0%.
In terms of contribution to the UAE’s GDP, the trade sector topped the list with 15.6% of non-oil GDP, followed by finance & insurance at 14.6%, manufacturing at 13.4%, construction at 12.0%, and real estate at 7.4%.
Statistics from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) revealed exceptional growth in the UAE’s aviation sector, with the total number of passengers passing through the country’s airports exceeding one billion between 2015 and 2024. Aircraft movements, arrivals and departures combined, exceeded 6.4 million during the same period.
According to FCSC’s latest report, the UAE ranked first globally in Air Transport Quality Index and placed among the world’s top ten in five additional indicators. These achievements reflect the forward-looking vision and directives of the leadership in strengthening this vital sector, enhancing its competitiveness regionally and globally, and consolidating its role as a cornerstone of national economic growth and sustainability.
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), stated: “The outstanding results achieved by the UAE’s civil aviation sector over the past decade affirm the success of the policies, strategies, and national initiatives adopted under the wise directives of our leadership. These results not only anticipate the future but actively shape it and deliver its achievements. They reinforce the UAE’s global standing on the aviation and travel map, highlight the sector’s effective contribution to economic growth and competitiveness, and demonstrate the nation’s pioneering role in establishing an advanced, efficient, and sustainable aviation ecosystem that integrates technological innovation with the highest standards of safety and service quality.”
He added: “Our national efforts continue to focus on developing aviation infrastructure, pioneering projects, and related activities, while strengthening cooperation with partners and relevant entities at local and international levels. The aim is to provide exceptional travel experiences that enhance the UAE’s appeal to passengers and air cargo from around the world, diversify aviation services and products, build national human capital, and encourage the entry of Emirati talent into the sector alongside increased investment. These efforts align with the 10th Principle of the UAE Charter of Economic Principles, which seeks to establish the country as the world’s leading logistics hub and a central axis for global aviation, transportation, and human mobility.”
Advanced Level of Growth
For her part, H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre affirmed that the results achieved by the UAE’s aviation sector over the past decade reflect the advanced level of the industry and its associated sectors. They embody the leadership’s vision of transforming the country into a global hub and a vital link between continents.
She noted that UAE airports welcomed more than one billion passengers over the past 10 years and recorded over 6.4 million aircraft movements. The UAE’s high rankings across various global aviation competitiveness indicators are the culmination of decades of dedicated effort and continuous monitoring of this vital sector’s growth.
Global Leadership
The aviation sector’s achievements have strengthened the UAE’s competitiveness, earning it global and regional leadership across indicators measuring air transport efficiency and quality. The UAE ranked first worldwide in the Air Transport Quality Index according to the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). It also ranked third globally in both the Efficiency of Air Transport Services and Infrastructure Index and Available Seat Kilometers per week, according to the 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index by the World Economic Forum. In the same report, the UAE ranked eighth in the number of operating airlines and tenth in the number of air service agreements.
Record-Breaking Growth
Data from the FCSC showed that passenger traffic through UAE airports rose from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024, a growth rate of 28.7%. The cumulative total over the ten-year period exceeded one billion passengers (arrivals, departures, and transit). Aircraft movements increased to more than 800,000 in 2024, with the ten-year total exceeding 6.4 million.
Passenger numbers climbed from 114.8 million in 2015 to 124.3 million in 2016 marking a 8.2% growth, and then to 126.5 million in 2017 with a 1.8% growth. In 2018, they surpassed 129 million reaching a 2% growth, before slightly declining to 127.9 million in 2019 amid a global slowdown in travel. Numbers fell sharply in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with traffic dropping to 38.3 million passengers, reaching a 70% decline, the steepest in the history of global aviation.
Recovery and Expansion
The sector began to recover in 2021, with passenger numbers rising to 45.9 million (19.6% growth). In 2022, growth surged by 120%, surpassing 101 million passengers. The upward trend continued in 2023, when traffic rose 31.2% to 132.5 million passengers, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and making the UAE one of the fastest-recovering aviation markets worldwide. In 2024, passenger numbers reached 147.8 million, up 11.5% from 2023 marking a new all-time record.
Passenger Traffic by Emirate
Statistics showed that Dubai International Airport handled the majority of passengers over the past decade, with 782.2 million travelers. Abu Dhabi’s airports followed with 200.5 million, Sharjah International Airport with 101.5 million, Ras Al Khaimah Airport with over 4 million, Fujairah Airport with 118,100, and other local airports with 46,600 passengers.
Aircraft Movements
The UAE’s aviation growth also extended to aircraft traffic, with total arrivals and departures reaching 6.4 million between 2015 and 2024. This underscores the pivotal role of UAE airports as global gateways capable of accommodating ever-growing demand.
Aircraft movements increased from 739,800 in 2015 to 754,600 in 2016 reaching a 2% growth. During the pandemic, movements dropped to 331,500 in 2020 before rebounding to 428,100 in 2021 and 614,300 in 2022. In 2023, movements reached 725,600, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and rose further to over 800,000 in 2024; an unprecedented figure in the UAE’s aviation history, representing 10.4% growth year-on-year.
HE Abdullah Nasser Lootah:
- The UAE views youth not just as beneficiaries of development, but as essential partners in shaping and leading efforts towards a sustainable future.
- The nation is committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable world by 2045, guided by proactive, forward-thinking strategies.
Voices for 2045: Youth Shaping the Future session aimed to:
- Engage young participants of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum in envisioning the world beyond 2030;
- Gather youth aspirations and ideas for the 2045 XDGs Vision, a new global approach to comprehensive and sustainable development;
- Encourage youth change-makers to reflect, connect, and draw inspiration from innovative ideas for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
August 04, 2025 — As part of the UAE delegation’s participation in the United Nations Sustainable Development Forum 2025, organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted a dedicated youth session titled Voices for 2045: Youth Shaping the Future. Held at the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, the session brought together youth leaders and global change-makers, including members of the UN General Assembly’s Major Group for Children and Youth.
The session engaged young participants in envisioning the world beyond 2030 and empowered them to shape the future of sustainable development. It fostered dialogue on youth aspirations and ideas for the Extended Sustainable Development Goals (XDGs 2045), a global vision for inclusive growth introduced by the Secretariate of the National Committee on SDGs at the 2023 World Governments Summit. The platform enabled youth change-makers to share experiences, connect with peers, and exchange ideas for a more inclusive and resilient future.
Youth Empowerment
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, stated: “The UAE firmly believes that youth are not merely beneficiaries of development pathways but essential partners in shaping and leading them towards the future
He emphasized that the session reflects this philosophy by giving youth a transparent and effective platform to express their visions and challenges. HE Lootah added, “Shaping the vision of the post-2030 sustainable development agenda requires open dialogue, collective participation, and bold ideas that keep pace with global changes. It is not enough to listen to youth as inspirational voices; their visions must be treated as essential inputs in policy-making and prioritization.”
Three Main Themes
40 participants from the UN Major Group for Children and Youth contributed diverse perspectives on the ambitious XDGs 2045 vision. Discussions focused on three core themes – empathy, passion, and action – underscoring the role of youth in building a better future.
Participants responded to three key questions via an online survey, offering insights on their motivations, desired transformative changes, challenges faced, and proposed solutions to enhance youth contributions to sustainable development. Their responses underscored key priorities including empowering youth and ensuring their active involvement in policy and strategy development; strengthening international cooperation and promoting innovation; guaranteeing universal access to quality education and healthcare; and safeguarding the environment and natural resources for future generations.
The session Voices for 2045: Youth Shaping the Future reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting global efforts to achieve the SDGs and to enhancing the role of youth as key partners in the development of a more inclusive and sustainable world by 2045.
The United Nations High-Level Political Forum
The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the UN’s main platform for sustainable development matters. Since its establishment in 2012, it has played a central role in tracking and reviewing countries’ progress toward implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Delegations participating in the Forum conduct assessments of achievements made so far toward the SDGs, with in-depth reviews of five key goals: SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all; SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources; and SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
The Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP), under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, launched a Global Ideation Lab in collaboration with New York University (NYU). The Ideation Lab was held alongside the UAE delegation’s participation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City. It brought together leading experts, academics, UN officials, diplomats, policymakers, and university students to explore new prospects in government sector innovation and global cooperation.
The session drew participation from 26 ministers, experts, academics, and UN officials, including Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships, and Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Attendees also included sustainability officials and diplomats from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Paraguay, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Kingdom of Eswatini, and others. Members of the UAE delegation to the HLPF, officials from NYU’s administrative and academic bodies, and 30 students from NYU, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania also participated.
Global Ideas Sandbox
The Ideation Lab helps build a global ideas sandbox and provides a creative open space. It highlighted the developmental role of comprehensive initiatives supporting global partnerships, particularly the UAE’s GEEP, which serves as an incubator for scalable cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge sharing platform.
UAE Commitment to Expanding Partnerships
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the UAE’s knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive, leveraging contributions across sectors locally and globally. This approach provides an environment for creating innovative ideas and impactful development solutions.
“In the UAE, we have successfully built a pioneering model for international cooperation based on knowledge exchange with countries and governments, and GEEP is a crucial part of this endeavor,” Lootah said. “We are committed to involving various sectors, particularly academia, and cooperating with everyone in developing solutions to urgent global challenges, including developmental challenges, and expanding frameworks for sharing, transferring, and exchanging best government practices to help achieve sustainable development.”
He added: “The joint Global Ideation Lab between GEEP and NYU exemplifies the collaborative approach we adopt in the UAE to develop best practices that enhance readiness for present and future opportunities.”
Challenge and Solution Model
The Global Ideation Lab adopted a collaborative approach between GEEP and NYU, centered on posing challenges, linking academic insights with practical governance, and involving various stakeholders in designing partnership-based and scalable solutions.
The session outcomes contributed to aligning knowledge inputs with policy, empowering stakeholders to participate in developing innovative solutions to urgent governance challenges and accelerating progress towards the 2030 SDGs.
UN High-Level Political Forum
The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN’s central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda.
Participating delegations assess progress toward the SDGs, with this year’s forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).
The Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP), under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, convened its first international retreat as part of the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at its headquarters in New York City.
The first-of-its kind gathering reinforced the UAE’s commitment to international partnerships, bringing together global stakeholders to expand strategic collaboration and share government best practices that drive progress on the 2030 Agenda.
Held at the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to United Nations, the session showcased the UAE's advanced model in government knowledge sharing and its effectiveness in promoting institutional excellence globally.
It brought together senior representatives from governments, international organisations, and research institutions to explore multilateral and shared experiences that support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Participants exchanged ideas on expanding partnerships across sectors to achieve measurable development outcomes, aligned with this year’s HLPF theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for including everyone.”
The session reflected the UAE’s ongoing commitment to fostering government modernisation and using knowledge exchange to build more effective, sustainable, and resilient institutions.
Abdulla Lootah: UAE Strengthens Global Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, emphasised the UAE’s expanding international partnerships to accelerate SDG implementation worldwide. He noted that GEEP represents one of the nation’s key platforms for sharing best practices, driven by proactivity, innovation, and future-readiness.
H.E. Lootah highlighted that GEEP includes more than 100 work streams across key areas, including government excellence, services, accelerators, public policies, and competitiveness. He affirmed that hosting this inaugural international session reinforces the UAE's role in enabling international collaboration and directing knowledge exchange toward real impact on the 2030 UN Agenda, building a more sustainable future for all.
Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development
The session facilitated a robust dialogue between government representatives, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society, reinforcing collaboration to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 SDGs and deliver tangible contributions to the outcomes of the 2025 HLPF.
Three roundtable discussions were conducted centred on: Global Partnerships (SDG17), Safety and Security (SDG16), and Sustainable Environment (SDG14). Topics included the role of knowledge exchange in accelerating sustainable development, the importance of international cooperation for crisis resilience, and approaches to environmental protection and green transition.
The UAE delegation included leading experts, including Lt. Col. Dr. Ahmed Al Zarouni, Director of International Police Representation Department from the Ministry of Interior, and Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.
UN High-Level Political Forum
The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN’s central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda.
Participating delegations at HLPF conduct assessments of progress toward the SDGs, with this year's forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).
Dubai, October 3, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) organised a panel discussion titled “Data and Artificial Intelligence: An Active Role in Building the World’s Future” as part of the “Data for a Better Future for Humanity” series in the lead-up to the second UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah on October 22-24, 2018.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the Forum brings together high-ranking officials, prominent decision makers, and more than 1,500 experts and specialists in data and statistics from all around the world.
Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, attended the session, along with H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee; while H.E. Ohood Ali Abdullah Al Shuhail, Director-General of Ajman Digital Government; and Eng. Bashar Kilani, Region Executive, IBM Middle East, participated in an interactive discussion with officials from statistics centres, universities and youth councils around the UAE, debating how data affects the use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly with regards to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) locally and internationally.
H.E. Sarah Al Amiri asserted that the UAE, guided by the forward-thinking vision of its wise leadership, has espoused a proactive approach, tailored to the requirements of the Government of the Future and rooted in data as a fundamental component in decision making. This is in line with the UAE’s quest to establish its lead in various sectors and find solutions for all challenges, particularly those with direct impact on the lives of individuals and society.
“Data is the cornerstone of knowledge; and knowledge is the driving force behind positive change,” H.E. added. “With that in mind, the optimal utilisation of data and scientific research will play a key role in establishing a developed ecosystem that embraces advanced science and technology to upgrade key services and provide a better life and brighter future for all members of the community.”
“We, at the Office of the Minister of State for Advanced Science, prioritise data, research and statistics, which, we believe, play an immense role in ensuring the optimal use of advanced science and research, as per the objectives of the National Advanced Sciences Agenda 2031,” H.E. Al Amiri noted. “The Agenda seeks to establish a conducive environment to help achieve the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, by placing science and technology at the disposal of sectors and establishing a comprehensive database to help identify the most important challenges and create solutions to address them.”
The Minister of State for Advanced Science concluded by asserting the importance of promoting scientific research, guiding the youth, and empowering them to remain aware of advanced sciences in order to ultimately build a generation of distinguished Emirati scientists and achieve further success to reflect the best possible image of UAE youth.
For her part, H.E. Ohood Ali Abdullah Al Shuhail said: “The Ajman Government is working to build a robust database in collaboration with all Government entities and according to the Ajman 2021 vision, which, in turn, aims to achieve the UAE leadership’s vision to build a better future for our societies and coming generations.”
“Processing data through advanced technologies is fundamental for adopting artificial intelligence,” H.E. Al Shuhail continued. “With that in mind, we consider the community to be a key partner in supporting Government entities by providing the necessary data to upgrade Government operations, while the private sector’s cooperation is paramount to build a comprehensive data ecosystem that facilitates forecasting future challenges and formulating adequate solutions for them.”
“Having realised the importance of these advanced technologies early on, the UAE appointed a Minister of State for Advanced Science to the Federal Government and proceeded to work on a National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence that echoes the 2021 Advanced Science Strategy and intersects with four of its main themes in nine key sectors,” H.E. explained.
Al Shuhail noted that the Ajman Digital Government emphasises developing technological skills among young generations and to that end, it has launched a series of initiatives, collaborating with Sandooq Al Watan and other entities to launch “Emirati Coder” to train 260 students in programming and robotics. The Ajman Digital Government also collaborated with Dark Matter Group’s educational arm, Ajyal Talent Management, to introduce four new courses to the curriculum at Ajman Academy as a prelude to implementing them in schools across the emirate.
Meanwhile, Eng. Bashar Kilani began by identifying artificial intelligence as a concept, which consists of using machines to simulate human intellect, noting that the first recorded implementations of this advanced technology emerged in the 1950s and 1960s in the form of devices that analyse voices and images. With the data revolution, these technologies made their way to other areas, such as analysis, machine learning and reading.
“The successful implementation of these future technologies relies on accurate data to support decision making,” Kilani said. “Data plays a pivotal role in improving performance and customer satisfaction, increasing companies’ bottom lines, and helping employees hone their professional skills by automating repetitive tasks and allowing them to shift their focus on more important duties.”
Kilani noted that the emergence of these advanced technologies will create new jobs on the market, where two-thirds of jobs in the future are expected to be completely new, while automation and robots will take over 80% of human tasks. The IBM Region Executive cited examples where this is already happening, such as in bank transactions, self-driving vehicles and drones.
“Data is the oil of the future, and we are on the cusp of great growth in the sector and the proliferation of related professions, such as data scientist. There will be increasing demand for data scientists in engineering, data scientists in medicine, etc.” Kilani concluded. “The UAE will lead the way in utilising this data to improve performance across key sectors and maintain the UAE’s steady rise on international competitiveness indexes.”
The UN World Data Forum 2018 is the most important international gathering of data and statistics in the world. It contributes to the establishment of a scientific incubator environment to enhance the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, namely food security, health and learning.
Taking place over the course of three days, the UN World Data Forum receives support from major strategic partners, namely: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFA); the Ministry of Interior (MOI); GCC Statistical Center (GCC-STAT); the Smart Dubai Office (SDO); Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Dubai Statistics Center (DSC); DP World; Abu Dhabi Ports; Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi; Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD); Fujairah Statistics Centre; and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
- Young Emiratis to take part in an event to discuss the implementation of SDGs on the sidelines of the World Government Summit 2018.
Dubai, January 30, 2018
The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals applauded the great turnout from young Emiratis for the “SDGs in Action 2018” event, set to take place on February 10, 2018, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, in an effort to engage the youth in SDG plans and programmes.
The UAE youth join more than 300 executives from various local and international public, private and academic establishments to discuss plans, strategies and initiatives that seek to achieve sustainable development, and address key challenges facing SDGs around the world.
Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), said: “Harnessing young people’s energy and channelling it towards development plans is the key to successful sustainable progress. In line with the leadership’s wise vision to engage young people in decision making, UAE government officials are committed to encouraging young Emiratis to take part in international events of this scale, in an effort to hone their skills and build on their ideas and suggestions to address challenges and build a better future.”
“Through its National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority is committed to engaging young people in the sustainability agenda,” H.E. Al Hashemi added. “Their involvement is the fruit of the many initiatives that brought together the Authority, the Committee, and the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, announced, in February 2016, the world’s first ministry dedicated to the youth.”
H.E. Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Chairperson of the Emirates Youth Council, added: “We are delighted to be taking part in this event dedicated to the sustainable development goals, which offers opportunities to explore international best practices, exchange ideas, and build robust networks to empower the youth as they join the sustainable development efforts spanning all sectors in the UAE, the region and the world.”
“The UAE leadership prioritises investment in human resources – particularly, the youth,” H.E. Al Mazrui pointed out. “Federal and Local Government bodies have been instructed to set plans and strategies to empower the youth and prepare a generation of highly qualified professionals to carry on with the sustainable development efforts taking place across the country. This reflects our leaders’ faith in the youth, who they consider to be the engine and driving force behind sustainable development.”
“SDGs in Action 2018” is an international event that seeks to discuss pragmatic solution to achieve sustainable development, raise awareness around them among all segments of society, discuss national and international best practices in this field, open channels for effective communication between all parties involved, and extend bridges of cooperation to achieve these goals on a global scale.
Dubai, September 29, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) organised a panel discussion on “Future Food Security and the Importance of Data in Addressing Food Challenges”, part of the “Data for a Better Future for Humanity” in the lead-up to the UN World Data Forum 2018, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the Forum brings together high-ranking officials, prominent decision makers, and more than 1,500 experts and specialists in data and statistics from all around the world.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee, attended the workshop, along with a number of senior officials, including Essa Abdulrahman Al Hashemi, Head of the Food Security Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future; and Eng Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dhanhani, Director of the Development and Health Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment; in addition to executives from statistics centres across the country and several of the FCSA’s strategic partners.
“This workshop is the first in a series of seminars that introduce members of the community to the importance of data and information, and its role in the development of high quality-services that meet their aspirations and improve their quality of life,” said H.E. Lootah. “It also offers a platform for proposals and initiatives that can be presented to participants at the second UN World Data Forum, which is set to be hosted in Dubai next month and will further cement the UAE’s reputation as a massive database and a global leader in embracing innovation and data to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
For his part, Essa Abdulrahman Al Hashemi introduced the concept of food security and the UAE’s initiatives in this regard. The UAE realised early on the importance of providing safe and healthy food supplies at reasonable prices, Al Hashemi asserted, citing the projects launched by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, that have guaranteed the country’s impressive score on the Global Food Security Index today. Most notable among these projects were establishing a national food security office in Abu Dhabi and approving a national strategy and system to stock strategic food supplies.
Al-Hashemi went on to affirm that data is a key pillar in the UAE’s ambitious plan to claim the top spot on the Global Food Security Index through initiatives and projects that will incentivise the private sector and entrepreneurs to invest in agricultural projects and embrace the latest technologies in this field.
Statistics and data are at the core of any effective food security system, Al Hashemi reiterated, noting their value and role in developing efficient mechanisms to ensure sustainability and continuous improvement. The most vital of these statistics cover domestic consumption, food waste, regular and groundwater resources and ways to manage them, and crops and ways to cultivate them using modern technology.
The discussion went on to highlight the importance of keeping up with scientific innovations within the food supply chain strategy, such as genome science, water-saving and capturing techniques that use humidity, and improved seeds that increase agricultural output and food production.
On a related note, Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dhanhani underlined the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders to enhance data collection, as this will help ensure accurate nation-wide statistics. Al-Dhanhani pointed to the announcement of the Strategy for Food Diversity, which includes partners and entities working within a unified system that aims to establish a more effective mechanism to provide accurate statistical data and information. He also stressed the importance of utilising modern technology, which will also contribute to the provision of accurate data. This technology includes Blockchain which provides real data and indicators on the volume of food consumption, accelerates the process of food import and export and completes financial transactions to ensure the availability of food products in the event of natural disasters.
Al-Dhanhani added that the availability of data is one of the best ways to overcome the challenges to achieve diversity by providing indicators on the size of food production in the country, through identifying the appropriate crops to grow and their level of water consumption. This ensures the conservation of groundwater reserves and the development of the agricultural sector through better adoption. It also balances water consumption according to weather conditions, monitors consumption processes and ensures the development of agricultural, fisheries and animal sectors. The discussion was followed by interactive dialogue and a question and answer session.
The UN World Data Forum 2018 is the most important international gathering of data and statistics in the world. It contributes to the establishment of a scientific incubator environment to enhance the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, namely food security, health and learning.
The UN World Data Forum 2018 takes place October 22-24 at Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre, Dubai, supported by a number of strategic partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the GCC Statistical Centre, Dubai Statistics Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DP World, Abu Dhabi Ports, Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre, Ajman Centre for Statistics and Competitiveness, the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Media Incorporated, Emirates Airline, World Government Summit, Smart Solutions & Services Authority, EDIC Geospatial Services, and Habtoor City.
DUBAI, 22nd January, 2018 (WAM)
The UAE occupied the first regional position and the 17th international position on the Global Talent Competitiveness Index, GTCI, according to the 2018 publication issued by INSEAD.
The report is a comprehensive annual index that measures how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent, providing a unique resource for decision makers to understand the global talent competitiveness picture and develop strategies for boosting their competitiveness.
In this year’s report, the UAE advanced two positions in compared to last year’s ranking. The UAE retained its rank among the 20 best countries in the world on the index, topping GCC, Middle East and African countries
Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairwoman of Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, FCSA, expressed her pride in this achievement and thanked all government authorities and private sector companies for their co-operation in supporting the UAE’s competitiveness.
She stressed that UAE’s progress in the talent competitiveness index proves to the world the efficiency of its comprehensive development strategy, based on the directives of its wise leadership, aimed at building a knowledge-based economy, as well as its success in providing an environment that attracts talent.
Malik Al Madani, Director of the Competitiveness Strategy Department in FCSA, stressed that the UAE is harvesting the fruits of years of hard work to provide a solid infrastructure and an attractive economic and investment environment as well as establish an advanced education sector. He pointed out that all these components promote the development of human resources in the country and support its progress and international competitiveness.
Al Madani also added that the UAE achieved an exceptional performance in a number of key pillars and sub-indexes in this year’s report, after occupying the first international position in five sub-indexes including easy employment, each employee’s productivity, and international students’ attraction
The report also indicated that the UAE achieved the second international position in the strength of work relations between the government and business index, economic blocs/free zones, attracting minds and talents, and the third international position in the foreign direct investment and technology transfer and maintaining minds and talents.
This year’s report also witnessed an improvement in a number of pillars and sub-indexes as the country jumped by 13 positions compared to last year’s ranking to the first international position in the professional and technical skills pillar, measuring the availability of the required professional and technical skills in the different labour market sectors.
The UAE secured the third place internationally in attraction, which evaluates its ability to attract the best skills from outside the country, in addition to the country’s advancement of 19 levels in this year’s report in the growth axis, which measures the average growth of talent available in the country.
Al Madani said that the country is working to achieve its vision of becoming one of the best countries in the world by the UAE Centennial 2071, by focusing on future foresight, building an economy based on knowledge, creating an attracting business atmosphere, following innovation, and providing an advanced knowledge infrastructure, which supports the creation and exchange of knowledge.
The 2018 edition of GTCI includes 68 variables (65 in 2017), covering 119 countries and 90 cities (respectively 118 and 46 in 2017). This year again, GTCI scores are led by developed, high-income countries.
Switzerland maintains its number 1 position, followed by Singapore and the United States.
European countries continue to dominate the GTCI rankings, with 15 of them in the top 25.
Among the non-European countries ranking high this year, are Australia (11th), New Zealand (12th), Canada (15th), the United Arab Emirates (17th), and Japan (20th) for example.
Dubai, September 11, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) held a meeting for heads of communication from government entities and private-sector strategic partners at its headquarters, where it showcased the progress made in preparing for the second UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai in October with more than 1,500 data experts in attendance.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, kicked off the meeting by outlining the vision and objectives behind the UAE’s hosting of the UN event. H.E. Lootah welcomed the attending officials – the heads of communication from the Ministry of Interior and statistics centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, in addition to the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Smart Dubai Office (SDO) and Abu Dhabi Ports.
Participants stressed the necessity of unifying the messages coming from the various entities and aligning them with the Forum’s objectives. They went on to call for greater cooperation between heads of communication and the organising teams to ensure media coverage that is on par with the Forum’s international status and prestige, and that underlines a set of clear and concise messages on the importance of data and its role in policy- and decision-making.
The UN World Data Forum is the most prominent event of its kind in the world with a primary focus on data and statistics. With its specialised discussion panels, the event presents a platform for exploring and enhancing the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) 2030 – most notably, food security, health and education.
The three-day Forum will be held on October 22-24, 2018, at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, with support from major strategic partners, namely: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFA); the Ministry of Interior (MOI); GCC Statistical Center (GCC-STAT); the Smart Dubai Office (SDO); Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Dubai Statistics Center (DSC); DP World; Abu Dhabi Ports; Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi; Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD); Fujairah Statistics Centre; and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
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