​The United Arab Emirates ranked first regionally in the 2023/2024 Human Development Index report issued by the United Nations Development Programme, advancing nine places in the global ranking from the previous report, to rank 17th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, ahead of countries such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, thereby attaining a prestigious status and becoming the only Arab country among the top 20 globally.

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, said, "Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE government is walking with firm and ceaseless steps towards serving humanity, happiness, and welfare."

He added, "The UAE has proven its leadership at the regional level and its global excellence in the field of human development, thanks to successful policies aimed at achieving prosperity in education, health, economy, living standards, and quality of life, and to ensure sustainable development in all areas to guarantee a promising and sustainable future for future generations."

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said, "The UAE aspires to be among the best performing countries in global competitiveness reports, as competitiveness has a human and societal dimension focusing on human welfare. Under the wise leadership’s directions, we are working to establish the foundations of decent life in the country to ensure the welfare of its society."

Ahli added, "The UAE’s achievement of ranking 17th globally in the report to be among the leading countries in the field of human development is due to the combined efforts of federal and local entities in the health, education, and economic sectors, where it has topped the first place regionally over several years, advancing globally this year by nine places compared to last year. We are all continuing in the competitiveness race to achieve honourable performance for our country."

According to the report titled "Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World" this year, the UAE’s score reached 0.937, advancing from last year by 0.026 points, while Switzerland, which ranked first globally, scored 0.967. The UAE’s score in the life expectancy at birth indicator reached 79.2 years, contributing to the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (Good Health and Well-being), adopted by the United Nations member states for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The UAE’s score in the Expected Years of Schooling indicator was 17.2 years, while the Mean Years of Schooling was 12.8 years, reflecting on the fourth goal (Quality Education), while the Gross National Income per capita was 74.104 US dollars.

It is worth mentioning that the Human Development Report is issued annually by the United Nations Development Programme since 1990, and it is a composite index that reflects the well-being of peoples in the world through three dimensions (health, knowledge, and living standards), represented in four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and per capita gross national income.

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The UAE delegation has recently participated in the meetings of the 55th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held in New York City. This event stands as the largest international gathering of statistics and data science experts globally, drawing the heads and directors of statistical entities and data centres from various countries. The assembly also saw participation from academics, experts, and consultants in UN bodies and international organisations.

The UAE delegation included leaders from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), and local statistics centres including the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD); Digital Dubai represented by Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment (DDSE); the Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) in Sharjah; Ajman Statistics justify; Ras Al Khaimah Statistics justify (RAKSC); and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security.

During its participation in the meetings, the delegation announced its adoption of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s decision proposal to initiate the World Population and Housing Census Programme for the year 2030. The statistical community in the country will commence work on implementing the proposal, positioning the UAE as the first in the world to incorporate this update into its international-level statistical agenda.

The delegation participated in meeting sessions and workshops, surrounding specialised activities and sessions addressing fundamental principles of official statistics, data science, open data, governance statistics, climate change statistics, integration of statistical and geospatial information, the International Comparison Program (ICP), services statistics, statistics related to aging, disaggregated data by age, demographic statistics, human development, and health statistics. Additionally, the agenda covered data and indicators related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plan.

The delegation emphasised that the practices and digital environment in the UAE have enhanced readiness and led to significant advancements in census implementation. This progress included the utilisation of artificial intelligence tools for data collection and processing, facilitated by effective partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations extend to analysing spatial data for censuses and linking them to essential services for the population, thereby enhancing overall well-being.

The UAE delegation engaged in discussions with officials from various international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). They discussed the means of exploring opportunities for collaborative efforts to enhance the measurement of foreign direct investment, aligning with the latest practices and key private standards in data collection and calculation methodologies.

The delegation also met with representatives from statistical offices in various countries, including Statistics Sweden, Statistics Austria, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France, Stats New Zealand, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the Statistics Bureau of Japan, and the Korean Statistical Information Service. The meetings aimed to exchange statistical experiences and explore opportunities for enhancing cooperation, particularly in the context of updating the United Nations big data platform for the Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, the UAE is among the four countries worldwide selected as regional headquarters for the platform.

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Head of the UAE delegation and Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, emphasised the importance of strengthening international collaboration with organisations and partners in the fields of statistics and data science. She highlighted the need for concerted international efforts to leverage big data for the betterment of societies.

Additionally, she highlighted the importance of formulating initiatives to enhance government policies and fostering innovative partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations aim to achieve the strategic goals set by the wise leadership of the UAE, enhance the well-being of communities, and underscore the necessity of working as a global community to unify efforts and design effective solutions for a better tomorrow for humanity.​

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The first meeting of 2024 for the UAE National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place during the "SDGs in Action Forum" at the World Governments Summit held in Dubai from February 12 to 14.

Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs, emphasised the importance of collaboration between all government bodies, and intensifying national efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, and work to support partnerships to target the UAE sustainable development agenda.

The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), who holds the role of the secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. Her Excellency appreciated the efforts of the committee members in activating various national and international projects and initiatives, which contribute to a positive impact and building a sustainable future for the next generations.

Stressing the UAE’s leadership role in the field of sustainable development at the global level, His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah said: “The committee meeting serves as a testament to the UAE’s unwavering commitment to guiding sustainable development towards a more expansive horizon. Additionally, it underscores a profound understanding of the essential role of teamwork and close collaboration between the government and private sectors, not only in shaping strategies but also in executing them effectively".

Lootah confirmed that the UAE contribution to achieving the desired progress aims to ensure that no one is left behind, through achieving sustainability at various sectors and cooperation with societies is essential to achieve the 2030 goals.

The “SDGs in Action Forum" engagements at the World Government Summit 2024 were presented during the meeting; which includes the representation of ministers, UN officials, decision makers and representatives of prominent international organizations from all over the world in 13 sessions, and more than 300 participants. The Committee also, adopted the UAE National Data Action Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to measure the progress made in data analysis at the national level and ensure its accuracy.

Her Excellency Hanan Ahli said: “Recent data shows that progress towards the sustainable development goals is at the midway point and remains incomplete. Countries must intensify their efforts to enhance the availability of data concerning the 17 sustainable development goals, which aim to secure a better and more sustainable future for all. These goals are designed to tackle the global challenges confronting us."

Her Excellency added: “The availability of data on SDGs in Arab countries shows continuous improvement, with a notable 6 percent increase recorded between 2020 and 2023. According to data provided by the ESCWA organization, which has established a network of specialized technical teams to monitor completed data periodically and track achievements in real-time, there has been a significant advancement. It is noteworthy that the UAE has made remarkable strides in achieving sustainable development goals, reaching a rate of 42%, far surpassing the regional average performance of 14%, as reported by the Arab SDG Monitor by ESCWA".

His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the National Statistics and Data Sector at FCSC, emphasised the importance of the statistics and data sector in knowledge exchange, which contributes to an important economic role equivalent to oil. This shift is attributed to the utilisation of technologies like artificial intelligence and digital technology, which significantly contribute to shaping future economies. The data revolution is seen as instrumental in realising strategic goals and fostering comprehensive sustainable development plans at local, regional, and global scales.

His Excellency further stressed that big data serves as the fundamental cornerstone for maximising the potential of artificial intelligence. It plays a crucial role in empowering this cutting-edge technology to fulfil one of its most critical functions: forecasting. This process proves invaluable in data-driven strategic planning initiatives.

The National Committee on SDGs was established to execute the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at the national level. Its objectives include aligning the UAE’s priorities with those of the United Nations, as well as facilitating the exchange of experiences among local and international stakeholders and partners. This aims to broaden the pool of active participants in implementing the United Nations’ agenda for SDGs.​

​​Source: Dubai ,The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE organized the "Sustainable Development Goals in Implementation" forum in its eighth edition, as part of the World Government Summit 2024. The forum, which was launched under the slogan "Sustainable Development Goals 2045: Paving the Way towards the Future Global Agenda", aimed to exchange best practices to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by providing a space for global dialogue in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, as it is an opportunity for world leaders to present radical solutions to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, face challenges and reshape the common future for future generations. The forum discussed global challenges by proposing innovative solutions, projects and initiatives to accelerate sustainable solutions to all major challenges in the world, including technological development, climate change, inequality, natural disasters and other challenges. Decision Makers The forum brought together world leaders, presidents, ministers, decision-makers, executives, experts and advisers from around the world in various sectors, and the forum was attended by Emine Erdogan, wife of the President of the Republic. Turkish and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Outstanding Persons in Waste Eradication and Champion of Wise Cities in Waste in the World, Levan Davičvili, First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Goals, Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Conference of the Parties COP 29, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Deveka Vidot, Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry of the Republic of Seychelles, and Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Digital Innovation of Rwanda. The forum witnessed the organization of several dialogue sessions, aimed at contributing to shaping a prosperous and equitable future for all by highlighting key themes including promoting growth and change for effective governments, climate neutrality, strengthening partnerships and data-based strategies, modern vision for development and future economies, aspirations of tomorrow’s societies, and transformations. New globalism, urbanization towards new future horizons. Emirati endeavors The forum addressed the UAE’s efforts to make the Sustainable Development Goals a global call to action to eradicate poverty, protect the environment and ensure peace and prosperity, and the key axis of these initiatives in the UAE development agenda, in line with the broader vision for a sustainable and inclusive future. "We have supported and will continue to support all initiatives aimed at protecting the land entrusted to us and ensuring that we leave it a livable heritage for future generations because with the polluted sea crashing on all our shores, with the polluted air poisoning us all, and with the severity of global warming burning us all, we cannot continue to fight our conflicts separately. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, said: "The UAE, under the directives of its wise leadership, continues to move forward towards accelerating The pace of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 at the local and global levels, and its experience and initiatives have become a global example to be followed in this field," he said, noting that the country’s efforts go beyond borders through the global partnerships adopted by the country to help countries and communities around the world, especially in less fortunate countries. ​

​Ministerial Roundtable of XDGS foresees the future of the world 2030-2045, discusses international cooperation efforts to overcome challenges

As part of the World Governments Summit 2024, the XDGS Ministerial Roundtable was held on the first day of the summit to strengthen international cooperation and address growing global challenges.

Participating ministers from various fields met to set an ambitious agenda for global development and cross-border cooperation, under the theme “XDGs 2045: Navigating the Future of Our World," with the aim of stimulating concrete actions in line with global dialogue and the urgent need to strengthen sustainable development plans by following a comprehensive mechanism and a forward-looking approach to future global development.

This meeting came amid a constantly changing landscape in the twenty-first century and in light of challenges such as climate change, technological developments, and changing geopolitical dynamics, as world leaders face unprecedented challenges, which impose the need to intensify international efforts and coordinate action among countries to confront these challenges and shape the future of international cooperation.

To effectively navigate this uncertain future, leaders must first address a critical question: How can we collaboratively design a strong and just post-2030 global agenda that reflects the changing needs and aspirations of our interconnected world?

The XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable aims to set a joint and ambitious agenda to promote sustainable development, and identify practical steps to achieve these common global goals, through the exchange of experiences and ideas between ministers and government leaders, as the roundtable contributed to developing innovative and effective strategies to achieve sustainable development goals in the short and long term.

The roundtable discussions cover the XDGs 2045 “Shaping The Future of Our World" Report, which indicates the role and obligations that each country must have towards implementing the sustainable development system and standards, which were previously presented in February 2023. The United Arab Emirates activated the concept of the XDGS 2045 Ministerial Roundtable as a dedicated event at the World Governments Summit. For governments to develop radical solutions to the challenges of the unknown future the world may face and practical strategies to achieve specific goals.

The ministerial roundtable was chaired by Eng. Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Chairman of the Global Council on SDG 11, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund and Special Envoy of the United Nations for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Chairman of the Global Council on SDG 1.

Ulvi Ramiz oglu Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Dr. Heika Harmgart, Managing Director Europan Bank for Reconstruction & Development, Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UNHCR, and Bora Muzhaqi, Minister of Youth and Children of the Republic of Albania, also participated.

Suhail Al Mazrouie said: “The United Arab Emirates, through the visionary leadership, is working to solidify the country’s position as an active participant in implementing sustainable development goals through collective action with all nations worldwide, benefiting peoples and communities to achieve development goals and create a better future for all."

He added: “There isn’t much time left until the final deadline agreed upon by the international community in 2030. Promises, ideas, and visions alone are not sufficient today. Instead, the focus must be on action, implementation, and achievement. The challenges facing the world are increasing in size and complexity day by day, making it imperative to launch immediate solutions to enable governments and individuals to efficiently and effectively address the larger and more complex challenges."

"The summit serves as a platform where governments, international organizations, institutions, academia, and civil society convene to address the challenges and opportunities of the future," His Excellency emphasised. He further highlighted that the Global Governments Summit offers governments a forum to facilitate and stimulate the sharing of ideas, foster collaboration, and forge partnerships aimed at advancing the global goals beyond 2030.

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the ministerial roundtable presents a significant opportunity to expand upon the discussions held during last year’s World Governments Summit, which addressed the need to develop the global development agenda for 2030, review current commitments, and analyse future opportunities.

He further added: “The commitment of the United Arab Emirates to sustainable development is at the core of the visionary leadership’s vision for the future of the country, aiming to be one of the best countries in the world. At a time when its experience in dealing with sustainable development goals has become a global benchmark to be guided by, and an inspiring practice from which many governments around the world benefit, aspiring to achieve their national sustainability agendas."

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: “The global community must endeavor to make 2024 and the subsequent years a period of fast acceleration towards attaining the 2030 SDGs through effective public, private philanthropy partnerships, significant finance stimulus, knowledge and technology sharing and capacity development," he added.

A detailed outline of the renewed global commitment was developed as one of the most important points of discussion, as participants seek to identify effective mechanisms to ensure the commitment of countries and international organizations to achieving the set goals. Emphasis will be placed on developing specific action plans and defining responsibilities and incentives to ensure that agreed commitments are implemented effectively and comprehensively.

Through these proposed points of discussion, the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation in multiple areas. Hopes are high that this meeting will contribute to developing specific and sustainable action plans to build a better and more sustainable future for all.

It is worth noting that the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable aims to identify the practical steps that should be taken to achieve sustainable development and focus on cooperative efforts among ministers to overcome global challenges and promote sustainable development.​

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The SDG in Action Forum, organized within the World Government Summit 2024, in partnership with the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, will witness expanded dialogues aimed at paving the way towards achieving the global agenda for sustainable development.

 As a part of the accompanying events of the Global Government Summit 2024, taking place in Dubai from February 12 to 14, with the participation of heads of states and governments, over 80 international and regional organizations, 120 government delegations, and a distinguished gathering of global thought leaders and experts, the forum explores major global trends in more than 110 main interactive dialogue sessions, featuring 200 global personalities. Additionally, more than 23 ministerial meetings and executive sessions with the participation of over 300 ministers are scheduled.

His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals emphasized that the UAE, under the wise leadership, has become a global model in sustainable development areas. He highlighted the continuous efforts of the UAE in accelerating the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (2030) on both national and global levels.

His  Excellency said that the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development is reflected in the voluntary national review report presented during a special session on voluntary national reviews based on data for sustainable development goals within the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July of the previous year.

He added that the UAE continues its diligent work to support the achievement of sustainable development goals in areas such as poverty eradication, hunger elimination, and the enhancement of healthcare and community health on a global scale. This is achieved through constructive partnerships with nations and international organizations to assist communities worldwide, particularly those less fortunate. Lootah emphasized that the UAE is a major international supporter of renewable energy projects in over 70 countries.

The Forum addresses future transformations and innovative solutions to global challenges that contribute to shaping a better future for humanity. It focuses on seven core themes, including accelerating growth and change for effective governments, artificial intelligence and new future prospects, a fresh vision for development and future economies, the future of education and the aspirations of future societies, new global transformations, and urban expansion and global health priorities.

Since its launch in 2016, the SDGs in Action Forum has been a platform for promoting innovation towards achieving global goals. It discusses global challenges through innovative solutions, projects, and initiatives to expedite sustainable solutions for all major global challenges.

Through the Forum, the World Government Summit launched the SDG Activation Platform, with the aim of strengthening the focus on the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted around the world. The initiative was launched in partnership with the World Government Summit, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and a number of local and international partners, with the aim of overcoming the challenges facing countries’ work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

It’s worth noting that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE was formed by a resolution issued by the Cabinet in January 2017. The committee, chaired by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, includes the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and 13 federal government entities, all sharing responsibility for implementing sustainable development goals nationally, monitoring progress, engaging relevant stakeholders, and submitting regular reports on the country’s achievements.​

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​Dubai (Union) – The Higher Committee for Coordinating Statistical Work at the national level had its fourth meeting at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre in Dubai; where they discussed the National Statistics Strategy plan, as part of its efforts to enhance continuous assessments of new emerging needs and improve the efficiency of the statistical system to serve development programs at both the national and international levels. The meeting was attended by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and Chairman of the Committee, H.E. Abdullah Gharib AlQemzi, Acting Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, H.E. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Digital Dubai & CEO, Dubai Data Establishment, Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of Ajman Statistics Center, Najwa Yaqoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies, and H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Director of Fujairah Statistics Center. H.E. Hanan Ahli, emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the statistical entities in the country through the exchange of knowledge and experiences and unifying standards of statistical processes. She pointed out that the upcoming action plan will prioritize designing the future statistical system and ways to improve the competitiveness of the UAE in global reports and indicators. She highlighted the importance of focusing on technical areas with a high impact on the national statistical strategy. The Committee stressed the importance of the participation of the UAE delegation in the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, in coordination with the Office of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations, as the meetings of the Committee represent an ideal opportunity to build channels of communication and fruitful cooperation with international statistical authorities. It is worth mentioning that the Higher Committee for Coordinating Statistical Work was established at the national level in 2016 as a national initiative aimed at enhancing partnership opportunities, developing mechanisms for joint work, intensifying coordination among statistical entities in areas of statistical work development, and designing policies and implementing strategies based on data supporting decision-making processes.​​