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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Chairing the First Meeting of the FCSA Board of Directors in 2019
Dubai, 9 April 2019
Chairing the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) in 2019, H.E. Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and Chairman of the FCSA Board of Directors, acknowledged the support provided by all members of the FCSA Board of Directors to boost efforts exerted by the FCSA to further improve the UAE’s ranking in global indices and to achieve the goals of the National Agenda 2021.
He pointed out that FCSA has become a regional and global knowledge hub. “FCSA showcases the UAE model in competitive strategies, and how data, initiatives, and innovative methods in providing and disseminating data can support the design and shaping the future.”
“FCSA has become a key resource for decision-makers, officials, and experts from the UAE and abroad who desire to use statistics tools to shape the future with sights set to serve their countries and people. Data is national wealth, so we have to work hard to make use of them to build the future of our coming generations, to realize the vision and guidance of our wise leadership and rise to be among the best countries in the world.”
The FCSA team presented their proposed work plan for the current year, which includes setting up a series of specialized files focusing on a number of areas such as the impact of data on the national agenda indicators and global competitiveness reports, legislation and its role in promoting the UAE’s global competitiveness, SDGs and their relationship with the UAE Vision 2021 and the initiatives includinge race to thefuture and others.
Several projects and initiatives based on advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence were also presented. An innovative analytical tool based on geospatial information systems (GIS) was also introduced. Additionally, some innovative services such as the compilation, analysis, and classification of satellite images using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques were also introduced.
Members of the FCSA Board of Directors praised the efforts of FCSA’steam and the relevant initiatives. They recommended focusing on national and international indicators, especially those related to the National Agenda 2021. They also stressed the importance of cooperating and collaborating with the competent task forces of the federal government entities concerned with the national agenda by providing statistical data and competitive indicators in respect of each body and its terms of reference.
The meeting ended with an open discussion between members of the Board of Directors and the FCSA task team, where several ideas and proposals related to the FCSA 2019 operational plan were tackled. They underlined the importance of working together with all partners and cooperating with federal and local government agencies, private sector companies, international institutions, and society to achieve the vision of the UAE 2021.
The FCSA Board of Directors is chaired by the Minister of the Cabinet Affairs and the Future of the United Arab Emirates, and includes 18 members; namely H.E. Minister of Economy, H.E. Minister of Health and Community Protection, H.E. Minister of State for Financial Affairs, H.E. Minister of Health and Industry, H.E. Minister of Education, H.E. Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization, H.E. Minister of Community Development, H.E. Minister of State for Happiness and Quality of Life, H.E. Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, H.E. Secretary General of the Office of H.H. Minister of Interior, H.E. Acting Director General of Identity in the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, H.E. Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for National Security, H.E. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi, H.E. Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council, H.E. Director General of Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, H.E. Secretary General of the Ajman Executive Council, HE Secretary General of Umm Al Quwwain Executive Council, H.E. Director of Fujairah Emiri Diwan and H.E. Secretary General of the Ras Al Khaimah Executive Council.
- Among the top three countries in the world to be included on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.
- UAE achieves the full electronic connectivity with the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.
- The first Arab country and the second country in the world to achieve full and real-time connectivity to the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform located in New York
- Showcasing five national initiatives of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in the field of integrated waste management, air quality, wildlife, marine environment, and environmental protection development policies
- Electronic linkage and real-time update of the UAE’s international assistance data on the UN website
Al Zeyoudi: Full connectivity with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals better informs the international community of UAE’s efforts to achieve sustainability.
Al Hashemi: Sharing the UAE model of sustainability in the economic, social and environmental fields with the international community meets the directives of our wise leadership
Dubai, 30 March 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), in coordination with the General Secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, has made a remarkable step towards enhancing the UAE’s efforts to achieve SDGs. The e-integration between several government institutions in the UAE and the UN platform of data and facts related to the UAE’s initiatives and efforts catersto the goals of SDGs 2030.
The UN-led global platform, in coordination with ESRI which is a specialized company in geographic information systems and services, aims to achieve greater access to information on all activities and initiatives documented by governments to achieve the sustainable development goals. The UAE is one of the first countries to be included in this platform, which consists of five countries: The United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Ireland, the Philippines, and Mexico.
FCSA presented to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the results of the e-linking of the Ministry’s initiatives with the UN platform, upon which a section had been dedicated to the efforts, achievements, and initiatives of the UAE to achieve the Sustainability Agenda 2030.
H.E. Al Zeyoudi acclaimed this achievement and appreciated the efforts of task forces that oversaw the completion of this linkage. He said, “Achieving full connectivity with the UN SDGs strengthens the UAE’s position and global competitiveness, better informs the international community of its efforts to achieve sustainability and contributes to the achievement of the goals of the UAE Vision 2071 to be the world’s leading country in all sectors.”
He attributed the ability of the task forces to complete this achievement under the guidance of the wise leadership regarding the importance and necessity of cooperation and coordination and the joint work among all institutions of the government sector.
The UAE webpage on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform currently features 26 articles, including summaries of key sustainability initiatives, data, and studies, most notably the section of National Sustainability Initiative Presentation and Documentation. UAE is recognized as the first country in the world to add a documentation component , which constitutes a knowledge center and provides all users with the most critical aspects of the achievements and successes of institutions in the UAE.
Current initiatives include case studies in six areas: international assistance and cooperation, integrated waste management processes, air quality, wildlife, the marine environment, and the development of environmental protection policies.
Such connectivity enables the sharing of sustainability information directly from the sites of federal and local government institutions to the UN platform without the need to re-publish information or copy data, so that data updates to ensure synchronization for immediate accessibility on the UN Sustainability Information Platform.
H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairman of National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said “The objective of the UAE’s inclusion in this global platform is to meet the wise leadership’s directives to share the UAE’s model of sustainability in the economic, social and environmental fields with the international community. This helps spread knowledge, share experiences and build capacity around the world, in addition to recognizing the importance and necessity of publicizing the great efforts exerted by the federal and local government institutions as well as the private sector inside and outside the country in the field of sustainability. Our participation opens up broader horizons for dialogue with those concerned with and interested in the concept of sustainability. This ensures the continuous development of our working mechanism and the way we manage this critical global dossier.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Vice President of National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and FCSA Director-General, said: “This initiative supports the efforts exerted to keep pace with the UN 17 SDGs by providing clear data tools, which would contribute to the facilitation of planning, monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development, and to report to the United Nations Statistics Division.”
He concluded: “FCSA’s collaboration with ESRI in completing electronic connectivity with the UN platform would further support the FCSA’s capacity and enhance its planning potential in the future towards supporting sustainability at the national and global levels and achieve the 2030 Agenda goals.”
The Information Center of UAE Sustainable Development Goals can be found at http://www.sdg.org
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDGs are a set of goals defined by the United Nations, also known as Global Agenda 2030. They constitute an international call to end all forms of poverty. These goals are unique in that they call for joint actions by all poor, rich and middle-income countries to promote prosperity for their peoples while protecting the planet and preserving resources for future generations. This convention is unique because it had never happened that 193 countries affiliated to UN to agree on a long-term vision for the future of the globe. The 17 SDGs are based on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015). SDGs include four key aspects: environmental, social and economic aspects in addition to partnerships. The 2030 Agenda includes a total of 169 targets and 233 indicators.
SDGs are linked to each other and success in achieving one goal will often resolve other issues that contribute to the achievement of other SDGs. Achievement of SDGs requires collaboration and working with all partners and stakeholders in a practical way so as to make the right decisions and to improve life in a sustainable way for future generations. SDGs also provide a set of clear objectives and indicators for all countries, which can be incorporated into their national plans, with highlighting the environmental challenges facing the world. These goals are a comprehensive roadmap that provides the basic methodologies and tools for achieving the 17 SDGs by unifying nations to bring positive change to the world and to sustain the planet’s resources for future generations.
The UAE Ambassador in Washington Acknowledges FCSA’s efforts Locally and Regionally
FCSA Highly Values the Role of the UAE Diplomatic Mission in Washington in Supporting the State’s Competitiveness Efforts in Global Reports and Indicators.
New York, Dubai, 24 March 2019:
H.E. Youssef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador in Washington, received H.E. Hanan Ahli, the Executive Director of the Competitiveness Sector in the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), and the head of the UAE delegation visiting Washington D.C. to meet several representatives of the international institutions and organizations.
The UAE Ambassador welcomed the visiting delegation and highly commended FCSA’s efforts channeled to improve the performance of the UAE in the reports and indicators of global competitiveness and to support statistics and data sector.
H.E. the Ambassador discussed with the delegation different methods to boost and support the efforts of the UAE at the global level in all areas under the responsibility of the Authority. Al Otaiba praised the spirit of joint cooperation and action between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE’s diplomatic missions with the federal and local government authorities.
HE acknowledge the ongoing cooperation to serve the best interests of the UAEand enhancing international standing by achieving the vision of the wise leadership to realize the national agenda and the UAE Vision2071.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the achievements of FCSA and its partners of federal and local government institutions, in particular, the members of the executive teams concerned with the competitiveness reports, such as the Ease of Doing Business Report issued by World Bank.
A number of records were also tackled, such as hosting the world’s most important activities and events related to the statistics and data sector by the State. This included hosting the second session of the United Nations World Data Forum in October 2018 by the UAE, as an additional opportunity to meet with stakeholders and focus on how to harness data power to serve humanity.
UAE Participation in the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Statistical Commission
- Nusseibeh: Data plays a vital role in enhancing the reputation of the UAE
- Lootah: The Permanent Mission is making every effort in support of the visiting delegations
Dubai, March 9, 2019
The UAE official delegation participating in the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Statistical Commission headed by H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA), paid a courtesy visit to the UAE Permanent Mission to UN in New York.
The delegation was received by HE Ms. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE Permanent Representative to the UN. During the meeting, they discussed the role of national statistical centers in providing, making available and disseminating data, in addition to other several topics and issues of mutual interest.
H.E. Lana Nusseibeh underlined the importance of the role of data in achieving sustainable development. She stated: “Indeed, the participation of the UAE delegation in the meetings of the UN International Statistical Committee and exhibiting UAE’s efforts in this field will contribute in elevating the reputation of our dearest homeland as one of the most committed countries in consolidating the international partnership and cooperation and supporting the global sustainable development goals through innovation, global partnerships, modern technologies, artificial intelligence and other sectors that shape the future of UAE and the role of UAE future generations will play.”
H.E. Lana Nusseibeh hailed the diligent and dedicated efforts of the delegation for their contributions to the progress of UAE rank in one of the most critical global competitiveness reports and indicators.
The UAE delegation participating in the International Statistical Commission includes a number of the senior officials of the statistics and data centers in the UAE.
In his turn, H.E. Abdullah Naser Lootah, Director-General of FCSA expressed his gratitude for the outstanding role played by the Permanent Mission of UAE to UN, especially in supporting the State delegations in their official missions.
He said: “The Permanent Mission of the State at the United Nations has always been a pioneer in facilitating the tasks of official missions from the UAE with all efforts to overcome any obstacles which may be faced by any of the members of the delegation.”
The UAE delegation is participating intensely in this year’s annual meetings of the United Nations Statistical Committee, following the hosting of the United Nations World Data Forum by the State at its second session held in Dubai in October last year. The State’s hosting of this forum has a tangible impact on data experts, statistics and national competencies in the country as a result of the exchange of information, experiences and the best success stories of data and statistics.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah highlighted , during his meetings with all directors of statistics centers in the world participating in the meetings of the Statistical Committee, the importance of putting the “Dubai Declaration” into effect so that the countries of the world can continue their march towards achieving SDGs agenda in 2030.”
At the end of the meeting, H.E. Lana Nusseibeh thanked the delegation of the FCSA for visiting the headquarters of the Permanent Mission in New York and wished them success in their meetings at the fiftieth session of the International Statistical Commission in New York.
Forecasting the Vision of the Youth Role in Harnessing Future Technologies
Dubai, UAE- 28th February 2019:
As part of plan to involve young people in the activities of the Emirates Innovation Month 2019, the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA) organized a brainstorming session for young people at the Arab Youth Center in Dubai on 27 February 2019.
The brainstorming session was conceptualized to encourage the ideation of new outputs and ideas which center the main themes of the national strategy of the 4th Industrial Revolution. This was conducted in accordance with the aspirations of youth and in line with the efforts exerted by the FCSA and its partners to achieve the goals of the National Agenda and the vision of the UAE 2021.
More than 40 young talented Emiratis attended the brainstorming session from various sectors concerned with the national strategy of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The themes tackled during the session were on genetics and health care through robotics, smart and interactive cities, water and food future security, economic security and digital transaction technologies, . Topics such asestablishing a global center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, building an integrated and secure data environment and developing specialized talent and entrepreneurs were also tackled.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, the Director-General of the FCSA, applauded this unique initiative and stressed that this initiative was developed to be part of the activities of the Emirates’ month for innovation, based on the guidance of the wise leadership to encourage the role of the youth for the the future.
“Youth has a central role in the UAE’s quest to achieve its vision of being the best country in the world by 2071, the centennial of founding the UAE. TheUAE has always been proactive in launching initiatives and programs that harness the creative energies of young people and transform their passion towards technology, sustainability, obtaining knowledge, new sciences and their applications to real initiatives and programs to serve the country and drive progress.” Lootah Said.
H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al-Nathri, the Director-General of the Federal Youth Foundation, visited the brainstorming workshop and praised the efforts of FCSA in providing outstanding opportunities for young people and enabling them to present their creations that support the achievement of the goals of the national agenda. He has also thanked the team of FCSA for organizing and managing the brainstorming session.
Participants were divided into seven teams. They were selected among those who have knowledge and cognizance of this subject and among those entities, which support our national strategy. Entitiesincluded the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the Central Bank and a number of universities, such as UAE University, Khalifa University, University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Health Authority Board, Future Economic Youth Council, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Smart, Abu Dhabi Police, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (DU), ADNOC, Statistics Center-Abu Dhabi, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Department of Economic Development in Dubai and others.
At the end of the session, each of the seven teams reached a set of ideas on the key theme they worked on. The FCSA experts, in cooperation with other concerned parties, evaluated proposals and presented the best ones to the relevant officials in each body.
Malik Al Madani, the Director of Strategic and Future Department and CEO of Innovation at the FCSA, concluded the session by saying: “ FCSA is keen to take advantage of the opportunities and harness them to empower young people. The Emirates Innovation Month is no exception to this rule. Therefore, we have responded promptly to various sectors to organize interactive session with young people and involved them in presenting the ideas that the young generation can implement.”
An Innovative Model for Exploring the Future of Institutional Government Action
- Lootah: This Race Combines Exploring the Future and Turning the Culture of Innovation into Sustainable Work
- Al Madani: The Core Theme of the Race to the Future is To Be A Better Model Tomorrow Than Today
Dubai, UAE- 25 February 2019:
As part of the plan adopted by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) for the UAE Innovation Month of 2019, the FCSA innovation team organized a knowledge session on the “Race to the Future” initiative, which aims to develop a conception on how the shape and work and procedures mechanism of the Authority will be in the medium future, namely, after 6 to 10 years from today.
On this occasion, Abdulla Lootah, the Director-General of the FCSA, said: “This race combines exploring the future and turning the culture of innovation into sustainable work within institutional government work.”
He added: “Every effort by FCSA and it’s employeessee the impact on the future, and this in itself is a positive catalyst to draw and shape the future of the FCSA since today by its experts and staff. They put yesterday’s and today’s experience to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the Authority, the children of the homeland and its residents.”
Malik Al Madani, the Director of Strategic and Future Department and CEO of Innovation, has led the session and said: “Tomorrow will be better than today. This is the essence of this innovative initiative. However, its mold is the race, for its positive factors in motivation and joint action for Achieving success by teams competing among themselves and with themselves for the future of the Authority.”
Malik Al Madani explained: “The race launches in the innovation month of each year for five weeks and aims to explore the future of the Authority and its work method during the medium-term future, i.e., during the next 6 to 10 years. This is the first stop of Emirates centennial 2071, by building internal capabilities in the field of strategic planning and looking ahead, by creating an innovative tool for dealing with future, and ensuring readiness for global leadership, by relying on fostering a culture of institutional leadership and continuous improvement initiatives.”
The idea of the race is based on a previous initiative launched last year by the Authority in the name of the 50×50 Competitiveness Race, which aimed to devise a 50-speed accelerator program for the most critical competitive indicators and find solutions for them within 50 working days, within a comprehensive framework that sets the indicators of high sensitivity and significant importance which affect various sectors within the priorities of some federal and local government agencies.
Reem Al Hashimi: The Council will initiate the role and visions of young people and their ideas for building societies and sustainable development in and out of the UAE.
Shamma Al Mazroui: The Council is a unique opportunity to be involved in an experience of knowledge and acquire practical skills that qualify young people to be future leaders.
Dubai-UAE, 30 December 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has revealed that the evaluation phase of the candidates’ membership applications for the Youth Advisory Council for SDGs has been commenced.
The Youth Advisory Council for SDGs was announced that the council will be established in the presence of H.E. Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, during the United Nations Global Data Forum 2018 held last October in Dubai.
The total number of candidates’ membership applications for the Youth Council reached 610 applications from inside and outside the country. UAE nationals represented 76% of the total applicants, while other nationalities submitted 24% of the applications. Additionally, 71% of applicants are of those who have completed their studies and applied for jobs. Meanwhile, the remaining 29% of the applicants are school students. As for the applicants’ gender, the percentage of female applicants was 52% as compared to 48% of males.
H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and the Chairperson of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, expressed her pride of the youth of the UAE and their interest in the file of SDGs.
She added: “The participation of young people in the development of policies and plans is an embodiment of our leadership vision for the future of the UAE, its sons, and daughters, and its keenness that young people have a greater role and close association with everything related to sustainable economic and social development in the United Arab Emirates.”
She also stated that the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development goals will play a significant role in raising awareness about the efforts of various government agencies and private sector institutions in the country to achieve the SDGs 2030, as well as help in creating opportunities for advancing youth visions and ideas which support human and sustainable development in and outside the country.
H.E. Shamma Bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrouei, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said: “The Youth Advisory Council for SDGs is a unique opportunity to be involved in an experience of knowledge and acquire many practical skills that enable young people to become leaders of the future, and responsible for supporting the march of social and economic development in the State through achieving the SDGs 2030.”
She added: “Our wise government has invested in the energies of young people and has made taking advantage of their capacities in the process of development, progress and sustainability among its top priorities.”
She further explained: Through young people, we can harness the inherent energies and high potentials that will qualify them to participate in building the UAE and realize its vision, which is to be the best country in the world by 2071.”
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, the Vice President of the National Committee for Sustainable Development goals and the Director-General of FCSA, stated: “This Council which is concerned with the SDGs, is an interactive knowledge platform for young people. It is through this Council young people can listen to each other’s opinions and other various and versatile viewpoints from their counterparts from other nationalities and ages. The Youth will will have the opportunity to be involved in the most important contemporary issues that capture the interest of our leadership in the UAE to enhance their role in building the future of the UAE and contribute to the achievement of the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
The applications submitted by young people will be evaluated according to the criteria set by several experts and specialists in the youth files and SDGs of the FCSA.
Based on the evaluation results, the best candidates will be selected for several meetings and personal interviews, to choose 10 of them to be members of the Council.
The members of the Council will have many opportunities to participate actively in a number of events, sessions, seminars and activities in the UAE, most importantly, is the participation in preparing the agenda of conferences and events related to SDGs to be held during 2019 and 2020.
Mahra Hussein Al Ali, the Chairman of the Youth Council of the FCSA, stressed that: “We, the young people all over the world, need opportunities and constructive environments that drive innovation, creativity, and valuable work. This is certainly, what the UAE government is keen to provide us with. TheYouth Advisory Council will provide such environments and opportunities for the Youth towards achieving the SDGs.”
“Indeed, the establishment of this council is an confirmation of the leadership’s confidence in youth, their energies and potentials in promoting construction and productivity, and playing leadership roles in the country’s prosperity and development,” she stated.
It is worth mentioning that the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals marks the cooperation between the FCSA and the Federal Youth Foundation.
The members of the Council will be young people between the age of 15 to 35 years. An equal number of males and females will be selected in support of Goal 5 of SDGs on Gender Equality.
The United Arab Emirates has achieved a significant global accomplishment by entering the top 10, securing the 10th position globally in the overall ranking as one of the best countries in the world in the "World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2021," published by the world Competitiveness Center (WCC) affiliated with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
In doing so, the UAE topped the MENA Region, not only ranking first regionally the UAE surpassed leading countries globally such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan, and Belgium. This achievement is notable during a period marked by major global challenges that significantly impacted economies worldwide. The UAE managed to make significant strides in various indicators in the report.
New achievement
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the UAE’s Competitiveness Council, Mohammed Abdullah Al Garqawi, said that the UAE’s entry into the Top 10 globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021, is one of the most important global competitiveness reports, and represents a new achievement in its journey towards establishing the UAE’s position as one of the best countries World.
He added, "The country has demonstrated its exceptional ability to overcome challenges and turn them into inspiring opportunities, thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the State, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, which enhances the country’s ability to achieve positive results in various competitiveness reports and indicators, making it one of the most competitive countries in the world."
His Excellency continued, "This achievement adds to the UAE’s track record in the global competitiveness journey, keeping pace with the significant developments and the new methodology of government work witnessed by the country. It reflects the government’s aspirations for the future, embodying its strategic goals aimed at achieving further progress and prosperity on all fronts. It also reinforces the UAE’s leadership in global competitiveness indicators."
Digital Transformation
H.E. Omar Sultan AlOlama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the government of the UAE supports innovative projects that enhance the concept of innovation and reinforces strategic partnerships and digital initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
He affirmed that the new achievement of the UAE reaching the 10th position globally in the report among the best countries in this field is a result of the leadership’s vision that prioritizes a knowledge-based economy and embraces smart solutions and innovative digital initiatives among its current priorities and future plans.
He added that the UAE government adopts a policy of digital transformation that enhances the efficiency of smart platforms and contributes to the successful implementation of projects in the fields of digital economy and artificial intelligence, which positively impacts both the government and society.
Ready For The Future
In the same vein, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, Sarah AlAmiri affirmed that the government of the UAE embraces advanced technology and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies as a fundamental axis in its future-oriented directions. This reflects the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to develop an integrated technological infrastructure based on innovation and digitization, supporting the state’s efforts in preparing for the next fifty years.
Her Excellency praised the progress achieved by the UAE in the "Global Digital Competitiveness Report," securing the fifth position globally in the Technology Framework Index. She highlighted the qualitative leap in the Digital and Technological Skills Index, with the country advancing seven positions to rank 10th globally.
Vision 2021
H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar The Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, stated that the significance of the results achieved by the UAE in the "World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021" lies in the timing, aligning with the accomplishment of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’ to be among the best countries globally.
He added, ‘This result comes to confirm that, with the guidance of our leadership, we have achieved digital transformation goals in successive stages until now. This encourages us and strengthens our determination to move towards new heights and achievements in the next fifty years, God willing.
Work Style
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity of the UAE Government, that the digital transformation witnessed by the country touches all aspects of life in the state’s society. It has become a culture and a working style in the UAE government. With the technological progress in our world today, digital security has become an integral part of the national security of advanced countries. Innovation, adaptability, and the ability to renew play a crucial role in protecting digital societies and proactively addressing any cyber threats.
Al Kuwaiti affirmed that the UAE is moving steadily according to the ‘Plan 50,’ aiming to be among the best countries in the world in various sectors through insightful vision, an effective government, and the capability to flexibly and efficiently deal with future changes. This enhances its position regionally and internationally within the most competitive knowledge-based economies globally.
H.E. Hanan Ahli, acting director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, expressed her sincere thanks to the strategic partners in the federal and local government entities, national statistical centers, and private sector partners.
She emphasized that the UAE government attaches great importance to the role of effective partnerships between federal and local government entities and the private sector to support the competitiveness file.
Global Leadership In 4 Indicators
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured the top spot globally in four indicators in the report: "Cybersecurity," "Net Inflow of International Students," "Resilience of Residence Laws," and "Wireless Broadband Subscriptions."
Additionally, the country has claimed the second position worldwide in indicators such as "Availability of Global Expertise," "Presence of International Experts," and "Globalization Trends."
Furthermore, it has achieved the third position globally in indicators such as "City Management," "Companies’ Use of Big Data and Analytical Tools," and "Availability of Opportunities and Absence of Threats."
Significant Leaps by the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has made significant advancements in various indicators, making a leap of 31 positions in one go in the "Internet Users" index, securing the fourth position globally. Furthermore, it achieved a remarkable advancement of 31 positions in the "Percentage of Population with Higher Education" index, attaining the 16th position worldwide.
In addition, the country experienced a leap of 22 positions in the "Subscribers to Mobile Broadband Service" index, ranking 12th globally. It also made a notable jump of nine positions in the "Percentage of Women University Graduates with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees," securing the 10th position globally. These achievements are complemented by numerous other indicators in which the UAE has demonstrated substantial progress.
The country has consistently ranked within the top 10 globally in 25 out of the 52 indicators covered in the report.
The ‘Global Digital Competitiveness Report’ assesses the performance of 64 countries worldwide across three main pillars: Knowledge, Technology, and Future Readiness. The three main pillars are further divided into nine sub-pillars, encompassing a total of 52 indicators. The report methodology relies on 20 opinion survey indicators and 32 statistical data indicators.
UAE Leads in the Arab Region
In this year’s report, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as the top-ranking Arab country, securing the first position in all main pillars. It achieved the 5th position globally in the ‘Technology’ pillar, the 12th position globally in the ‘Future Readiness’ pillar, and experienced a significant leap of 13 positions in the ‘Knowledge’ pillar, landing at the 18th position globally.
In the nine sub-pillars of the report, the UAE claimed the top spot globally in the ‘Talent’ pillar, advancing four positions from the previous year. It secured the 2nd position globally in the ‘Regulatory Framework’ pillar and the 5th position globally in the ‘Technological Framework’ pillar.
Furthermore, the UAE made a substantial leap of 19 positions in the ‘Education and Training’ pillar, achieving the 25th position globally. It also secured the 10th position globally in two sub-pillars: ‘Workforce Flexibility’ and ‘Information Technology Integration.’
The UAE surpassed countries such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France in the overall rankings.
Chairing the First Meeting of the FCSA Board of Directors in 2019
Dubai, 9 April 2019
Chairing the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) in 2019, H.E. Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and Chairman of the FCSA Board of Directors, acknowledged the support provided by all members of the FCSA Board of Directors to boost efforts exerted by the FCSA to further improve the UAE’s ranking in global indices and to achieve the goals of the National Agenda 2021.
He pointed out that FCSA has become a regional and global knowledge hub. “FCSA showcases the UAE model in competitive strategies, and how data, initiatives, and innovative methods in providing and disseminating data can support the design and shaping the future.”
“FCSA has become a key resource for decision-makers, officials, and experts from the UAE and abroad who desire to use statistics tools to shape the future with sights set to serve their countries and people. Data is national wealth, so we have to work hard to make use of them to build the future of our coming generations, to realize the vision and guidance of our wise leadership and rise to be among the best countries in the world.”
The FCSA team presented their proposed work plan for the current year, which includes setting up a series of specialized files focusing on a number of areas such as the impact of data on the national agenda indicators and global competitiveness reports, legislation and its role in promoting the UAE’s global competitiveness, SDGs and their relationship with the UAE Vision 2021 and the initiatives includinge race to thefuture and others.
Several projects and initiatives based on advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence were also presented. An innovative analytical tool based on geospatial information systems (GIS) was also introduced. Additionally, some innovative services such as the compilation, analysis, and classification of satellite images using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques were also introduced.
Members of the FCSA Board of Directors praised the efforts of FCSA’steam and the relevant initiatives. They recommended focusing on national and international indicators, especially those related to the National Agenda 2021. They also stressed the importance of cooperating and collaborating with the competent task forces of the federal government entities concerned with the national agenda by providing statistical data and competitive indicators in respect of each body and its terms of reference.
The meeting ended with an open discussion between members of the Board of Directors and the FCSA task team, where several ideas and proposals related to the FCSA 2019 operational plan were tackled. They underlined the importance of working together with all partners and cooperating with federal and local government agencies, private sector companies, international institutions, and society to achieve the vision of the UAE 2021.
The FCSA Board of Directors is chaired by the Minister of the Cabinet Affairs and the Future of the United Arab Emirates, and includes 18 members; namely H.E. Minister of Economy, H.E. Minister of Health and Community Protection, H.E. Minister of State for Financial Affairs, H.E. Minister of Health and Industry, H.E. Minister of Education, H.E. Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization, H.E. Minister of Community Development, H.E. Minister of State for Happiness and Quality of Life, H.E. Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, H.E. Secretary General of the Office of H.H. Minister of Interior, H.E. Acting Director General of Identity in the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, H.E. Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for National Security, H.E. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi, H.E. Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council, H.E. Director General of Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, H.E. Secretary General of the Ajman Executive Council, HE Secretary General of Umm Al Quwwain Executive Council, H.E. Director of Fujairah Emiri Diwan and H.E. Secretary General of the Ras Al Khaimah Executive Council.
Dubai (Union) – The UAE has achieved a new global achievement by being among the best countries in the world in government digital transformation, to be the only Arab country in this group, in the Government Digital Maturity Report "GovTech" issued by the World Bank for the year 2021, which measures the levels of maturity of digital transformation and reliance on modern technology in conducting work in the government sector in 198 countries around the world. The report divided the countries included into 4 groups, the first of which was Group A, which included "the global leaders in government technology maturity", which included 43 countries, including the UAE, Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Britain, France, and Japan, which were ranked "very high" in the maturity of technology adopted in government digital transformation processes, as countries in this category had innovative solutions and distinguished practices. Group B includes countries that have achieved a "high" rank in government technology maturity and have large investments and good practices in government technology in most of the report’s themes, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Ireland. The third group (c) included countries whose governments have improvements in government digital transformation technology and have active efforts in digital government practices, while the fourth group (d) came to express countries with minimal focus on digital government initiatives. UAE Centennial Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA said: "The GovTech report from the World Bank represents a new milestone in the UAE’s march towards a sustainable digital future that includes both government and society, in implementation of the UAE Centennial Vision 2071, which was defined by our wise leadership. These include a forward-looking government, a diversified knowledge economy, and a more cohesive society." He added: "This achievement represents a natural reflection of the spirit of solidarity and one team that prevailed throughout the digital transformation process at the national level, including the federal and local governments as well as the private sector, and we do not forget the role of society through its active participation through digital platforms in the development of services and policies followed, which ultimately aim to achieve the highest levels of happiness for all in the UAE." Ambitious goals For her part, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said: "The UAE is proceeding thanks to the vision and directives of the wise leadership for the next fifty years with ambitious goals that foresee the future, and consolidate the culture of excellence in being at the forefront of the countries of the world at various levels, and the digital, technical and scientific excellence of the UAE is a key pillar in its development and economic process." Ahli affirmed: "The UAE’s solutions within Group A, which is ranked the highest globally in the GovTech Digital Maturity Report issued by the World Bank, are new evidence of its leadership regionally and globally in the field of government digital transformation, in addition to its rich balance in global competitiveness reports, as the country ranked first globally in 121 competitive indicators, and first in the Arab world in 496 indicators, despite the rapid transformations in the global competitiveness map and the successive developments in the global economy, which makes The UAE experience is an icon from which to inspire the countries of the region and the world in the march of global competitiveness." Discriminate global The World Bank report based its classification on four main axes: "main government systems", "public service delivery", "community participation", and "government enablers for technological transformation", and pointed to the UAE’s global excellence in all axes, under which 48 indicators fall, the UAE achieved the full mark in 31 of them, which qualified it to be in group (A) the highest in the world, which includes countries that obtained a score ranging from 0.75 to 1.00 "full mark" in The maturity of government technologies, the only Arab country to join Group A, and participated with Israel alone in the top of the Middle East and North Africa countries within the same group, achieving a score of 0.80 on the index, knowing that the global average did not exceed 0.52, while countries in other groups obtained a score of 0.74 or less. A pioneering experience The report devoted a special space to reviewing the UAE’s experience in digital transformation, and pointed out that it is one of the most mature countries in the world in the field of digital government services provided to society, and touched on its adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The National Innovation Strategy and the UAE Blockchain Strategy 2021. The report pointed out that the digital transformation strategy in the country aims to adopt advanced technologies and use them to convert 50% of government transactions at the federal level to the "blockchain" platform, and expected that government procedures in Dubai will become completely paperless by the end of 2021, which leads to the dispensation of more than one billion papers that were used in government transactions every year. The report concluded by presenting the UAE’s experience by detailing the results obtained in the four axes, and the indicators in which it excelled to exceed global averages, as the country won 0.60 in the "main government systems", noting that the global average is 0.48. The UAE achieved 0.92 in the "Providing Public Services" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.61, and it won 0.88 in the "community participation" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.46, and the country achieved 0.79 in the axis of "government enablers for technological transformation", while the global average was 0.53. It is worth noting that the World Bank’s GovTech Digital Maturity Report is the most comprehensive measure For digital transformation in the government sector, as it highlights the most important practices for designing digital transformation projects in the world.
- Among the top three countries in the world to be included on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.
- UAE achieves the full electronic connectivity with the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.
- The first Arab country and the second country in the world to achieve full and real-time connectivity to the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform located in New York
- Showcasing five national initiatives of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in the field of integrated waste management, air quality, wildlife, marine environment, and environmental protection development policies
- Electronic linkage and real-time update of the UAE’s international assistance data on the UN website
Al Zeyoudi: Full connectivity with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals better informs the international community of UAE’s efforts to achieve sustainability.
Al Hashemi: Sharing the UAE model of sustainability in the economic, social and environmental fields with the international community meets the directives of our wise leadership
Dubai, 30 March 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), in coordination with the General Secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, has made a remarkable step towards enhancing the UAE’s efforts to achieve SDGs. The e-integration between several government institutions in the UAE and the UN platform of data and facts related to the UAE’s initiatives and efforts catersto the goals of SDGs 2030.
The UN-led global platform, in coordination with ESRI which is a specialized company in geographic information systems and services, aims to achieve greater access to information on all activities and initiatives documented by governments to achieve the sustainable development goals. The UAE is one of the first countries to be included in this platform, which consists of five countries: The United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Ireland, the Philippines, and Mexico.
FCSA presented to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the results of the e-linking of the Ministry’s initiatives with the UN platform, upon which a section had been dedicated to the efforts, achievements, and initiatives of the UAE to achieve the Sustainability Agenda 2030.
H.E. Al Zeyoudi acclaimed this achievement and appreciated the efforts of task forces that oversaw the completion of this linkage. He said, “Achieving full connectivity with the UN SDGs strengthens the UAE’s position and global competitiveness, better informs the international community of its efforts to achieve sustainability and contributes to the achievement of the goals of the UAE Vision 2071 to be the world’s leading country in all sectors.”
He attributed the ability of the task forces to complete this achievement under the guidance of the wise leadership regarding the importance and necessity of cooperation and coordination and the joint work among all institutions of the government sector.
The UAE webpage on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform currently features 26 articles, including summaries of key sustainability initiatives, data, and studies, most notably the section of National Sustainability Initiative Presentation and Documentation. UAE is recognized as the first country in the world to add a documentation component , which constitutes a knowledge center and provides all users with the most critical aspects of the achievements and successes of institutions in the UAE.
Current initiatives include case studies in six areas: international assistance and cooperation, integrated waste management processes, air quality, wildlife, the marine environment, and the development of environmental protection policies.
Such connectivity enables the sharing of sustainability information directly from the sites of federal and local government institutions to the UN platform without the need to re-publish information or copy data, so that data updates to ensure synchronization for immediate accessibility on the UN Sustainability Information Platform.
H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairman of National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said “The objective of the UAE’s inclusion in this global platform is to meet the wise leadership’s directives to share the UAE’s model of sustainability in the economic, social and environmental fields with the international community. This helps spread knowledge, share experiences and build capacity around the world, in addition to recognizing the importance and necessity of publicizing the great efforts exerted by the federal and local government institutions as well as the private sector inside and outside the country in the field of sustainability. Our participation opens up broader horizons for dialogue with those concerned with and interested in the concept of sustainability. This ensures the continuous development of our working mechanism and the way we manage this critical global dossier.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Vice President of National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and FCSA Director-General, said: “This initiative supports the efforts exerted to keep pace with the UN 17 SDGs by providing clear data tools, which would contribute to the facilitation of planning, monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development, and to report to the United Nations Statistics Division.”
He concluded: “FCSA’s collaboration with ESRI in completing electronic connectivity with the UN platform would further support the FCSA’s capacity and enhance its planning potential in the future towards supporting sustainability at the national and global levels and achieve the 2030 Agenda goals.”
The Information Center of UAE Sustainable Development Goals can be found at http://www.sdg.org
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDGs are a set of goals defined by the United Nations, also known as Global Agenda 2030. They constitute an international call to end all forms of poverty. These goals are unique in that they call for joint actions by all poor, rich and middle-income countries to promote prosperity for their peoples while protecting the planet and preserving resources for future generations. This convention is unique because it had never happened that 193 countries affiliated to UN to agree on a long-term vision for the future of the globe. The 17 SDGs are based on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015). SDGs include four key aspects: environmental, social and economic aspects in addition to partnerships. The 2030 Agenda includes a total of 169 targets and 233 indicators.
SDGs are linked to each other and success in achieving one goal will often resolve other issues that contribute to the achievement of other SDGs. Achievement of SDGs requires collaboration and working with all partners and stakeholders in a practical way so as to make the right decisions and to improve life in a sustainable way for future generations. SDGs also provide a set of clear objectives and indicators for all countries, which can be incorporated into their national plans, with highlighting the environmental challenges facing the world. These goals are a comprehensive roadmap that provides the basic methodologies and tools for achieving the 17 SDGs by unifying nations to bring positive change to the world and to sustain the planet’s resources for future generations.
The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals has launched its second report on sustainability initiatives in the UAE’s private sector, titled “Data Sharing Plans between Public and Private Sectors.” This is part of the committee’s efforts to accelerate achievements of Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE by highlighting partnerships between the public and private sectors in statistical data exchange.
The new report, prepared in collaboration between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) on SDGs, and Kearney Consulting, was announced during a conference held by the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals specifically for the report’s release. Dialogue sessions were also conducted during the conference to discuss ways to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the country through data exchange partnerships between the public and private sectors.
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated: “The government of the UAE recognizes the importance of data and its representation as a real asset for future governments, considering it one of the most important tools in developing government services. Therefore, we work under the directives of wise leadership to develop an innovative system for government work based on data and artificial intelligence. This system aims to enhance efficiency levels by harnessing artificial intelligence and data in various vital sectors. It focuses on enhancing integration between the government and private sectors in designing and implementing initiatives and projects aimed at building a better future.”
He further added that the world’s ongoing changes present significant challenges for governments, requiring high efficiency in decision-making and ensuring the continuity of their operations, especially in vital sectors. The government of the UAE has provided a unique model in adapting to these changes through strategic initiatives and government programs, particularly in supporting vital sectors in the country. These sectors have benefited from advanced digital and technological infrastructure, emphasizing the government’s investment in their development and utilization to achieve sustainable development goals and the country’s directions for the next fifty years.
Partnerships
The report provides comprehensive studies focusing on the importance of building partnerships and collaboration between the government and private sectors in the areas of data sharing. It addresses companies’ concerns regarding data sharing and ways to overcome them, emphasizing the importance of respecting privacy in data sharing operations and ensuring complete confidentiality. This involves not disclosing private data and limiting its use to support decision-making and design strategic initiatives that enhance societal well-being. Additionally, the report highlights the significance of supporting national statistical data with insights from the private sector, contributing to the development of initiatives and ideas aimed at improving overall performance to achieve sustainable development goals.
During her speech at the conference, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, representing the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, welcomed the attendees and thanked all parties that contributed to the report. She emphasized the importance of partnership between the government and private sectors in the field of data exchange.
She stated, “Partnership between the public and private sectors is one of the goals that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals is committed to achieving, and the process of exchanging and sharing data is one of the most essential elements of that partnership. Governments can adapt to global changes and launch initiatives and plans based on visions that reflect the requirements of both the public and private sectors. The government of the UAE spares no effort to effectively enhance partnership with the private sector and support the exchange of statistical data within a national framework that overcomes challenges.”
Changes
The report mentions that, in a time marked by numerous and rapid economic, social, and technological changes globally, the importance of partnerships between government and private entities and their joint efforts toward achieving progress and sustainable prosperity for societies become evident. Through successful initiatives and experiences covered in the report, the United Arab Emirates has become a global model in governing the implementation of sustainable development goals and harnessing innovative partnerships in the field of data exchange between the public and private sectors.
Huda Bouhamed, Chief Marketing Officer at Dubai Holding and Deputy Chair of PSAC, commented, “Amid the efforts made by the UAE to achieve sustainable development and economic diversification, commitment to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 remains a government priority. Here, the role of the private sector comes as a pivotal supporter of the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, with data sharing being a highly important area that can contribute to this. While most available data belongs to the private sector, enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial within these efforts. The research paper we revealed today proposes a framework to overcome current obstacles, identifies facilitators of successful data sharing, and offers recommendations to help us move forward in achieving the desired sustainable development goals.”
Data
Rudolph Lohmeyer, Partner and Head of the National Transformation Institute at Kearney, stated, “The government’s interest in the private sector is growing more significantly, and the perception of it has shifted as a key player in achieving sustainable development goals, especially regarding data production. Data has become immensely valuable due to digital transformation and increasing technological advancements, turning data into an invaluable asset. Through collaboration between the public and private sectors in the field of data exchange, the UAE possesses outstanding performance in achieving sustainable development goals, and it can enhance this performance.”
Study
The report includes a study of programs and initiatives supporting sustainability launched by 12 private sector entities within the Advisory Council. These encompass diverse sectors such as renewable energy, real estate development, retail, aviation, land and maritime transport services. They have contributed to supporting the country’s efforts in promoting a culture of sustainability in the private sector and advancing towards achieving the 2030 Global Sustainability Agenda.
The report concludes with recommendations to enhance and expand data sharing between the public and private sectors to achieve further progress and accomplishments related to sustainable development goals. The full version of the report can be accessed by visiting the website of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre at fcsc.gov.ae.
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