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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The number of air quality monitoring stations operating across the UAE reached 57 in 2024, marking a 46% increase over the past decade, compared to 55 stations in 2023, according to the latest data issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
Of the total stations, 32 stations (56%) are located within populated areas, ensuring continuous monitoring of air quality in residential communities across the country.
Data from all monitoring stations indicate that the average concentrations of key air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) remained low compared to previous years and within the limits set by the UAE National Air Quality Standards.
Air quality remains a national priority for the UAE, given its direct impact on public health and quality of life. The UAE Government has embedded air quality as a key performance indicator (KPI) under the “We the UAE 2031” Vision and the UAE Centennial 2071 Strategy, both of which aim to promote social wellbeing and a sustainable economy. In addition, air quality is one of the eight core policy priorities within the National Environmental Agenda led by MOCCAE.
According to FCSC data on the geographic distribution of monitoring stations in 2024, Abu Dhabi recorded the highest number with 21 stations (37%), followed by Dubai with 14 stations (25%), Ajman with 7 stations (12%), Fujairah with 6 stations (11%), Ras Al Khaimah with 4 stations (7%), Sharjah with 3 stations (5%), and Umm Al Quwain with 2 stations (3%).
In terms of functional distribution, residential areas account for 56% of all stations to ensure comprehensive coverage of inhabited regions, followed by roadside locations at 23%, industrial and commercial areas at 14%, while the remaining stations are distributed across other locations in the UAE.
Air quality monitoring stations play a vital role in detecting substances released into the atmosphere, directly or indirectly which may alter air composition in ways harmful to human health, living organisms, natural resources, or populated areas. The stations provide accurate daily, monthly, and annual measurements of major air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, and inhalable particulate matter.
The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in cooperation with United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), has launched the SDGs Research Program during an event held at the university’s campus in Al Ain. The event was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs, and H.E. Prof. Ahmed Al Raeesi, Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, along with a number of faculty members and students.
The launch of the program comes as part of the national efforts aimed at strengthening the contribution of higher education institutions to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and consolidating the role of scientific research in developing practical and innovative solutions that contribute to achieving the 2030 Global Agenda, in line with the UAE’s future vision of building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
Abdulla Lootah: Enhancing scientific research is a key tool for development and decision-making
During his address at the event, H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah affirmed that the cooperation between the National Committee on SDGs and UAEU represents a national model for integration between government entities and academic institutions. He stressed that the SDGs Research Program embodies, in its objectives and orientations, the UAE’s vision and the focus of its wise leadership on enhancing scientific research as a key tool for development and for supporting decision-making processes. H.E. further reaffirmed the commitment to empowering youth and researchers to become partners in developing practical solutions that advance the achievement of the SDGs.
Lootah added that the program serves as a national platformthat brings together academic thought and government expertise within a distinguished learning and research model that enables the transformation of research output into initiatives and policies that enhance the UAE’s standing in global indicators and support its position as a hub for sustainable knowledge.
Ahmed Al Raeesi: A milestone in the university’s journey towards research leadership
For his part, H.E. Prof. Ahmed Al Raeesi, Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, stateden that the launch of this program marks a new milestone in the university’s journey towards research leadership. He said: “At UAEU, we are pleased to be an active part of the national efforts to achieve the SDGs. Our aim today is to empower youth to be effective contributors to shaping the future, and to integrate sustainability thinking into education and scientific research to generate knowledge that provides practical solutions to the challenges of our time, from climate change to sustainable cities and clean energy.”
H.E. added that the program reflects the fruitful partnership between academic institutions and government entities, noting that the UAE has made sustainability a national priority through field action and effective partnerships. The program further strengthens the university’s position as a leading national research institution and an academic partner supporting the country’s journey towards achieving the 2030 Global Agenda.
Development of applied scientific research
The program focuses on encouraging students to develop applied scientific research across multiple fields, including climate, energy, environment, health, education, and economic growth, in addition to enhancing their skills in research, analysis, and the development of sustainable scientific solutions.
It also seeks to activate academic and institutional partnerships within an integrated national ecosystem that supports the transformation of research outputs into practical initiatives contributing to the development of public policies and the achievement of the desired societal impact.
The cooperation between the National Committee and UAEU represents a practical embodiment of SDG 17, which focuses on partnerships for the goals, as efforts are integrated to build a new generation of researchers capable of keeping pace with global challenges and developing qualitative solutions that serve people and the environment. The launch of the program reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting the education and scientific research ecosystem as a fundamental pillar for achieving comprehensive development, and to strengthening its position as a regional and global hub for knowledge and innovation in sustainability fields.
Majed Al Mesmar: These achievements reflect the UAE’s steady progress towards global leadership.
Hanan Ahli: The results reflect the UAE’s leading position in digital transformation regionally and globally.
The UAE has ranked 9th globally and 1st in the region in the World Digital Competitiveness Report 2025 issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The ranking strengthens the UAE’s position among the world’s top 10 digital performers, reaffirming its regional leadership and outperforming several advanced global economies. It also underscores the UAE’s ability to keep pace with rapid technological shifts and to build a fully integrated digital development model driven by innovation, artificial intelligence, and human capital.
His Excellency Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) stated that “The UAE ranking 9th globally in the 2025 Digital Competitiveness Report is a testament to the efficiency of its digital ecosystem and the maturity of its technological infrastructure across both government and economic sectors. It further highlights the UAE’s position as a global role model in building a comprehensive, resilient, and secure digital infrastructure capable of accelerating innovation and promoting the UAE’s economic competitiveness.”
“In our view, this is the result of the integrated institutional collaboration between public and private sector entities working together to enhance digital performance and sustain progress. This achievement reflects the UAE’s steadfast path toward global leadership, where digital transformation has become a national way of life; enhancing wellbeing and driving sustainable economic growth,” H.E. added.
Hanan Ahli: Results reflect the UAE’s forward-looking vision
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), stated that the UAE’s ratings in the World Digital Competitiveness Report highlight the exceptional progress in digital transformation both regionally and globally. “The UAE’s success reflects the effectiveness of national strategies and policies aimed at building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy by empowering national talents, enhancing technical skills, and preparing future generations to thrive in the digital era,” H.E. noted. “These results further strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global model in digital transformation, fostering a knowledge-driven environment, creatingsustainable opportunities for future generations andbuilding a society grounded in innovation, knowledgeand future sciences,” she added.
Global Leadership in Key Indicators
The UAE ranked 1st globally in key indicators, including internet usage, high-speed connectivity, venture capital availability, public-private partnerships, and digital skills. It also ranked 1st globally in attracting international students and global expertise. In addition, the UAE ranked among the world’s top 5 in 15 indicators and top 10 in 22 indicators, reflecting the depth and inclusiveness of its digital advancement across all sectors.
Sustained Growth in Digital Competitiveness
“The report revealed that the UAE advanced to 9th place globally, up from 18th in the first edition of the report in 2017, marking a consistent upward trajectory in digital competitiveness and highlighting the maturity of its national digital environment and proactive policy framework.”The UAE also maintained its leading regional position, remaining the only country in the Middle East among the global top 10 in digital competitiveness.
Future-Ready and Tech-Driven
According to the report, the UAE ranked 5th globally in Future Readiness, reflecting its high capacity to adopt emerging technologies and develop advanced digital ecosystems. It also ranked 6th globally in the Technology pillar, supported by robust digital infrastructure and extensive investments in advanced technologies and government digital services. In the Knowledge pillar, the UAE ranked 12th globally, underscoring the strength of its education system and national talent development initiatives.
Despite global economic and geopolitical shifts and disruptions to technology supply chains, the report noted that the UAE successfully sustained its digital momentum; reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s most resilient and innovation-friendly digital economies.
For the first time, the report included data on artificial intelligence patents and private-sector investments in AI, in which the UAE ranked 1st regionally, reflecting the ambitions of its National AI Strategy 2031 and its commitment to a knowledge-driven, innovation-based economy.
These results align with the UAE’s strategic national visions, including the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, and the Digital Government Strategy, along with key national initiatives such as 1 Million Arab Coders, Advanced Research Laboratories, and National Talent Upskilling Programs.
A Global Model for Digital Transformation
The UAE’s ongoing development reaffirms its position as a world leader in digital transformation and future economy, embodying the wise leadership’s vision to build a competitive, innovation-driven, and knowledge-based national ecosystem that fosters sustainable growth and empowers future-ready generations.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the UAE Statistics Mural, a major exhibit at the Statistics Exhibition organised by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre as part of the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The exhibition showcases the UAE’s journey in numbers since the launch of its federal institutions from the 1970s until present.
The mural presents a timeline from the 1970s onward, chronicling the UAE’s key strategic and statistical achievements in each decade. The journey begins in the 70s, when statistics work started and culminated in the nation’s first population census in 1975. This pivotal event established a national framework for planning and modern state-building, transforming numbers into an essential tool to chart the course for development.
The timeline continues to the 2020-2030 decade, highlighting the critical transition into the future. This decade is defined by the shift towards smart transformation and comprehensive digitisation through a smart, integrated statistical ecosystem capable of predictive analysis and guiding data-driven policy.
This era represents a fundamental evolution from traditional fieldwork to smart statistics, transforming data into a power that actively shapes the future.
Organised under the theme ‘50 Years of UAE Statistics’, the exhibition showcases a series of statistics reports and groups that date from the establishment of the Ministry of Planning through to the launch of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.
The exhibition also showcases statistics indicators across various vital sectors, the latest release of the Unified UAE Numbers report, and a video documenting the UAE’s first census and other relevant milestones.
UAE – 06 November 2025: The UAE Government has launched the Unified UAE Numbers, the comprehensive national platform dedicated to AI-powered data and statistics aimed at providing accurate, real-time and trusted data to support decision making and drive the UAE’s readiness for future shifts. The launch took place at the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025.
The Unified UAE Numbers platform is being developed in partnership between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCSC) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and in coordination with relevant federal and local entities. The platform will be hosted on the UAE Government Federal Network (FedNet) to ensure maximum security.
The platform is an outcome of the Economic Data Retreat, where extensive discussions focused on strengthening the national statistics system, its governance, and data exchange between entities. It will create a unified, smart national ecosystem that enhances the quality and reliability of national data, driving the UAE’s transformation toward smart statistics.
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade said: “This day marks our transition from a phase of compiling data to one of managing knowledge. From traditional statistics to smart statistics. This strategic transformation is embodied by the Unified UAE Numbers platform, which opens new horizons for decision makers to harness the power of data to drive development, national economy’s competitiveness and the UAE’s global status.”
His Excellency Al Zeyoudi added: “This platform shows how the UAE’s statistics ecosystem has matured to become capable of providing accurate, trusted and real-time data to help read economic trends and guide policies and investments. Ultimately it will strengthen the UAE’s ability to respond to global shifts and shape the future of vital sectors.”
Her Excellency Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State, General Secretary of the UAE Cabinet and General Supervisor of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said: “The launch of the Unified UAE Numbers platform embodies our leadership’s vision for a future government driven by data and AI. This platform represents a major step in the government’s digital transformation, fostering a unified approach and empowering entities to make swift, precise decisions backed by trusted, real-time data.”
Her Excellency Al Hammadi added: “By establishing a smart national statistics infrastructure, we are building a foundation to inform public policy, bolster the UAE’s competitiveness, and accelerate economic growth across all sectors.”
Her Excellency pointed out that the platform is an outcome of the Economic Data Retreat, which brought together 28 national entities in the first phase to establish 380 economic indicators and lay out a unified framework for GDP data, as well as balance of payment and investment.
She highlighted the essential role of data in formulating policy, setting priorities, measuring impact, and monitoring performance, noting that ultimately, this platform ensures that governance is data-driven, thereby strengthening the UAE’s readiness for AI adoption, achieving seamless integration of national databases, and creating an agile regulatory environment that champions both innovation and sustainability.
The UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 hosted the Economic Data Retreat, a specialised strategic retreat which aims to formulate advanced national approaches to managing economic data, as well as enhancing the UAE’s readiness to keep up with rapid global shifts in AI, digital transformation and big data.
The retreat, which hosted three different sessions, brought together ministers and heads of economic, regulatory, financial and tech entities, as well as representatives of Digital Transformation Councils from across the UAE.
Strategic importance
The Economic Data Retreat is strategically timed to underscore the importance of creating a smart, integrated ecosystem of national data, capable of keeping up with global shifts and enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness in digital economy, investment and data-driven planning. The retreat is a key step toward establishing the UAE’s leadership in adopting smart policies, utilising data as a strategic decision-making tool, achieving sustainable development and enhancing the nation’s future readiness.
Unified procurement of big data
The first session titled ‘The Unified Procurement of Big Data: Standardising Federal and Local Contracts’, was led by His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.
The session discussed the pivotal role of big data in supporting policies and decision making, and highlighted the need to increase the efficiency of the government data procurement system to improve data quality and accuracy, facilitate secure data exchange among entities and ensure its effective utilisation to support future plans and national policies.
Participants emphasised that launching a unified national model to coordinate government procurement of big data is a strategic step toward identifying federal and local data needs, and unifying procurement efforts on a national level, leading to reduced costs, increased efficiency and accelerated data access.
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hussaini explained that the UAE government, guided by its leadership, is prioritising big data as a cornerstone of the nation’s competitive and digital economy future. He noted that the goal is to build an integrated, real-time national economic data system. This system will provide decision-makers across all sectors with a reliable, instant flow of data, which is key to accelerating smart developmental planning and enabling effective public policies.
Integrating investment data
The second session, titled ‘National Integration of Inbound and Outbound Investment Data’, was led by His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment.
The session discussed the importance of creating an integrated national system for investment data that contributes to increased data accuracy and reliability, while supporting the UAE’s ability to measure the economic and social impact of investments.
His Excellency Mohamed Alsuwaidi said: “In a highly competitive world vying for quality capital, the UAE continues to solidify its status as a leading global destination for investment, while focusing on measuring investment impact in terms of creating jobs, transferring knowledge and supporting vital sectors. Such efforts help promote sustainable development and underscore the competitiveness of our national economy.”
Smart statistics system
The third session, titled ‘Toward a Unified Smart National Statistics System’ was led by Her Excellency Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State, Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet and the General Supervisor of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).
The session discussed challenges facing the national statistics system, and how to ensure the integration and readiness of data sources and their governance standards cohesion.
The session also discussed plans toward establishing a unified smart national statistics system and approving the development of a regulatory policies package. Such measures help enhance the reliability of national data, and support the accelerated adoption of AI in planning and general policy making.
Her Excellency Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi said: “Building a unified smart national statistics system is essential for transforming the availability and integration of data in real time to bolster the UAE’s competitiveness and accelerate its development plans.”
She added: “The Economic Data Retreat reflects the UAE Government’s vision for advancing to the next phase of statistics integration by developing innovative policies, ensuring that national data is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible to support decision making and future foresight.”
The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in cooperation with the Government Experience Exchange Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals Academy, has launched the “2030 SDGs Leaders Program”, aimed at empowering national, regional and global government leaders with modern tools, expertise and skills in leading efforts to achieve the SDGs.
The program seeks to enable participating leaders to integrate sustainable development principles into government strategies by developing future leadership skills, strengthening strategic thinking, and building capacities in international cooperation and partnerships for sustainable development. This will enhance integration among government entities and contribute to improving institutional performance.
Implemented under the supervision of experts from the UAE Government, the program includes knowledge visits to leading government entities, workshops and interviews with 17 Emirati experts. It brings together 32 government leaders from 14 countries, including 13 international participants and 19 participants from the UAE, representing senior leadership levels such as ministers, directors-general and undersecretaries. Among them are a minister from the Republic of Maldives, an assistant minister from the Republic of Serbia, and an assistant undersecretary from the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Abdulla Lootah: Strengthening the UAE’s position as a Global Hub for Experience in Sustainable Development
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, affirmed that the launch of the “2030 SDGs Leaders Program” comes as part of the UAE’s efforts to support the achievement of the SDGs nationally and globally, thereby strengthening its position as a global hub for experience exchange in the field of sustainable development and in support of the 2030 Global Agenda.
Lootah stated that the program represents a practical platform for developing national and global competencies concerned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, through interactive sessions and applied workshops that enhance thinking in the design and implementation of sustainable initiatives and projects; and support the building of impactful partnerships between government and international sectors in the fields of development, environment and society.
Jeffrey Sachs: Supporting government leaders to address major challenges
For his part, Jeffrey Sachs, President of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), said: “The SDGs Leaders Program helps support government leaders in addressing the major challenges of our time. Achieving sustainable development requires leaders who think systemically, plan effectively, and build trust across borders and sectors. This program in the UAE strengthens these capacities and builds a generation of leaders who will achieve SDGs and work towards a more peaceful and prosperous world. The SDG Academy of the United Nations SDSN is honored to support the UAE Government Experience Exchange Office and the UAE National Committee on SDGs in this distinguished program.”
Sustainable development and future leadership
In its first track, the program featured intensive dialogue and interactive sessions over five days, addressing key pillars of sustainable development and future leadership. The first and second days focused on leading transformation and governance for systemic change through presentations, case studies and thinking labs aimed at developing leadership capacities, strengthening institutional integration and expanding the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.
The sessions also focused on innovation, financing and strategic partnerships, and on anticipating the future of development through digital transformation and the 2045 XDGs Agenda. Leaders participated in workshops, field visits and dialogues to develop national directions and transform visions into practical steps that support the continuity of collective action towards a more sustainable future. The program included specialized sessions, workshops and policy acceleration labs, as well as visits to the Museum of the Future; the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park; and the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI), to explore innovative models in governance, sustainable energy and digital transformation.
National and global participation
Participants from the UAE included government leaders from: the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; Ministry of Health and Prevention; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Community Empowerment; UAE Gender Balance Council; Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood; Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) ; Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi; Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi; Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai (RTA); and Dubai Municipality.
International participants represented: Republic of Seychelles; Republic of Maldives; Republic of Uzbekistan; Republic of Azerbaijan; Kingdom of Bahrain; Republic of Georgia; Romania; Montenegro; Republic of Rwanda; Hungary; Republic of Kazakhstan; Republic of Kenya; and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The SDG Academy, the program’s academic partner, supports the design of content and provides specialized educational resources. As an educational initiative of the UNSDSN, it brings together global experts in poverty reduction, climate action, gender equality and policy innovation.
Government Experience Exchange
The UAE government launched the Government Experience Exchange Programme to transfer best government practices and expertise to countries and to enhance cooperation in government modernization and development. Since its launch in 2018, the programme has successfully established partnerships with dozens of countries worldwide, aimed at building institutional capacities and improving government performance through experience exchange in strategic planning, government excellence and leadership in government services, in addition to implementing strategic initiatives and building institutional capacities.
The National Committee
The National Committee on SDGs undertakes key tasks including coordinating with relevant entities to align and review policies, strategies and national targets with the SDGS; building and strengthening national capacities to achieve the SDGs and address challenges through local and international partnerships; preparing national reports on the country’s results and efforts to achieve the SDGs; and coordinating with entities to prepare and publish SDG-related data at the national level.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) in the UAE government has launched a new strategic partnership with the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partnership was formalized during the UAE delegation’s participation in the Saudi Statistics Forum 2025 which aims to strengthen institutional collaboration in the field of statistics and data. The key goals include sharing best practices, enhancing the quality of national data in accordance with international standards, and supporting decision-makers with reliable data that informs policy and benefits society.
The MoU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Signing parties included Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nahyan bin Saif: Cooperation Reflects Deep Relations and Emphasizes Support for Sustainable Development
His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, affirmed that the partnership reflects deep fraternal relations between the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthen cooperation in vital areas contributing to sustainable development and future vision based on innovation and data.
Hanan Ahli: Strengthening Regional Leadership in Data-Driven Development
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli stated, “The cooperation represents a significant step towards strengthening regional leadership in data-driven development, reflecting our joint commitment to promoting statistical excellence, enhancing innovation, and building a future where development relies on the power of data to serve our nations, region, and the world.”
Fahad Abdullah Al-Dosari: Supporting Experience Exchange in Statistical Work Areas
His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation between statistical institutions in areas of knowledge exchange, experiences and success stories.
Dr. Fahad Al-Dosari also stated “We are pleased to sign this MoU, which will strengthen the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices between our two institutions, advancing the region’s statistical capabilities and cooperation.”
International Statistical Methodologies and Practices Session
As part of the UAE delegation’s participation in the accompanying events of the Saudi Statistics Forum, H.E. Hanan Ahli participated in a panel discussion titled “International Statistical Methodologies and Practices,” highlighting the importance of statistical governance mechanisms amid the rapid transformations in the world of data.
Hanan Ahli highlighted the need for innovative governance models that ensure coordination between government and private entities, protect data integrity, and guarantee its quality and accessibility. She emphasized the UAE’s proactive approach, reflected in initiatives such as the “Data Index,” which empowers government entities to lead in data quality and governance. This approach enhances the UAE’s leadership role in the international statistical community, particularly as a member of the UN Statistical Commission for the 2025–2028 term.
H.E. further showcased the model of statistical governance in the UAE under its federal system, represented by the ‘Data Index’ initiative, one of the most important national initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of government data. The initiative focuses on empowering government entities rather than merely fulfilling their role as a primary data source for statistical entities. This underscores the importance of governance as a fundamental element in the success of coordination frameworks between various federal and local entities, supporting the provision of timely and accurate data directly benefiting decision-makers.
Knowledge Visit
The UAE delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT) headquarters, where they explored best practices in statistical governance, data analytics, and the integration of advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning in policymaking. The visit showed Saudi Arabia’s progress in digital transformation.
The UAE has maintained its leading regional position among countries with “very high human development” advancing 11 places globally, according to the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), compared to the 2021/2022 report.
The UAE now ranks 15th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, surpassing countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Korea. It is the only Arab country among the top 20 nations, reaffirming its commitment to a development vision that prioritizes people’s wellbeing at the heart of its national policies. This is achieved through an integrated approach that supports key sectors such as health, education, and standard of living, establishing the UAE as a global model for sustainability, human capital development, and inclusive progress, building a future based on opportunities and empowerment.
According to this year’s report titled “A matter of choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” the UAE achieved a score of 0.94. Based on the report’s four main indicators, the UAE’s life expectancy at birth reached 82.9 years, aligning with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) “good health and well-being”. The expected years of schooling reached 15.6 years, with an average of 13 years of schooling, reflecting the fourth SDG goal “quality education”. The Gross National Income (GNI) per capita amounted to $71,142, reflecting to the eighth SDG goal “decent work and economic growth”.
AbdulRahman Al Owais: People’s Health at the Core of UAE’s Development Priorities
His Excellency AbdulRahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that people’s health is at the core of the UAE’s development priorities. He emphasized, “The UAE’s leading position in the 2025 Human Development Index reflects our steadfast commitment to providing an integrated healthcare system, adopting medical innovation, enhancing prevention, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services, achieving the UAE’s vision of building a healthy and sustainable future for generations.”
Sarah Al Amiri: Investing in Education is Investing in Humanity
For her part, Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said, “Investing in education is investing in humanity a principle the UAE has upheld since its founding, through flexible educational policies that address global challenges and prepare future generations to compete and innovate. The UAE does not adopt a conventional educational system but invests in thoughtful Emirati minds armed with knowledge, qualified to lead a flourishing future in the era of AI and cognitive transformation.”
Hanan Ahli: Human-Centric Plans and Policies
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), stated that the UAE has established a unique development model that places people at the center of all plans and policies, relying on healthcare, education, and innovation as pillars for a prosperous and comprehensive future. She pointed out that progress in the HDI report affirms that the UAE’s development policies are proactive and data-driven, prioritizing not only economic growth but also wellbeing, enhancing its position as a global leader in sustainable development.
UAE Ranks Third Globally for Net AI Talent Migration The HDI Report highlighted AI tools and their growing impact on human development pathways, amidst slowing development progress and widening gaps between high and low-development countries. It emphasized the need for adaptive, human-focused policies that place health, education, and standard of living at the core of national strategies, recognizing human capital as the key to navigating the digital transformation era.
The report further showed that the UAE recorded the third highest global net migration rate through the LinkedIn platform for AI skills in 2023, underscoring its ability to attract world-class expertise and its status as a global hub for future skills. It further clarified that high-income countries like the UAE achieve net gains in specialized skills, while low to medium-income countries face losses, indicating the dominance of advanced economies in attracting and retaining expertise. It calls for building a collaborative economy where humans and AI work in tandem, focusing on empowering individuals with knowledge and technology to enhance their capabilities and skills, ensuring comprehensive, sustainable development and a prosperous future for all.
The HDI Report has been published annually by the UNDP since 1990, the Human Development Index is a composite measure that evaluates the quality of life in societies worldwide through three main dimensions: health, education, and standard of living, including four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per capita.
The UAE has achieved a new qualitative milestone that reflects its global leadership in adopting the principles of digital government and open data. The country ranked 10th globally in the 2024/2025 Open Data Inventory (ODIN) report, issued by Open Data Watch (ODW), surpassing major countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the United States. The report, released biennially by ODIN, evaluates the comprehensiveness and openness of data published on the national statistical offices’ websites in 197 countries, covering vital sectors including economic, financial, social, and environmental statistics, making it one of the leading specialized global reports.
The report ranks countries based on 64 indicators that measure the availability and accessibility of statistical data shared through official open data platforms. It assesses whether countries meet international standards of openness, including criteria such as machine-readability without restrictions, availability of descriptive metadata, and broad geographic coverage.
The UAE ranked first globally in several indicators, including Money and Banking, Food Security and Nutrition, and the Price Index and Inflation, in which the country advanced 45 places. The UAE also ranked second globally in International Trade and Education Outcomes, with a notable leap of 54 places, in addition to strong performance in indicators related to environment, health, and gender statistics.
Majed Al Mesmar: UAE Enhances its Position as a Global Knowledge-Based Decision-Making Platform
His Excellency Engineer Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), said: “This achievement reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to an ambitious futuristic vision integrating digital policies with comprehensive development efforts, by establishing a robust digital infrastructure based on open data as a tool for community empowerment, enhancing global competitiveness, and fostering an innovation culture built on data.” He added that the UAE strengthens its position as a global platform for knowledge-based decision-making and a leader in comprehensive digital transformation regionally and globally. This achievement also reflects the empowering role played by TDRA in strengthening the country’s digital readiness through developing legislative and regulatory frameworks, supporting national policies on open data, and providing digital infrastructure to ensure integration among government entities, solidifying the UAE position as a global reference in adopting concepts of digital government, transparency, and data-driven innovation.
Hanan Ahli: UAE’s Progress Embodies a Leading Model for the Government of the Future
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), affirmed that the UAE’s progress in the ODIN Report 2024/2025 embodies a pioneering model for the government of the future, based on transparency, openness, and utilizing data as a strategic tool to drive comprehensive development.
She stated, “This achievement represents the foresighted vision of the UAE and continuous investment in building a flexible and advanced statistical system based on digital readiness, contributing to strengthening the country’s global competitiveness, supporting key directions in enhancing integration between government entities, contributing to future planning in various vital sectors, policy development, enhancing community participation, and solidifying the UAE’s position as a leading model in adopting concepts of digital government and open data.”
Open Data
Open data refers to publicly accessible data and statistics that can be used, reused, distributed, and shared freely by individuals and organizations. Governments worldwide provide such data online without restrictions to access. In the current report, the UAE scored 92 points for openness and 74 points in data coverage, resulting in an overall score of 84 points in the report.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) continues its strategic efforts to support to support the UAE government’s data ecosystem and implement data governance mechanisms across federal entities in the UAE, enhancing transparency and efficiency in government data management. In this context, the Centre organized a specialized session titled “Government Best Practices in Data Governance ,” with the participation of several leading federal entities in data management. This session is part of the “Data Index” initiatives launched by the UAE government last year under the Data and Digital Government pillar within the “Ada’a” Government Performance Systemaligns with global best practices in statistics and data management. Its aim is to enhance government performance efficiency and mature data in federal entities.
The session witnessed active participation from over 100 data officials representing 35 federal entities. During the session, various federal entities such as Central Bank of the UAE; Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); as well as Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE), presented their pioneering experiences in data governance and management. This included highlighting data policies and alignment mechanisms with national and international standards, ultimately contributing to greater efficiency in data management and more effective support for decision-makers. The session served as a platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing national capabilities in adopting advanced models in statistics and data, aligning with the UAE’s aspirations in digital transformation, and supporting a culture of continuous development and innovation in data management to strengthen institutional integration and empower data officials to play leading roles in shaping the future of government data and statistics.
His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Sciences Sector at FCSC, emphasized the significance of the session as a milestone in the development efforts of the national “Data Index,” providing an opportunity to review achievements of federal entities, discuss key challenges, and anticipate future trends to activate the role of data and statistics in enhancing evidence-based policy-making to serve the public good.
He added, “The ‘Data Index’ reflects the UAE government’s commitment to establish principles of governance and management of government data within advanced regulatory and scientific frameworks, enhancing the country’s position as a global hub in the digital field. The ‘Data Index’ is a key driver in supporting a smart and integrated digital government environment, enabling federal entities to employ data as an effective strategic tool to enhance decision-making and achieve the ambitious developmental agenda of the country.”
Omran Al Shamsi, Director of Labour Market Information at MOHRE, stated that the fundamentals of data governance represent the primary pillar towards enabling digital transformation and decision-making. He added that the ministry has adopted a comprehensive framework for data governance based on international standards like the DAMA framework, including clear policies and standards to define, ensure accuracy, quality, and confidentiality of data, as well as distributing roles and responsibilities among data owners, service providers, and end-users to ensure accountability and transparency at every stage of the data lifecycle.
Al Shamsi highlighted that classifying data according to its sensitivity level – whether it is open, confidential, sensitive, or prohibited – is a crucial part of protecting information and ensuring responsible use. He clarified that the ministry relies on a clear matrix of data access permissions. This approach reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing a data culture and providing an institutional environment based on smart governance to improve services and labor market policies in the country.
He also pointed out that “Data Governance” is not merely a technical project but a cultural change that requires institutional commitment at the highest levels. He added that institutions investing seriously in data governance are better equipped to make strategic decisions based on accurate and reliable data. The presentation concluded with practical recommendations to establish a successful data governance framework, including clearly defining data owners and tools for data documentation and quality measurement, and building an institutional culture that enhances the value of data as a strategic asset.
Dr. Alya Harbi, Director of Statistics and Research Center at MOHAP, praised the prominent role played by the FCSC in launching projects aimed at enhancing the quality of statistical data in line with future requirements. This includes strengthening data governance as a fundamental element in shaping government policies and supporting sustainable development paths. She emphasized the importance of data in shaping future visions and measuring performance indicators, contributing to improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing health planning strategies at the national level.
She highlighted the importance of data integration among various relevant entities and the necessity of establishing effective partnerships in data analysis, which plays a fundamental role in supporting accurate decision-making that contributes to achieving comprehensive development and ensuring fair distribution of resources and services.
In conclusion, she expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for organizing this valuable workshop and for providing the opportunity for the Ministry of Health and Prevention to present its pioneering experience in this field.
The session is part of a series of specialized events and coordination meetings held during the current quarter, with the participation of 264 data management officials from 35 federal entities. Its goal is to provide timely and reliable data and statistics for decision-makers, contributing to supporting the Unified UAE Numbers and achieving effective data-based planning and national statistics.
It is worth mentioning that the “Data Index” was launched last year concurrently with the launch of the “Unified UAE Numbers” project as one of the national projects aimed at advancing and strengthening the country’s statistical system and supporting the country’s development journey across various economic, demographic, social, and environmental sectors, solidifying the UAE’s global leadership in employing data to support decision-making.
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