Media Center
DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Dubai, 11 July 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has recently announced the launch of the "Manual of Desk Review and Audit of National Statistics Surveys Data."
The manual is a standard guide specializing in setting the limits essential for controlling the phase of the desk audit of the national statistical surveys data. This step aims to establish and spread the culture of knowledge-transfer adopted and implemented by FCSA as an element essential for developing the task forces’ efficiency and improving the quality of data in the UAE.
Noora Ali, Director of the Methodologies Department at the Statistics Sector of FCSA stated: "The process of creating statistical assets including the human and information components is one of the most important goals that FCSA is striving to achieve with sights set to build up the national statistical system."
"The FCSA team is committed to adopting the best international recommendations and practices for producing accurate and up-to-date statistical data that meet the needs of local, regional, and international institutions. Additionally, the team is taking advantage of data that could be used in planning, constructing and sustainable development on a scientific basis and a modern vision," she added.
In this context, FCSA regularly publishes several specialized standards guides, in cooperation with its strategic partners, particularly the local statistics centers. By publishing these guides, FCSA aims to govern the statistical work system and standardize all methodologies, classifications, and standards put in place to produce statistical data in the UAE by FCSA, local statistics centers or any other relevant institutions to ensure their quality, consistency, and comparability. Copies of these methodologies are available on the methodologies portal at the FCSA official website (www.fcsa.gov.ae.)
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.”
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.
Cooperation with FCSA and Statistics Centers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Dubai, 5 May 2019
Having completed the requirements of the UAE Accredited Field Researcher License (AFRL) training program, 92 students from the Sociology Department enrolled in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) got their licenses in a special ceremony held at FCSA premises. The training course was conducted in cooperation between FCSA, Statistics Center- Abu Dhabi (SCAD) and the Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) last April 2019.
The students were honored in a special recognition ceremony attended by H.E. Dr. Ateeq Al Mansouri, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the UAEU, H.E. Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics Sector at FCSA, along with a number of faculty members, trainers, program coordinators, and students.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, Director General of the FCSA, highlighted the significance of data by saying: “Data is the key pillar for the process of decision-making, and the heart of strategies and future innovations, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and space exploration. Data is our national wealth, and we have to work hard to put data to optimal use to build our future and the future of the generations to come.”
He added: “We will find no onebetter than our sons and daughters to be entrusted with this strategic national wealth. Indeed, with the support we receive from the UAEU and the statistics centers in the UAE, and with cooperation with our society members, the UAE students will be fully able to play their role in supporting the national development process and achieving the vision and directives of our wise leadership and be one of the best countries in the world.”
H.E. Rashid Lahej Nasser Saeed Al Mansouri, Chairman of SCAD, said: “This initiative is a quantum leap to further enrich the national statistical and competitiveness work in the UAE. Statistics field requires creative human resources enjoying qualities of skillfulness, accuracy, intelligence, loyalty, and objectivity. Today, the UAEU students are joining the field teams who are committed to keep their promises they made, to meet the responsibilities they bore and to fulfill the obligations they have been entrusted upon by our wise leadership.”
H.E. Arif Obaid Al Muhairi, Executive Director of DSC, pointed out that the discipline of statistics is continually evolving with innovativestatistical products thatare rapidly accelerating in pace and diversity in application.
Al Muhairi emphasized on the importance of training programs in statistics by saying: “As a result of the variety of issues and phenomenas that are subjected to research, measurement, and evaluation, it is a must to have well-trained Emiratis who are able to keep pace with such rapid developments. Through offering training programs to our competent human resources and qualifying them to get certified in AFRL, these competent filed researchers will have the chance to join field teams who are monumental in conducting the most important stage of statistical surveys by collecting accurate and safe data.”
H.E. Dr. Ateeq Al Mansouri highlighted the significance of such initiatives in preparing students to be distinguished in their respective disciplines, productive in their communities and capable of improving their professional skills.
Dr. Al Mansouri highly appreciated the efforts exerted by the FCSA, SCAD, and DSC for providing support to the UAEU’s students. He also stressed the importance of this kind of training which links the outputs of education with the requirements of the society by equipping these students with the knowledge and skills they need.
Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of UAEU, Dr. Aqil Kazim, highly hailed the ongoing cooperation with the Department of Sociology which allowed the students to acquire applied skills in collecting data and conducting interviews while conducting social researches and be qualified to get their AFRL certificates.
He went on to say: “Training is one of the most important factors taken into consideration while preparing preparing students to join the labor market., Our department works closely with leading institutions in the UAE to provide various practical training programs, linking academic and theoretical studies with practical training experience.
92 female students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences were trained at the UAE University after attending a series of theoretical lectures and workshops followed by various tests.
During the one-week qualifying program, participants were introduced to various aspects of the statistical fieldwork in the UAE, data collection methodologies, types of questionnaires and surveys, techniques used for collecting responses, types of forms, data privacy protection in addition to several other topics relevant to statistics fieldwork.
The team in charge of this initiative pointed highlighted the long-term vision aiming at expanding the program through a series of practical steps, actions, and incentives to encourage competent Emirati students to join and experience this the journey of field statistics in the UAE.
Paris– Dubai, 1 May, 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) participated in the meetings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the Middle East and Africa held in the French capital, Paris. The critical issues tackled by the participants were centered around statistics conducted in the member states.
FCSA received an invitation extended by OECD to attend the meetings and submit a working paper related to statistics. FCSA accepted the invitation and an official delegation headed by H.E. Abdullah Lootah, Director- General of FCSA, accompanied by a number of statistics and data experts and specialists attended.
In his presentation on the UAE model of the statistics sector management, H.E. Lootah shed a spotlight on how statistical work serves the process of managing the national competitiveness strategy and distinct initiatives to achieve the SDGs 2030.
“Participation in the meetings of the OECD in Paris was an important opportunity to bring before the member states the UAE’s experience in linking statistics and data with competitiveness and the SDGs,” said Lootah.
“These high-level meetings shape the economic tendencies in the future, for they are an essential element in presenting the experiences of member states and taking advantage of the successful ones. The participating delegates highly appreciated the experience of the UAE as a role model for the developed countries. The UAE methodology is based on harnessing advanced technologies and data collection and data analysis to support the efforts of the UAE for improving its level on the global competitiveness indicators, on the one hand, and for supporting national initiatives gearing towards achieving the UAE sustainable development agenda,” Lootah added.
These remarks were made during the speech of the Director-General delivered at the fourth session held under the theme of “Statistics and Global Competitiveness.”
In his speech, the Director-General talked the Global Value Chains (GVC) and using the advanced statistical tools for overcoming the various challenges and for drawing upon the available expertise and skills.
Furthermore, participants discussed the importance and advantages of trade in services, which is now growing in importance due to the extensive use of the internet and digital payment platforms around the world. This makes the trade in services an open market to the global competition where survival will be only for innovative services and products of high specialty if they meet local needs.
During his keynote speech at the 2019 Global Summit, José Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the OECD, highly acclaimed the UAE’s economic growth. He also hailed the big projects implemented for making the UAE society happy, particularly the infrastructure and housing projects, and projects related to environment, human development and community development which all aim at providing services and ensuring all means of comfort, stability, and decent life for all the segments and nationalities living in the UAE society.
H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and President of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, said that since its inception, the UAE has placed sustainable development at the heart of its plans and strategies to ensure prosperity and development, noting the importance of cooperation between all parties, integrating the government and private sectors and strengthening partnership with the community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This came during her Excellency’s participation in the meeting of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals held under the umbrella of the Sustainability Wing of Expo 2020 Dubai in the presence of H.E. Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), and government officials from the members of the National Committee for SDGs. During which the most important initiatives and steps taken by the members of the Committee were reviewed to ensure that the achievement of the goals in the UAE is strengthened and future efforts and plans are discussed in this regard.
Initiatives
H.E. Reem Al Hashimy said that the UAE government under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, is keen to be at the forefront of active contributors globally in launching initiatives to assist human communities in achieving sustainable development goals. This is based on His Highness’s vision that shaping the future is not merely impromptu decisions, but rather strategic plans based on knowledge and clear objectives grounded in analytical data and accurate realistic information.
She said: “What distinguishes our meeting today is that we meet in this unique place “Expo 2020” in the heart of the UAE sustainability wing at Expo 2020 to link the vision of the past to the efforts of the present and the aspirations of the future and start the “decade of work” in conjunction with the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals.”
Her Excellency stated, “The participating government entities in the committee contribute to enhancing the country’s efforts in supporting sustainable development goals by highlighting the most prominent efforts and initiatives implemented both locally and internationally. The global partnerships adopted by the United Arab Emirates to assist countries and communities worldwide, through the facilitations and logistical support services provided by the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the medical and food aid extended to various countries, all align with sustainable development goals such as eradicating hunger, combating poverty, providing good health, and other objectives.”
She commended the efforts of the committee members and their keenness to achieve the sustainable development goals in the country at the local, regional and international levels, stressing that the Sustainable Development Goals before they be a global approach and a UN agenda are essentially a humanitarian task to improve societies and promote human life, which is the basis of development projects in societies, pointing out that the Sustainable Development Goals represent a large and important part of Expo 2020, where this international event represents an unprecedented opportunity for the world to ensure a sustainable future and bring about change. Positive and looking forward to new prospects in the field of sustainability in the UAE and the world.
She praised the efforts of the committee members and their commitment to achieving sustainable development goals in the country at the local, regional, and international levels. She affirmed that sustainable development goals, before being a global approach and a UN agenda, are fundamentally a humanitarian mission to uplift societies and enhance human life, which is the foundation of development projects in communities. She pointed out that sustainable development goals are a significant and integral part of Expo 2020, where this international event represents an unprecedented opportunity for the world to ensure a sustainable future, create positive change, and envision new horizons in the field of sustainability at the level of the United Arab Emirates and the world.
Her Excellency highlighted that the UAE has made significant strides in the realm of sustainable development. International institutions closely monitoring the country’s performance in various competitive indicators associated with sustainable development have recognized its achievements. The UAE excelled globally in 97 competitive indicators related to sustainable development goals and secured a position among the top ten in 268 other indicators. In its pursuit of regional and international leadership, the government has been actively working to attain the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, there is a concerted effort to foster partnerships between the government and private sectors to make sustainable development a top community priority in the UAE.
She stated, “Integrated data provided by government and private entities play a crucial role in enhancing the UAE’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals across various vital sectors. This includes the development of innovative initiatives and making informed decisions based on accurate data.” She emphasized the importance of leveraging the global platform of Expo 2020 and the international events and activities it hosts. This platform serves as an opportunity to showcase the successful experience of the UAE in achieving these goals to the world.
Competitive
The participants in the meeting reviewed the performance of the UAE in major global competitiveness reports, which include indicators related to sustainable development goals. Committee members also discussed the importance of providing open data through official platforms, emphasizing its contribution to achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing the country’s performance in the Open Data Inventory report. They also delved into mechanisms for identifying priority statistical indicators related to sustainable development goals and their alignment with the timeline for measuring indicators of sustainable development goals.
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.
Dubai, Dec. 8 (WAM) – The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years, during this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing its sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the Uzbekistan Economic Forum, organized by the government of Uzbekistan in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
The delegation’s participation comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the experiences of the UAE government.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
She expressed her pride in sharing the UAE government model and highlighting its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years. During this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the "Economic Achievements and Future Prospects of Uzbekistan" forum, organized by the Uzbek government in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
This participation is part of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the UAE government’s experience.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ahli expressed her pride in sharing the exceptional UAE government model and shedding light on its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
It’s worth noting that the strategic partnership agreement in government modernization between the UAE government and the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed two years ago, aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and successful experiences in governmental work across various areas, including governmental accelerators, excellence, quality, services, smart applications, performance, government innovation, leadership programs, capacity building, programming, the future of education and the economy, global competitiveness, and business ease, among others, with the goal of positively impacting the development of Uzbekistan’s governmental system.
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.
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