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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The United Arab Emirates ranked first regionally in the 2023/2024 Human Development Index report issued by the United Nations Development Programme, advancing nine places in the global ranking from the previous report, to rank 17th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, ahead of countries such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, thereby attaining a prestigious status and becoming the only Arab country among the top 20 globally.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, said, "Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE government is walking with firm and ceaseless steps towards serving humanity, happiness, and welfare."
He added, "The UAE has proven its leadership at the regional level and its global excellence in the field of human development, thanks to successful policies aimed at achieving prosperity in education, health, economy, living standards, and quality of life, and to ensure sustainable development in all areas to guarantee a promising and sustainable future for future generations."
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said, "The UAE aspires to be among the best performing countries in global competitiveness reports, as competitiveness has a human and societal dimension focusing on human welfare. Under the wise leadership’s directions, we are working to establish the foundations of decent life in the country to ensure the welfare of its society."
Ahli added, "The UAE’s achievement of ranking 17th globally in the report to be among the leading countries in the field of human development is due to the combined efforts of federal and local entities in the health, education, and economic sectors, where it has topped the first place regionally over several years, advancing globally this year by nine places compared to last year. We are all continuing in the competitiveness race to achieve honourable performance for our country."
According to the report titled "Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World" this year, the UAE’s score reached 0.937, advancing from last year by 0.026 points, while Switzerland, which ranked first globally, scored 0.967. The UAE’s score in the life expectancy at birth indicator reached 79.2 years, contributing to the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (Good Health and Well-being), adopted by the United Nations member states for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The UAE’s score in the Expected Years of Schooling indicator was 17.2 years, while the Mean Years of Schooling was 12.8 years, reflecting on the fourth goal (Quality Education), while the Gross National Income per capita was 74.104 US dollars.
It is worth mentioning that the Human Development Report is issued annually by the United Nations Development Programme since 1990, and it is a composite index that reflects the well-being of peoples in the world through three dimensions (health, knowledge, and living standards), represented in four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and per capita gross national income.
The UAE delegation has recently participated in the meetings of the 55th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held in New York City. This event stands as the largest international gathering of statistics and data science experts globally, drawing the heads and directors of statistical entities and data centres from various countries. The assembly also saw participation from academics, experts, and consultants in UN bodies and international organisations.
The UAE delegation included leaders from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), and local statistics centres including the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD); Digital Dubai represented by Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment (DDSE); the Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) in Sharjah; Ajman Statistics justify; Ras Al Khaimah Statistics justify (RAKSC); and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security.
During its participation in the meetings, the delegation announced its adoption of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s decision proposal to initiate the World Population and Housing Census Programme for the year 2030. The statistical community in the country will commence work on implementing the proposal, positioning the UAE as the first in the world to incorporate this update into its international-level statistical agenda.
The delegation participated in meeting sessions and workshops, surrounding specialised activities and sessions addressing fundamental principles of official statistics, data science, open data, governance statistics, climate change statistics, integration of statistical and geospatial information, the International Comparison Program (ICP), services statistics, statistics related to aging, disaggregated data by age, demographic statistics, human development, and health statistics. Additionally, the agenda covered data and indicators related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plan.
The delegation emphasised that the practices and digital environment in the UAE have enhanced readiness and led to significant advancements in census implementation. This progress included the utilisation of artificial intelligence tools for data collection and processing, facilitated by effective partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations extend to analysing spatial data for censuses and linking them to essential services for the population, thereby enhancing overall well-being.
The UAE delegation engaged in discussions with officials from various international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). They discussed the means of exploring opportunities for collaborative efforts to enhance the measurement of foreign direct investment, aligning with the latest practices and key private standards in data collection and calculation methodologies.
The delegation also met with representatives from statistical offices in various countries, including Statistics Sweden, Statistics Austria, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France, Stats New Zealand, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the Statistics Bureau of Japan, and the Korean Statistical Information Service. The meetings aimed to exchange statistical experiences and explore opportunities for enhancing cooperation, particularly in the context of updating the United Nations big data platform for the Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, the UAE is among the four countries worldwide selected as regional headquarters for the platform.
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Head of the UAE delegation and Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, emphasised the importance of strengthening international collaboration with organisations and partners in the fields of statistics and data science. She highlighted the need for concerted international efforts to leverage big data for the betterment of societies.
Additionally, she highlighted the importance of formulating initiatives to enhance government policies and fostering innovative partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations aim to achieve the strategic goals set by the wise leadership of the UAE, enhance the well-being of communities, and underscore the necessity of working as a global community to unify efforts and design effective solutions for a better tomorrow for humanity.
The first meeting of 2024 for the UAE National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place during the "SDGs in Action Forum" at the World Governments Summit held in Dubai from February 12 to 14.
Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs, emphasised the importance of collaboration between all government bodies, and intensifying national efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, and work to support partnerships to target the UAE sustainable development agenda.
The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), who holds the role of the secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. Her Excellency appreciated the efforts of the committee members in activating various national and international projects and initiatives, which contribute to a positive impact and building a sustainable future for the next generations.
Stressing the UAE’s leadership role in the field of sustainable development at the global level, His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah said: “The committee meeting serves as a testament to the UAE’s unwavering commitment to guiding sustainable development towards a more expansive horizon. Additionally, it underscores a profound understanding of the essential role of teamwork and close collaboration between the government and private sectors, not only in shaping strategies but also in executing them effectively".
Lootah confirmed that the UAE contribution to achieving the desired progress aims to ensure that no one is left behind, through achieving sustainability at various sectors and cooperation with societies is essential to achieve the 2030 goals.
The “SDGs in Action Forum" engagements at the World Government Summit 2024 were presented during the meeting; which includes the representation of ministers, UN officials, decision makers and representatives of prominent international organizations from all over the world in 13 sessions, and more than 300 participants. The Committee also, adopted the UAE National Data Action Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to measure the progress made in data analysis at the national level and ensure its accuracy.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli said: “Recent data shows that progress towards the sustainable development goals is at the midway point and remains incomplete. Countries must intensify their efforts to enhance the availability of data concerning the 17 sustainable development goals, which aim to secure a better and more sustainable future for all. These goals are designed to tackle the global challenges confronting us."
Her Excellency added: “The availability of data on SDGs in Arab countries shows continuous improvement, with a notable 6 percent increase recorded between 2020 and 2023. According to data provided by the ESCWA organization, which has established a network of specialized technical teams to monitor completed data periodically and track achievements in real-time, there has been a significant advancement. It is noteworthy that the UAE has made remarkable strides in achieving sustainable development goals, reaching a rate of 42%, far surpassing the regional average performance of 14%, as reported by the Arab SDG Monitor by ESCWA".
His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the National Statistics and Data Sector at FCSC, emphasised the importance of the statistics and data sector in knowledge exchange, which contributes to an important economic role equivalent to oil. This shift is attributed to the utilisation of technologies like artificial intelligence and digital technology, which significantly contribute to shaping future economies. The data revolution is seen as instrumental in realising strategic goals and fostering comprehensive sustainable development plans at local, regional, and global scales.
His Excellency further stressed that big data serves as the fundamental cornerstone for maximising the potential of artificial intelligence. It plays a crucial role in empowering this cutting-edge technology to fulfil one of its most critical functions: forecasting. This process proves invaluable in data-driven strategic planning initiatives.
The National Committee on SDGs was established to execute the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at the national level. Its objectives include aligning the UAE’s priorities with those of the United Nations, as well as facilitating the exchange of experiences among local and international stakeholders and partners. This aims to broaden the pool of active participants in implementing the United Nations’ agenda for SDGs.
Ministerial Roundtable of XDGS foresees the future of the world 2030-2045, discusses international cooperation efforts to overcome challenges
As part of the World Governments Summit 2024, the XDGS Ministerial Roundtable was held on the first day of the summit to strengthen international cooperation and address growing global challenges.
Participating ministers from various fields met to set an ambitious agenda for global development and cross-border cooperation, under the theme “XDGs 2045: Navigating the Future of Our World," with the aim of stimulating concrete actions in line with global dialogue and the urgent need to strengthen sustainable development plans by following a comprehensive mechanism and a forward-looking approach to future global development.
This meeting came amid a constantly changing landscape in the twenty-first century and in light of challenges such as climate change, technological developments, and changing geopolitical dynamics, as world leaders face unprecedented challenges, which impose the need to intensify international efforts and coordinate action among countries to confront these challenges and shape the future of international cooperation.
To effectively navigate this uncertain future, leaders must first address a critical question: How can we collaboratively design a strong and just post-2030 global agenda that reflects the changing needs and aspirations of our interconnected world?
The XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable aims to set a joint and ambitious agenda to promote sustainable development, and identify practical steps to achieve these common global goals, through the exchange of experiences and ideas between ministers and government leaders, as the roundtable contributed to developing innovative and effective strategies to achieve sustainable development goals in the short and long term.
The roundtable discussions cover the XDGs 2045 “Shaping The Future of Our World" Report, which indicates the role and obligations that each country must have towards implementing the sustainable development system and standards, which were previously presented in February 2023. The United Arab Emirates activated the concept of the XDGS 2045 Ministerial Roundtable as a dedicated event at the World Governments Summit. For governments to develop radical solutions to the challenges of the unknown future the world may face and practical strategies to achieve specific goals.
The ministerial roundtable was chaired by Eng. Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Chairman of the Global Council on SDG 11, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund and Special Envoy of the United Nations for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Chairman of the Global Council on SDG 1.
Ulvi Ramiz oglu Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Dr. Heika Harmgart, Managing Director Europan Bank for Reconstruction & Development, Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UNHCR, and Bora Muzhaqi, Minister of Youth and Children of the Republic of Albania, also participated.
Suhail Al Mazrouie said: “The United Arab Emirates, through the visionary leadership, is working to solidify the country’s position as an active participant in implementing sustainable development goals through collective action with all nations worldwide, benefiting peoples and communities to achieve development goals and create a better future for all."
He added: “There isn’t much time left until the final deadline agreed upon by the international community in 2030. Promises, ideas, and visions alone are not sufficient today. Instead, the focus must be on action, implementation, and achievement. The challenges facing the world are increasing in size and complexity day by day, making it imperative to launch immediate solutions to enable governments and individuals to efficiently and effectively address the larger and more complex challenges."
"The summit serves as a platform where governments, international organizations, institutions, academia, and civil society convene to address the challenges and opportunities of the future," His Excellency emphasised. He further highlighted that the Global Governments Summit offers governments a forum to facilitate and stimulate the sharing of ideas, foster collaboration, and forge partnerships aimed at advancing the global goals beyond 2030.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the ministerial roundtable presents a significant opportunity to expand upon the discussions held during last year’s World Governments Summit, which addressed the need to develop the global development agenda for 2030, review current commitments, and analyse future opportunities.
He further added: “The commitment of the United Arab Emirates to sustainable development is at the core of the visionary leadership’s vision for the future of the country, aiming to be one of the best countries in the world. At a time when its experience in dealing with sustainable development goals has become a global benchmark to be guided by, and an inspiring practice from which many governments around the world benefit, aspiring to achieve their national sustainability agendas."
Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: “The global community must endeavor to make 2024 and the subsequent years a period of fast acceleration towards attaining the 2030 SDGs through effective public, private philanthropy partnerships, significant finance stimulus, knowledge and technology sharing and capacity development," he added.
A detailed outline of the renewed global commitment was developed as one of the most important points of discussion, as participants seek to identify effective mechanisms to ensure the commitment of countries and international organizations to achieving the set goals. Emphasis will be placed on developing specific action plans and defining responsibilities and incentives to ensure that agreed commitments are implemented effectively and comprehensively.
Through these proposed points of discussion, the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation in multiple areas. Hopes are high that this meeting will contribute to developing specific and sustainable action plans to build a better and more sustainable future for all.
It is worth noting that the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable aims to identify the practical steps that should be taken to achieve sustainable development and focus on cooperative efforts among ministers to overcome global challenges and promote sustainable development.
Source: Dubai ,The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE organized the "Sustainable Development Goals in Implementation" forum in its eighth edition, as part of the World Government Summit 2024. The forum, which was launched under the slogan "Sustainable Development Goals 2045: Paving the Way towards the Future Global Agenda", aimed to exchange best practices to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by providing a space for global dialogue in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, as it is an opportunity for world leaders to present radical solutions to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, face challenges and reshape the common future for future generations. The forum discussed global challenges by proposing innovative solutions, projects and initiatives to accelerate sustainable solutions to all major challenges in the world, including technological development, climate change, inequality, natural disasters and other challenges. Decision Makers The forum brought together world leaders, presidents, ministers, decision-makers, executives, experts and advisers from around the world in various sectors, and the forum was attended by Emine Erdogan, wife of the President of the Republic. Turkish and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Outstanding Persons in Waste Eradication and Champion of Wise Cities in Waste in the World, Levan Davičvili, First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Goals, Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Conference of the Parties COP 29, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Deveka Vidot, Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry of the Republic of Seychelles, and Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Digital Innovation of Rwanda. The forum witnessed the organization of several dialogue sessions, aimed at contributing to shaping a prosperous and equitable future for all by highlighting key themes including promoting growth and change for effective governments, climate neutrality, strengthening partnerships and data-based strategies, modern vision for development and future economies, aspirations of tomorrow’s societies, and transformations. New globalism, urbanization towards new future horizons. Emirati endeavors The forum addressed the UAE’s efforts to make the Sustainable Development Goals a global call to action to eradicate poverty, protect the environment and ensure peace and prosperity, and the key axis of these initiatives in the UAE development agenda, in line with the broader vision for a sustainable and inclusive future. "We have supported and will continue to support all initiatives aimed at protecting the land entrusted to us and ensuring that we leave it a livable heritage for future generations because with the polluted sea crashing on all our shores, with the polluted air poisoning us all, and with the severity of global warming burning us all, we cannot continue to fight our conflicts separately. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, said: "The UAE, under the directives of its wise leadership, continues to move forward towards accelerating The pace of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 at the local and global levels, and its experience and initiatives have become a global example to be followed in this field," he said, noting that the country’s efforts go beyond borders through the global partnerships adopted by the country to help countries and communities around the world, especially in less fortunate countries.
The SDG in Action Forum, organized within the World Government Summit 2024, in partnership with the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, will witness expanded dialogues aimed at paving the way towards achieving the global agenda for sustainable development.
As a part of the accompanying events of the Global Government Summit 2024, taking place in Dubai from February 12 to 14, with the participation of heads of states and governments, over 80 international and regional organizations, 120 government delegations, and a distinguished gathering of global thought leaders and experts, the forum explores major global trends in more than 110 main interactive dialogue sessions, featuring 200 global personalities. Additionally, more than 23 ministerial meetings and executive sessions with the participation of over 300 ministers are scheduled.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals emphasized that the UAE, under the wise leadership, has become a global model in sustainable development areas. He highlighted the continuous efforts of the UAE in accelerating the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (2030) on both national and global levels.
His Excellency said that the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development is reflected in the voluntary national review report presented during a special session on voluntary national reviews based on data for sustainable development goals within the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July of the previous year.
He added that the UAE continues its diligent work to support the achievement of sustainable development goals in areas such as poverty eradication, hunger elimination, and the enhancement of healthcare and community health on a global scale. This is achieved through constructive partnerships with nations and international organizations to assist communities worldwide, particularly those less fortunate. Lootah emphasized that the UAE is a major international supporter of renewable energy projects in over 70 countries.
The Forum addresses future transformations and innovative solutions to global challenges that contribute to shaping a better future for humanity. It focuses on seven core themes, including accelerating growth and change for effective governments, artificial intelligence and new future prospects, a fresh vision for development and future economies, the future of education and the aspirations of future societies, new global transformations, and urban expansion and global health priorities.
Since its launch in 2016, the SDGs in Action Forum has been a platform for promoting innovation towards achieving global goals. It discusses global challenges through innovative solutions, projects, and initiatives to expedite sustainable solutions for all major global challenges.
Through the Forum, the World Government Summit launched the SDG Activation Platform, with the aim of strengthening the focus on the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted around the world. The initiative was launched in partnership with the World Government Summit, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and a number of local and international partners, with the aim of overcoming the challenges facing countries’ work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
It’s worth noting that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE was formed by a resolution issued by the Cabinet in January 2017. The committee, chaired by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, includes the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and 13 federal government entities, all sharing responsibility for implementing sustainable development goals nationally, monitoring progress, engaging relevant stakeholders, and submitting regular reports on the country’s achievements.
Dubai (Union) – The Higher Committee for Coordinating Statistical Work at the national level had its fourth meeting at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre in Dubai; where they discussed the National Statistics Strategy plan, as part of its efforts to enhance continuous assessments of new emerging needs and improve the efficiency of the statistical system to serve development programs at both the national and international levels. The meeting was attended by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and Chairman of the Committee, H.E. Abdullah Gharib AlQemzi, Acting Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, H.E. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Digital Dubai & CEO, Dubai Data Establishment, Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of Ajman Statistics Center, Najwa Yaqoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies, and H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Director of Fujairah Statistics Center. H.E. Hanan Ahli, emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the statistical entities in the country through the exchange of knowledge and experiences and unifying standards of statistical processes. She pointed out that the upcoming action plan will prioritize designing the future statistical system and ways to improve the competitiveness of the UAE in global reports and indicators. She highlighted the importance of focusing on technical areas with a high impact on the national statistical strategy. The Committee stressed the importance of the participation of the UAE delegation in the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, in coordination with the Office of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations, as the meetings of the Committee represent an ideal opportunity to build channels of communication and fruitful cooperation with international statistical authorities. It is worth mentioning that the Higher Committee for Coordinating Statistical Work was established at the national level in 2016 as a national initiative aimed at enhancing partnership opportunities, developing mechanisms for joint work, intensifying coordination among statistical entities in areas of statistical work development, and designing policies and implementing strategies based on data supporting decision-making processes.
Dubai, July 2nd, 2019
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has recently announced the launch of the UAE Administrative Census 2020 Project.
The UAE Administrative Census 2020 Project is a vital comprehensive project that will continue until the end of December 2020. Its implementation is in cooperation with all local statistics centers and many other government entities in the UAE
While emphasizing on the importance of this Census and the importance of the data it will provide to UAE decision-makers, Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director-General, said "Launching the Unified Census 2020 Project is consistent with the directives of our wise leadership. It also aligns with the UAE government’s interest in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and formulating policies supported by data and statistics. All of these efforts are meant to achieve the prosperity and well-being of the entire United Arab Emirates.
He added, "The Administrative Census relies on a transition using administrative records and modern technology, which enables us to implement this project with high accuracy while reducing the financial investments and human efforts. This is being achieved by utilizing the recorded data available at various government entities. The recorded data form the basis, which feed the Administrative Census 2020 Project databases. The project was launched in the beginning of the second quarter of 2019 and will continue until the end of December 2020."
The census project is dedicated for counting and surveying both population and housing units. It is based on the administrative recorded data updated by government entities for achieving the pre-set development goals. This step provides an alternative to the classical Census based on households’ visits and interviews for data collection in every emirate.
For the completion of this wide-ranging project, task forces from all over the UAE will cooperate at both federal and local levels. The task forces specializations are varied and include specialized technical, administrative, media, and IT individuals to have an e-integrity of the systems and protect the confidentiality of collected data and to save it in databases ultimately.
Mohamed Hassan Ahli, Executive Director of Statistics and National Data Sector at FCSA and the General Manager of the Administrative Census 2020 Project pointed out: "The execution plan of the project is developed to implement the best and most prominent international practices, methodologies and recommendations in the digital statistical transformation process related to the data collection process in the Administrative Census 2020 project. Thus, from the very beginning, we are committed to benefit from the best international experiences in this area. A delegation, headed by FCSA and attended by a number of federal government bodies and local statistics centers, visited the statistics centers in Belgium and Austria to review the latest techniques and methods used in such kind of censuses to apply them to the Administrative Census 2020, along with the data validation mechanisms and integration of different types of data and applications that support the optimal implementation of this project.
The Census is significant because it is one of the essential sources of accurate and comprehensive population data. Its results will contribute to the provision of modern and informative databases that contribute to informed decision making, especially in light of the economic, social, and environmental developments that necessitate the implementation of a population census. Therefore, completing the current census project is in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and meets the international recommendations of the United Nations that every country should conduct a census by 2020.
This Census is essential for many important indicators and contributes to the provision of characteristics on living conditions and housing units. The project has more than 70 indicators that are based on the population and their characteristics. These indicators fall within the goals of the National Agenda, Global Competitiveness indicators, and SDGs 2030. Therefore, the sustainability of the periodic flow of population data is imperative for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development and for making informed decisions.
Quotes from the speeches of senior government officials in the federal and local government authorities on the launch of Unified Census 2020 activities:
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah stated: "The Census is a leading national project, part of the UAE’s major development plans. This government initiative aims at accelerating the development of community- households and individuals, to reach sustainable development based on accurate and timely data obtained from administrative records. It is crucial to increase investment and efforts in the preparation and development of government records and databases to provide an essential source of data to be utilized in studies and reports."
H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Kaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Energy and Industry stated, “The Administrative Census 2020 Project is of great importance and is one of the most important tools for acquiring knowledge about UAE and its geographical unity. Such an issue is necessary to facilitate implementing urban development projects and social and economic planning. This will help the UAE in developing plans for different areas such as workforce, education, health, housing, and social services to achieve prosperity and to optimize the quality of life for its citizen and residents."
H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centers and Clinics Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) said: "MOHAP is participating in the Administrative Census 2020 Project, in cooperation with FCSA recognizing its significance in providing the data necessary for calculating the UAE basic health indicators. These indicators are integral for MOHAP to develop health and prevention strategic plans to further boost the quality of health care services levels by measuring health indicators and developing appropriate health policies set to achieve the goals of the UAE Vision 2021 which aims to implement a global health system and enforcing the Sustainable Development Goals 2030
H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy underscored "The Census is an embodiment of the government’s efforts to establish a dynamic database for economic and social variables through the use of technology. This project will form the main pillar for building a central database for the indicators of the Sustainable development goals. The project methodology relies on the administrative records of government entities to automatically, systematically, and accurately obtain information, thus enhancing the confidence and credibility of the country’s data."
Eng. Aisha Al Midfa, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure Planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, stressed that the Administrative Census 2020 is channeled to achieve all national strategies designed to support and promote the indicators of Emiratis owning a house and infrastructure, besides the time of being granted the housing unit. “The project of development in UAE which would contribute to accomplishing the UAE general policies and strategies and taking decisions based on highly accurate data," she said. She indicated that the Census would serve the policy and strategy development process, determine the status and baseline of the national agenda associated with infrastructure and housing, and facilitate appropriate decision-making. The availability of timely, accurate and valuable data on individuals and their social status, housing statistics and manpower, as well as the characteristics of buildings, homes, Emirati households and the health levels of Emirati families will help making informed decisions.” he said.
H.E. Aisha Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Human Resources Policies at the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), commented: "FAHR supports this vital national project by providing FCSA and all concerned authorities with all necessary statistics and data on human resources in the federal government and local governments. This is done via the human resources e-system managed by FAHR called the Federal Government’s Human Resources Information System (Bayanati). Bayanati is a unified federal and local government database that is an important reference point for official human resource statistics in UAE, in planning the future of UAE’s human resources flawlessly and effectively."
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Hosani, Director General of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), emphasized on the importance of the Unified Census 2020 for the UAE in terms of establishing an updated national database.
He added: “The near real-time, updated information and reports provided by the UAE’s unified electronic record will direct the national, federal, and local efforts as well as resources to further enhance the level of preparedness and capacities of all government entities This will aid in successfully and effectively managing emergencies, crises, and disasters. The success of this project depends on cooperation between institutions and individuals, which will result in monitoring the well-being of individuals and society and contribute towards positioning the UAE as par with developed countries in the field of statistical data and records.”
H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Yousuf Al Suwaidi, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Statistics Center (ADSC), stated: “In light of the Abu Dhabi Government’s interest in development and its role in improving the level of well-being of the society, its commitment to extract statistical indicators that monitor the population and social changes, and its efforts exerted to analyze these indicators and make them available to the decision-makers who will use them to develop programs and policies developed to serve the best interests of the society. ADSC will be using the administrative records to identify Abu Dhabi’s population and their social and economic characteristics. The decision-makers are using these records as an alternative to the classical method of conducting censuses, i.e., to collect data from the field. Conducting this Administrative census will save time, effort and money, and contribute to conducting population census projects regular without any further delays usually experienced when conducting the traditional Census, given the rapid population changes taking place in Abu Dhabi.”
Tariq Al Janahi, Deputy Executive Director of Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) and member of the Census Higher Committee, said that this Census is a qualitative leap in the integration of government systems. "It provides a real opportunity to achieve immense added value to policies, strategies, systems, and advanced technology that the government sought to implement over the past years. It will also be a critical source of information to assist policymakers, planners, and decision-makers by providing them with up-to-date demographic data of the highest quality obtained through the least financial investment and human effort. By uniting government efforts, the UAE can become a global role model in the field of Census. .
Dr. Abdulrahman Alshayeb Alnaqbi, Chairman of the Ras Al-Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies, stated: "The Census is of great importance to the UAE as it is foundation for all efforts exerted to measure the emirates capabilities. The data and statistics collected through this Census will assist us in taking future decisions regarding the economic and social development plans. They will assist in identifying the needs of the emirates in all sectors and determine its competitive advantage. It will also assist us in identifying ways of directing budgets and channeling resources to cater for the population’s needs by providing them with basic services, including schools, hospitals, food, and factories.”
Dr. Hagar Saeed Al Hubeishi, Executive Director of the Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Center (ASCC), availed the opportunity to emphasis that the Unified Census 2020 project is one of the top priority statistical projects that ASCC seeks to implement in 2020. She went on to say "The goal of conducting this project is to support and provide high-quality coordinated statistics. This will be achieved by taking advantage of the administrative record databases of the government entities. ASCC management has expressed its keenness and readiness to implement this project. To ensure the success of the project, ASCC has formed a higher committee, a technical committee, and other specialized census teams."
Dr. Ibrahim Saad Mohamed, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, said: "Many countries, including the developed ones, tend to use administrative records for counting their population and their characteristics rather than the field surveys. Indeed, conducting censuses this way is time-saving and cost-effective."
Dr. Ibrahim drew attention to the fact that based on the UAE’s (and particularly Fujairah’s) interest in the development and its role in boosting the levels of well-being of the society, policies should have solid foundations supported by statistical figures and indicators. He added: "By taking advantage of these figures and indicators, we will be smoothly able to monitor and analyze population characteristic and social changes. They will be of great importance to the decision-makers who will use them to cater to the actual needs of the society."
Dubai, UAE – 27, May 2019
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed all government entities in the UAE to achieve the top ten in 1000 global competitiveness indicators over the coming ten years.
His Highness’ direction came during his visit to a meeting held at the Bab Al Shams Resort in Dubai today on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the beginning of competitiveness in the UAE. FCSA Board of Directors met today in the same hall from which the first government team was created to manage UAE competitiveness ten years ago.
I congratulate my brother Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed on the 10th anniversary of the beginning of our competitiveness path. We have taken the UAE to top positions in education, health, economy, innovation, security and safety. We started with a small team and an ambitious idea. Today, competitiveness is an integral part of the UAE government ecosystem"
"We are looking forward to a decade of innovative competitiveness … building upon what we have achieved in the past ten years. Today, the UAE is in the top positions in more than 300 indicators… In the next ten years, UAE will be in the top ten in more than 1,000 indicators. We have faith in our youth to achieve what our people aspire the UAE to be, the best in the world."
The FCSA team presented a summary report on list of key achievements of UAE global competitiveness over the past 10 years. The team also briefed His Highness a number of upcoming strategic initiatives in competitiveness, statistics and sustainable development goals.
His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, instructed the FCSA team to work in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. He instructed FCSA to launch an initiative to accelerate achieving advanced competitiveness positions in partnership with the executive teams of the competitiveness indicators, in order to preserve the accomplishments the UAE achieved so far.
The FCSA Board of Directors also stressed the importance of focusing on capacity building and empowering young national talent in understanding competitiveness reports and indicators. Formal training, secondments conferences, events and specialized workshops are to be utilized for enhanced capacity building in competitiveness.
The FCSA board also praised the FCSA management team’s efforts in developing and modernizing the statistical the infrastructure in the UAE, underlining the importance integrating statistical and competitiveness strategy.
FCSA board also directed the FCSA management to identify global experiences in the field of statistics and data to mark a quantum leap based on the latest technologies on the global arena, such as analytical tools for large data, the Internet of things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
"Cooperation between federal, local and private sector entities and the community is an important factor that enabled the UAE to achieve such major achievements in global competitiveness reports and indicators, and enabled UAE be in the Top Ten ranks in 311 competitive indicators," said HE Al Gergawi.
Al Gergawi stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, have become a model of excellence and leadership. Not only in the Arab world, but also globally, the UAE today leads in how government performance can be enhanced and modernized, making the UAE a destination for other governments around the world looking to enhance their own competitiveness journey"
HE Abdullah Lootah, director general of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority said, "The celebration of the 10th anniversary to launch of the global competitiveness journey is a major milestone for the country’s ongoing march towards global leadership. The cooperation we are witnessing from our government and private sector stakeholders contributed significantly in the impressive results UAE achieved today. Through these innovative partnerships, we will continuous our enhancement in legislations and procedures," added Lootah.
Journey of competitiveness achievements
he UAE’s competitiveness journey began in 2009 with a small team of seven working under the leadership of His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future. After less than 18 months of founding work, the competitiveness Team expanded in size and function. An independent governmental body representing members of its administration representing the seven emirates. After the establishment of the Emirates Competitiveness Council (ECC), HE Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation became chair of the board for nearly eight years.
Under her leadership, UAE competitiveness witnessed several important milestones such as hosting international experts and global events in competitiveness, the 3rd the Global Federation Competitiveness Councils (GFCC) forum held in Dubai in 2012.
The ECC Council also worked to strengthen bilateral relations prominent publishers of global competitiveness reports and indicators such as the World Economic Forum, Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland and The World Bank, the publisher of the Ease of Doing Business report.
In 2015, ECC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) merged to form the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), the federal agency charged with three mandates: enhancing UAE’s global competitiveness, modernizing the country’s statistical ecosystem and fulfilling UAE’s sustainable development goals.
The current board of directors includes 20 members representing a group of ministries and the local statistical center in the country.
The UAE competitiveness journey also marked a number of important achievements since the establishment of the FCSA, such as achieving the UAE’s top positions globally in 75 international competitive indices. The United Arab Emirates is among the top ten in 311 competitive indicators in 17 competitive reports monitored by the Authority. Another accomplishment that supported UAE competitiveness was the formation of the Executive Teams on Competitiveness Indicators as one of the outcomes of the competitive sessions in the UAE Annual Government Meetings, as well as the Number One Indicator Challenge project.
Dubai, 23 May 2019
In commemoration of Zayed Humanitarian Day, which falls on the 19th day of Ramadan every year, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority observed this day and noble initiative by serving 4000 healthy food parcels to labors at their work places in Dubai.
All FCSA’s staff participated in preparing food parcels comprising of a fresh meal, free from any processed or preserved ingredients to express their gratitude to laborers for their ongoing efforts in support of the UAE’s progress and development.
Abdullah Lootah, Director-General of FCSA, availed the occasion to express admiration of accentuate FCSA’s commitment to contributing on the Zayed Humanitarian Work Day in honor of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s (may God have mercy upon him)philosophy on humanitarian action. “Our founding father late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah rest his soul in peace, devised a crystal-clear approach for humanitarian work and we are definitely following his steps and honoring such a noble ongoing initiative to show appreciation and respect to our fellow human beings.”
H.E. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy:
- Happiness is the guiding gauge for sustainable development.
H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi:
- The ‘SDGs In Action’ forum reaffirms that happiness as key to the success of sustainable development.
Dubai, February 5, 2018
The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals has included happiness and positivity on the agenda for the upcoming “SDGs In Action 2018” forum, set to take place on February 10, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai.
The new addition sheds light on the role of happiness and positivity in achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region and the world. Representatives from the National Happiness and Positivity Programme are set to take part in some of the Forum’s sessions, in order to showcase the UAE’s experience, vision and strategies for spreading happiness among members of the community, and highlight the pragmatic steps taken to implement these goals.
Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Chairwoman of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) and Chairwoman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said: “Happiness and positivity are key to sustainable development in the UAE. Our country’s consistent high ranking on international happiness indices is a testament to the validity and success of our government’s policies, initiatives and services, all of which seek, first and foremost, to guarantee the wellbeing and happiness of the community. These efforts have catalysed growth in several key sectors in the UAE, boosting the country’s international competitiveness.”
“The inclusion of happiness in the Forum’s agenda adheres to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to embrace happiness as a way of life. It is an opportunity to highlight the visions and strategies adopted by the government to ensure that happiness is treated as a means to achieve sustainable development,” H.E. Al Hashimy added.
For her part, H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said: “The accelerated pace of development and prosperity in the UAE is a reflection of the legacy that our Founding Father, H.H. the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had established for us to keep moving forward, realise the vision and aspirations of our wise leadership, and implement plans and strategies to promote the happiness and wellbeing of our people. This vision closely resonates with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to make the world a better place. The UAE was one of the first nations to support this Agenda and synchronise it with our national priorities.”
“The ‘SDGs In Action 2018’ forum is an important milestone in the quest to establish the happiness of individuals as a key ingredient in the success of sustainable development efforts,” H.E. Al Roumi continued. “We are committed to building strategic partnerships and bridges of cooperation and communication with all entities involved in implementing the 2030 Agenda in the UAE, which would allow us to develop, apply and harmonise government plans, programmes and policies to support sustainable development and spread happiness.”
The forum is set to bring together 300 officials and decision makers from the government, the private sector and academic institutions from the UAE and abroad, to discuss a set of plans, strategies and initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development in the UAE and the world. Participants will also explore the challenges inhibiting growth, and the UAE’s pioneering experience and impressive developmental track record, which has caught the world’s attention.
Dubai, 16 May 2019
The brainstorming session was attended by 80 government officials along with directors and executives from national and international private companies from various sectors, including IT, banking, retail, transport, aviation, services, and other industries. The General Secretariat of National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals organized a specialized workshop with a view to promoting dialogue between the public and the private sectors on how to develop ideas, tools, and working mechanisms to achieve the 17 SDGs with a thematic focus on Goal 5 on Gender Equality.
H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, organizing addressed the workshop. "H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has already issued his directives to do the needful to move up the UAE’s position on the Gender Equality Index," she said
"To put these directives in place, we have implemented several innovative initiatives in collaboration with our partners, who are already contributing to the UAE’s journey to achieve gender balance. As a matter of fact, today’s event is meant to initiate a dialogue with the private sector and activate its role as a partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the gender balance in particular," H.E. Al Hashemi said.
Participants tackled several issues related to gender balance in the working environment of the public and private sectors. They also exchanged views and suggestions on the most critical topics, reports, and expectations of the government entities concerning laws and procedures. They also addressed the role of companies and private sector institutions in terms of implementing the policies and procedures that support creating a gender-balanced environment that guarantees achieving high level of work efficiency and productivity without any discrimination or by neglecting any aspects of prosperity and quality of life.
The workshop commenced by showcasing the UAE’s most significant initiatives and steps taken to empower women in achieving balance in participation in the development processes, while not losing sight of their role in social development.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the UAE Gender Balance Council, members of the Private Sector Advisory Committee (PSAC) reporting to the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, executives from national and international private sector companies, in addition to several FCSA’s experts and consultants.
Participants were split into six main brainstorming groups and tasked to debate various topics, including equal pay, women in leadership positions, quality and harmonization of facilities in the work environment together with other related issues. Each group presented the outputs of their brainstorming session with their suggestions and recommendations in the presence of representatives of the UAE Gender Balance Council, the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, and PSAC members.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, FCSA Director-General, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and PSAC Chairman, said: "We are so pleased to organize these joint brainstorming sessions with such outstanding participation that we observed today. I want to thank the members of the UAE Gender Balance Council and all the private sector companies for their intellectual contributions during the workshop, which stems from the depth of their experiences in the UAE. The results of the brainstorming sessions will have an impact on improving many regulations and laws dedicated to achieving greater heights in achieving gender balance."
H.E. Shamsa Saleh, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said: "Today’s workshop contributes to promoting dialogue with representatives of the private sector to work together to achieve a balance between men and women economically and socially. This includes cooperation in drafting laws, regulations, and practices, and to be the model country in the region in terms of gender balance."
Gender balance is a critical pillar in achieving progress and development across all areas and contributes to laying the foundations for the well-being and prosperity of future generations; laws and regulations play a crucial role in achieving this. For example, women’s participation in the Federal National Council (FNC) stands at 22.5%. However, with the development of laws and the enactment of new legislation, this percentage will potentially reach 50%. Achieving this percentage will give a push to the UAE’s ranking in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) jumping from 84th place to the top five countries globally.
Ahmed Al- Falasi, Executive Director of Group Operations at Emaar and member of PSAC emphasized Emaar’s commitment to Goal 5 of SDGs. He pointed out: "We, at Emaar, are committed to empowering women and improving their representation in the workplace at all levels. One example of this is the "She" strategy launched by Emaar Hospitality Group to increase the number of women in management and executive positions in the company. We are also committed to promoting gender equality as an essential foundation for tremendous new economic opportunities, which will enrich the happiness of our country and society."
Many private sector companies accepted the invitation of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals to participate in this workshop including AT Kearney, Standard Chartered, TECOM Group, DP World, ADNOC, Unilever, Jumeirah Group, Transguard Group, Green Touches, Dubai Holdings, Emirates Global Aluminum, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Al Serkal Cultural Foundation, Emaar Properties, Societe Generale, HSBC, Fitch & Co, Emirates Group / Dnata, Procter & Gamble, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Masdar, Imperial Health Care Institute, Karim, Tristar, Dubai International Airport, Strategos, S & P, Middlesex University, Dentons, Nama Women Advancement, Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) Free Zone and CTG.
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