Media Center

DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Press Release

Participants at HLPF: UAE’s Robust Commitment to Enhancing International Cooperation for Achieving Global SDGs

22 Jul 2024

Officials and leaders from the UAE delegation at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2024 in New York affirmed the UAE’s strong commitment to enhancing international cooperation to achieve global sustainable development goals. In statements following their participation, they emphasised the importance of continued efforts to accelerate the implementation of these goals.

Rashid Al Mansouri: HLPF Provided a Platform to Highlight ERC’s Experience

H.E. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), highlighted that the participation in the United Nations HLPF on Sustainable Development 2024 provided a platform to showcase the Authority’s sustainable development initiatives. These initiatives address social, economic, and environmental dimensions, optimise resource use to meet community needs, and aim to combat poverty, hunger, disease, and climate change; challenges that threaten societal stability and development. He emphasised that sustainability is crucial for mitigating these risks.

Al Mansouri stated that the Emirates Red Crescent implements initiatives that aim to create a lasting positive impact on people’s lives. The development projects focus on fragile communities and address key areas such as food sustainability, health, education, and essential services like electricity, water, sanitation, and clean energy. Additionally, the projects include infrastructure development, such as constructing housing units and facilities for refugees and displaced persons, and supporting their stability to enhance their productivity and integration into local communities.

Mohammed Al Suwaidi: UAE’s Historic Achievements in Advancing Development Goals

H.E. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, stated that under the guidance of its wise leadership, the United Arab Emirates has achieved remarkable milestones in supporting sustainable development goals and fostering global economic cooperation. The UAE’s efforts have established a unique model for assisting developing countries in addressing economic and development challenges.

Al Suwaidi added: “The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development receiving the United Nations Small Island Developing States Partnerships Award 2024 exemplifies the Fund’s and its strategic partners’ forward-looking vision. This recognition underscores their commitment to finding innovative and effective solutions for accelerating the transition to renewable energy, empowering communities, and building capacities as key components of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development in developing countries".

H.E. Dr. Alanoud Alhaj, Assistant Under-Secretary for Green Development and Climate Change at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised that the UAE’s climate action is centred on achieving sustainable development goals. These include ensuring access to adequate and affordable food, quality education, health care, and the optimal use of resources.

Dr. Alhaj added: “The UAE is dedicated to enhancing food security and advancing towards SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Through strategic planning, innovative solutions, and international collaboration, we are making significant progress in eliminating hunger, improving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture on a global scale".

She further noted that, amid the challenges of climate change, such as global warming and environmental degradation, it is crucial to recognise their impact on economic, social, and health outcomes. To address these challenges, a unified strategy for sustainable development is essential. Specifically, SDG 13 (Climate Action) is closely connected to goals addressing water scarcity, hunger, health, economic growth, and other critical issues.

Dana Al Marzooqi: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals as a Pillar of the UAE’s Vision and Mission

Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzooqi, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Interior, said: “The UAE has long recognised the vital connection between sustainability, security, and climate action. Therefore, we, together with our partners at the United Nations and beyond, are committed to leading global efforts to ensure that everyone can live a life of dignity".

Mohamed Al Ramahi: Committed to Climate Action Through a Just Energy Transition

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), stated that Masdar is committed to climate action through a fair and equitable energy transition and by supporting countries and communities in achieving their net zero targets. With global partnerships and projects spanning over 40 countries across six continents, Masdar is committed to increasing renewable energy production capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2030. This goal aligns with the UAE’s historic agreement to triple global renewable energy production capacity by the same year.

UAE calls on countries around the world to strengthen partnerships and cooperation in intensifying efforts to achieve SDG 17

22 Jul 2024

The delegation of the State of U.A.E. to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024 in New York, at the conclusion of the annual UN event, affirmed that the UAE adopts a flexible and constantly evolving cooperative model that aims to expand partnerships, knowledge exchange and fruitful and sustainable development work globally, in a way that supports the achievement of the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations for the year 2030, and foresees the prospects for sustainable development for individuals, communities and the planet.

His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Knowledge Exchange and Competitiveness and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, stressed in the speech of the UAE delegation delivered at the end of his participation in the UN Forum at the United Nations Headquarters, that the UAE continues, under the directives of the wise leadership, to support the achievement of sustainable development goals by strengthening partnership agreements, exchanging knowledge, implementing bilateral and joint development projects, and providing assistance that has a sustainable impact.

Abdullah Lootah said: "The UAE will continue its approach of partnership and cooperation for the good of societies and peoples. By aligning its external aid strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals, in 2022 it amounted to more than US$3.4 billion, of which 83% was development aid, and the Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives spent about AED 1.8 billion positively impacting the lives of more than 100 million beneficiaries, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development invested nearly US$60 billion to more than 100 countries, and the Emirates Red Crescent provided 54% of its total assistance to support global development initiatives.

Since the launch of the government’s knowledge exchange program, it has concluded agreements with more than 35 countries, implemented more than 367 initiatives, and trained more than 3.2 million government employees.

During a session on the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is concerned with clean water and hygiene issues, Lootah stressed the importance of promoting global climate action as a key supporter of achieving the rest of the sustainable development goals, and pointed to the UAE’s commitment with the countries of the world to accelerate the pace of achieving development goals. Climate (COP28) We united around the "UAE Agreement", which was described as the most ambitious and comprehensive agreement since the Paris Agreement, and the presidency of the Conference launched the tripartite "Troika of Chairs of the Conferences of the Parties" aimed at uniting efforts until the thirtieth session.

Abdullah Lootah called on UN organizations, international institutions and governments to join the UAE’s efforts to foresee the future of the sustainable development goals beyond 2030 and for the next two decades leading up to 2045, recalling the first-of-its-kind report issued by the UAE at this session of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which examines the global path to achieving the 2045 Sustainable Development Goals.

We invite everyone to join us to renew commitment to the development agenda for the next two decades, and to develop an integrated system that looks forward to the future, based on international cooperation, through the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals 2045, which the UAE contributes to developing and developing to build a future path in which we are stronger and more capable. A path for our future generations.

(United Nations High-Level Political Forum)

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the main platform of the United Nations on sustainable development, has played a pivotal role since its inception in 2012, in following up and reviewing what has been implemented at the country level in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This edition of the International Forum was held under the theme "Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises… Implementing sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions effectively", and throughout the period from 8 to 17 July 2024, delegates participating in this year’s edition of the Forum worked on in-depth revisions of five of the Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1 to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere, Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, Goal 13 to support climate action and call for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions, and Goal 16 to promote Inclusive peaceful societies to achieve sustainable development, provide justice for all and build effective and efficient institutions, and Goal 17, which focuses on global partnerships to promote Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the “Sustainable Development Forum 2024”. The Government Knowledge Exchange Office organizes a session on international efforts to accelerate the achievement of Goal 17

21 Jul 2024

The UAE Government Knowledge Exchange Office organized as part of the activities of the UAE delegation at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024 in New York. A pivotal session on the central role of the principle of building and expanding bilateral strategic partnerships at the international level in accelerating the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations for the year 2030 with a global consensus, where the UAE delegation presented the country’s pioneering model in concluding partnerships whose sustainable impact is reflected in developing the work of governments and supporting the growth paths of economies and societies. The session, titled ‘Building and Strengthening Impactful Partnerships to Accelerate the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals’, addressed the UAE’s efforts at the level of international cooperation in exchanging experiences and successful models with the seventeenth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Partnerships to achieve the Goals".

The session showcased the UAE government’s knowledge-sharing partnership approach with more than 37 countries and governments around the world.

The session was organized with the aim of documenting the global impact of the government knowledge exchange program and its role in achieving The objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 17, which is concerned with activating global partnerships for sustainable development, including governments, the private sector and civil society, as this documentation of achievements will contribute to enriching academic institutions with the information and data required to measure and monitor the progress of partnership development and their direct and indirect contribution to the achievement of other sustainable development goals.

The session was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Knowledge Exchange and Competitiveness and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, His Excellency Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Her Excellency Dr. Alanoud Al Hajj, Assistant Undersecretary for Green Development and Climate Change, Lt. Col. Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, Hashem Al Attas, Senior Portfolio Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at Masdar, in addition to experts, academics and makers. Decision, and government officials from Rwanda, Mongolia, Serbia, Malaysia, Malta, Uzbekistan and Fiji.

The session was moderated by Afshin Molavi, Senior Fellow, Institute for Foreign Policy at the College of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

The session discussed the value of influential partnerships in promoting progress towards achieving sustainable development goals, through government modernization, supporting positive transformations, and consolidating partnership concepts that support countries, governments and societies in achieving sustainable development goals and transforming future challenges into opportunities. The roundtable session then turned into a workshop on the future of partnerships in accelerating the achievement of the five goals focused on the 2024 edition of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: Goal 1 to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere, Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, Goal 13 to support climate action and call for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions, and Goal 16 to promote peaceful societies. inclusive of all categories to achieve sustainable development, provide justice for all and build effective and efficient institutions; Goal 17, which focuses on global partnerships to promote the implementation of development goals.

The participants were distributed from Academics, researchers, government officials and experts in groups, each group discussed one of the sustainable development goals under discussion, where they prepared in brainstorming a series of practical recommendations to promote accelerated international partnerships to achieve sustainable development for the future, foremost of which is the call for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, the sharing of best experiences and practices, and inter- and international cooperation at the level of governments, UN organizations, international institutions and development programs to reach the goal of sustainable development and preserve the planet’s resources for future generations.

The first group included H.E. Dr. Alanoud Al Hajj, Assistant Undersecretary for Green Development and Climate Change, H.E. Ambassador Ernest Rwamusio, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, H.E. Chinokhai Pat Ardenni, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations, and H.E. Mohamed Raslan, First Secretary for Agricultural Affairs at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington.

The group discussed the achievements of the government knowledge exchange program and its impact on the first two development goals of eradicating poverty in all its forms. The second goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Participants in the first group addressed the role of technological innovations in efforts to combat poverty, and the importance of investment and policy development to increase the contribution of education and health care to reducing global poverty levels.

The session also touched on global trade policies and market movement and their impact on food access to all countries and their role in reducing hunger and improving global food security.

The second group addressed Goal 13, which supports climate action and calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions, and included Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, Her Excellency Marta Arsowska Tomovska, Advisor to the Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Serbia and Special Envoy for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Joseph Caruana, from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and the Grand Port Renovation in Malta, and Hashim Al Attas, Senior Portfolio Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at Masdar.

The second group discussed issues of importance Current globality, such as the role of governments in leading the transition to alternative energy sources, the responsibility of advanced economies in this area and the possibility of playing a greater role in reducing carbon emissions, and ways to support societies to withstand the effects of climate change.

The third group discussed Goal 17, which focuses on global partnerships to enhance the implementation of the SDGs, and was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, His Excellency Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, His Excellency Shukrat Vavayev, Executive Director of the Uzbekistan Fund for Reconstruction and Development, and His Excellency Viotti Kisonyo, from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Fiji to the United Nations.

Participants addressed the role of global partnerships in making rapid progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the role of multilateral financial institutions and the role of concessional loans in supporting sustainable development, and the prospect of partnership between public and private sector institutions in this regard.

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the main platform. Since its establishment in 2012, it has played a pivotal role in following up and reviewing what has been implemented at the country level in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This edition of the International Forum was held under the theme "Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: Effectively Implementing Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Solutions".

UAE delegation reviews with representatives of countries and international organizations the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals 2045

18 Jul 2024

The UAE delegation organized a first-of-its-kind session on the importance of global partnerships with governments and international organizations in achieving the 2045 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during their participation in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024 in New York.

The session, titled "Government Knowledge Exchange Program: Ministerial Dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals 2045, Catalyzing Sustainable Development", included HE Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Knowledge Exchange and Competitiveness, HE Mohamed Abu Shehab, UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, HE Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the Emirates Red Crescent, HE Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and HE Dr. Alanoud Al Hajj, Assistant Undersecretary for Development Affairs. Green and Climate Change, Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Interior, Hashim Al Attas, Senior Portfolio Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at Masdar, and representatives of a number of countries, governments and organizations International institutions, UN programs and knowledge exchange program partners.

During the session, the delegation reviewed the UAE’s successful experience in the government knowledge exchange program, which has achieved since its launch in 2018 strategic knowledge partnerships, bilateral cooperation and fruitful contacts to exchange knowledge and successful government experiences inspired by the UAE experience and the distinguished government work process with more than 35 countries and governments in 5 continents around the world, which supports joint international efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.

His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, stressed that the UAE, with the vision of its wise leadership, has made government modernization and development a pillar of efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, and has established an advanced global approach to international cooperation and positive partnerships to build new and promising future opportunities, and open comprehensive cooperation horizons in various fields of government work through the government knowledge exchange portal at the global level, which represents one of the most important global programs to achieve The 17th Development Goal and turning it into reality Within the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations until 2030.

During the session, Lootah stressed the importance of partnership in international events and forums aimed at enhancing opportunities for communication, cooperation and knowledge exchange, monitoring the positive effects of knowledge exchange among all partner parties, and exploring new partnerships for future cooperation that enhances sustainable development to serve communities around the world.

– Paving the way towards the future global agenda.

The session comes as a continuation of the discussions that took place during the "Sustainable Development Goals in Implementation" forum organized by the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE, under the slogan "Sustainable Development Goals 2045: Paving the Way Towards the Future Global Agenda", within the work of the World Government Summit 2024, with the aim of supporting the exchange of best practices to achieve the sustainable development goals and enhance global dialogue around them, and providing an opportunity for world leaders to propose innovative solutions to accelerate the implementation of development goals, face challenges and design future milestones. Sustainable subscriber.

– Global praise for the government’s knowledge exchange program.

Praised Representatives of governments and international organizations participating in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development stressed the importance of the role of the Government Knowledge Exchange Program and its qualitative global achievements that affect government work models and contribute to capacity building and preparing institutional competencies in the fields of government work, which contributes to enhancing sustainable development efforts in the countries participating in the program.

Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stressed that the high-level political forum and the event organized by the UAE are an opportunity for learning and knowledge exchange as a framework for the successful achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

For his part, Dr. Abdul Allah Al-Dardari, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arabic States of the United Nations Development Program, said: "I thank the UAE for launching this event and inviting UNDP to this very important dialogue. Following up on the dialogues that took place at the World Government Summit in Dubai, UNDP looks forward to developing an innovative global joint mechanism to support countries in transforming the government sector to be more flexibility, inclusiveness and efficiency."

H.E. Giovanni Basso, Deputy Director of UNHCR in New York, said: "With the number of refugees and displaced people around the world reaching nearly 120 million and their numbers continuing to rise over the past 12 years, we must not lose our focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We must collaborate on Goal 17 by partnering to enable refugees to contribute to economies and social services, refugees must be part of the solutions and they have a lot to contribute."

– International partnerships for development after 2030.

For his part, Ambassador Osama Abdel Khaleq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Egypt Arabic to the United Nations in New York, stressed that the participation of an expanded high-level Egyptian delegation in the World Government Summit held in Dubai confirms the extent of appreciation for the bilateral partnership in government development between the Republic of Egypt Arabic and the State of U.A.E., which he said has a very vital government.

For his part, HE Ambassador Yasar Aliyev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, said that his country and the UAE launched The year 2022 is a bilateral partnership track for knowledge exchange, sharing experiences in government services, capacity building and government excellence, which constituted an advanced qualitative step in the field of enhancing international cooperation between the governments of the two countries in government development and modernization.

His Excellency Ambassador Ernest Rwamusio, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, expressed his hope that his country’s partnerships, including the level of the important bilateral partnership with the UAE, which was signed in February 2023 on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, will contribute to promoting and sustaining progress and growth, wishing to benefit from the eight main areas covered by the Rwandan-UAE bilateral partnership, especially at the level of government accelerators, citizen engagement, and women’s empowerment.

His Excellency Shukert Fafayev, Executive Director of the Reconstruction and Development Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said that bilateral cooperation in government knowledge exchange between his country and the UAE is fruitful, practical and organized, and at the same time comprehensive and flexible, adapting to national and international transformations, such as the rapid developments in the uses of artificial intelligence.

H.E. Marta Arsowska expressed Tomovska, Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia and Special Envoy for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, expressed Serbia’s gratitude for the qualitative partnership between her and the UAE, and for honoring her achievements at the level of government development and government innovation at the World Government Summit in Dubai, stressing that her country was inspired in presenting its bid to host Expo Serbia 2027 from the qualitative success of Expo 2020, which was hosted by the UAE, in which it focused on the future and sustainability.

– Practical examples of knowledge partnerships with countries and international organizations.

Members of the participating UAE delegation reviewed practical models and tangible achievements of fruitful and influential global partnerships with a number of countries around the world such as the Republic of Egypt Arabic, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Rwanda and Azerbaijan, in the presence of representatives of a number of UAE partner countries within the government knowledge exchange program.

– Emirati commitment and international impact.

The speakers presented the common points between the UAE Government Knowledge Exchange Program, which was launched in 2018 and works on more than 100 action tracks to enhance governance and accelerate the achievement of national and international agendas. Among the goals set and approved by the United Nations in 2016 to achieve sustainable development by 2030, especially the first and second goals to eradicate poverty and hunger, the thirteenth goal to promote climate action, the sixteenth goal to build peace, justice and strong institutions, and the seventeenth goal to establish partnerships to achieve the goals.

Participants stressed the role of knowledge exchange in consolidating the UAE’s commitment to building bridges and pillars of sustainable development around the world, based on the qualitative achievements made by the country in government excellence and economic development, noting the importance of exchanging knowledge, experiences and innovations in various government sectors, devoting best practices, and stimulating continuous innovation for sustainable growth at all levels.

– The United Nations High-Level Political Forum.

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main platform of the United Nations on sustainable development issues and, since its establishment in 2012, has played a pivotal role in following up and reviewing what has been implemented at the country level in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The This edition of the International Forum is under the theme "Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: Effectively Implementing Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Solutions".

Delegates participating in this year’s edition of the Forum worked on in-depth revisions of five of the Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1 to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere, Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, Goal 13 to support climate action and call for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions, and Goal 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to achieve sustainable development, provide justice for all and build effective and efficient institutions. Performance; and Goal 17, which focuses on global partnerships to enhance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Red Crescent reviews the pivotal role of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women

17 Jul 2024

Her Excellency Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Higher Committee of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, stressed the importance of the role played by global partnerships as a key driver in the work of local and international bodies and organizations, with the aim of accelerating international efforts to achieve sustainable development goals around the world. Her Excellency pointed to the keenness of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, "Mother of the Nation", Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Honorary President of the Red Crescent Authority, President of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, to support refugee issues, especially women, explaining that Her Highness Sheikha Fatima pays great attention to supporting women’s development efforts and empowering them to be a major and effective partner in achieving opportunities and achievements in general, especially those efforts directed to refugee women, and that Her Highness Since the establishment of the Fund, it has launched many projects and programs aimed at developing the capacities of refugee women and enhancing their skills in many developmental fields in order to secure a decent life for them. This came in the context of His Excellency Al Shamsi’s comment on the participation of the Crescent Authority team The UAE Red is part of the UAE delegation participating in the activities of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the United Nations held in New York, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and concludes its work today. The Emirates Red Crescent Authority participated in many events accompanying the forum, including the session of Her Excellency Amina Mohamed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and a number of representatives of participating countries and organizations, as well as a lecture at the headquarters of New York University in the United States, which was attended by a group of graduate students from New York University from the School of Professional Studies, the Global Affairs and Global Security Program, the Conflict and Cybersecurity Program, and students from business majors and others. H.E. Abdul Allah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Knowledge Exchange and Competitiveness, Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, said: "The UAE plays a pivotal role in supporting global humanitarian issues, making it a role model and a shining mark in development work. Many have established the UAE’s lofty values worldwide, namely peace, development and empowerment for all segments of society, especially women, and provided them with solutions with a quick return and impact that benefit their contribution to creating a future for themselves and their society." A paradigm shift During his participation in the forum, Hamoud Abdullah Al Junaibi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Local Affairs Sector of the Authority and Vice President of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, reviewed the most prominent achievements of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, which come as part of international efforts to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals.

He said: "Since its launch at the generous initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in 2000, the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, through the Emirates Red Crescent and in cooperation with the UNHCR, has implemented many development projects that have made a qualitative leap in the lives of many of the most vulnerable groups, especially women and children, and contributed to improving the level of services provided to those affected in conflict areas." He stressed the keenness of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women and the Emirates Red Crescent Authority to intensify and continue their efforts. With the aim of maximizing the impact of their initiatives International Goals to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. During its participations, the Red Crescent delegation spoke about the signing of two new agreements by the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the first to renew the partnership between the two sides for a period of three years to support refugee women, and the second to implement a project worth one million US dollars to provide sustainable shelter for refugees and internally displaced persons in the Republics of Burkina Faso and Chad, benefiting about 871 refugee and displaced families. The delegation also reviewed the project to strengthen the capacity of refugees in Uganda, funded by the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which benefited more than 45,000 people, 60 per cent of whom were women in the field of agriculture and livestock. High-Level Forum The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main platform of the United Nations on sustainable development issues and, since its inception in 2012, has played a pivotal role in following up and reviewing what has been implemented at the country level in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This session of the Forum is held Under the theme "Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: Effectively Implementing Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Solutions". Throughout its 8-17 July 2024 edition, delegates participating in this year’s edition of the Forum will work on in-depth revisions of five of the Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1 to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere, Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, Goal 13 to support climate action and call for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions, and Goal 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to achieve development. Goal 17, which focuses on global partnerships to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

UAE’s Smart City and AI Model Takes Centre Stage in Discussion Hosted by NYC Mayor’s Office During 2024 UN High-Level Forum

16 Jul 2024

The UAE’s innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive comprehensive development was a focal point at a session focused on the potential of smart, sustainable cities and AI applications.

This event, hosted by the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs and Partners, featured members of the UAE delegation and was held on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development.

Under the theme of “Transformational Local and Regional Governments: Artificial Intelligence As a Tool For Good”, the UAE delegation, along with international representatives and UN programme officials, explored sustainability opportunities in future cities and the potential use of AI in integrated government operations at both city and regional levels.

Notable attendees included Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange, Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals; Michal Mlynar, Acting Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Amna Binzaal Almheiri, Consul-General of the UAE in New York; and Edward Mermelstein, New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs.

The UAE delegation emphasised the government’s commitment to expanding AI usage and enhancing global partnerships to advance government and development initiatives, highlighting the strategic goal of achieving sustainable economic, social, and knowledge growth. They also discussed the importance of research, development, and innovation, facilitated by international cooperation.

Abdulla Lootah elaborated on the UAE’s proactive approach under the guidance of its visionary leadership, which prioritises integrating AI solutions in the development of sustainable smart cities and communities. He emphasised a human-centric design strategy, ensuring that community needs and well-being are at the forefront of every phase of development and service delivery. He underscored the role of innovative technologies in driving positive transformations and ensuring governance that enhances quality of life while mitigating any adverse impacts.

Furthermore, he discussed the significant impact of strategic initiatives like the Government Experience Exchange Programme, through which the UAE disseminates and shares best practices in governmental operations with global partners. This initiative aims to foster effective partnerships to achieve SDGs.

Lootah expressed gratitude to the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs for organising the session. He said, “As we look to the future, our focus must remain on fostering inclusive partnerships and expanding technological capacities. By doing so, we can work collaboratively to bridge the digital divide, creating a future where technology significantly enhances the lives of individuals and communities worldwide.”

Since its establishment in 2012, the HLPF has served as the primary platform for the UN to discuss progress on the SDGs and has played a central role in monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

HLPF 2024, themed ‘Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions,’ will conduct in-depth reviews on several SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Ministry of Interior stresses the importance of global peace and security in achieving sustainable development goals

15 Jul 2024

The Ministry of Interior stressed the importance of global peace and security in achieving the sustainable development goals and the UAE’s keenness to achieve a balanced and comprehensive development path that does not only affect the national level, but also benefits all countries of the world. This came during the participation of Lt. Col. Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, as part of the UAE delegation in the activities of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the United Nations held in New York, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs until July 17, in which the Ministry of Interior reviewed its international initiatives in climate action and community security. Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi noted the UAE government’s keenness to continue raising and enhancing global peace and security levels through law enforcement institutions, national security strategies, and modernizing the legislative system in line with the growing requirements of societies to achieve sustainable development goals worldwide. She said that our wise leadership realized early the importance of achieving the 16th goal of the sustainable development goals to achieve the rest of the goals, which requires the implementation of a comprehensive approach to make leaps Quality in the levels of achievement of all seventeen sustainable development goals, it is important to have strong and effective institutions, and a governance system, which will address and address various social, economic and environmental challenges, and the interest reflects the state’s keenness to achieve a balanced and comprehensive development path that does not have an impact only at the national level, but also to provide an effective development model that reaches its benefit to all countries of the world. She stressed that the State of U.A.E. continues as a leading model in achieving the sustainable development goals of 2030 and 2045. During her intervention at a session on the sixteenth goal on promoting peace, justice and strong institutions and its interrelationship with the rest of the sustainable development goals, she stressed that there is a need for more police cooperation at the international level, and issued an invitation to join in cooperation for a safer world. In her intervention, she referred to the International Law Enforcement Initiative for Climate (I2LEC), launched by the Ministry of Interior at the World Government Summit in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime last year 2023, which aims to establish a joint approach to inter-agency law enforcement action. International organizations and governments to develop global frameworks aimed at building the global research capacity of law enforcement agencies to address crimes that affect the environment. During its first year, the initiative achieved many results, including the support of more than 60 law enforcement agencies around the world, while joint international operations under the umbrella of the initiative contributed to the seizure of more than $ 32 million in environmental crime proceeds and the training of more than 270 law enforcement officials from more than 40 countries around the world. She stressed that such an initiative reflects the UAE’s belief that sustainable development cannot be achieved without ensuring the safety and stability of all societies, and strengthening cooperation and partnership globally. Al Marzouqi reviewed the latest developments in the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Regional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), which aims to provide protection for children using artificial intelligence applications to facilitate the fight against crimes against children and conduct the necessary investigations to detect and prosecute perpetrators. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has announced projects that have a prominent role in disseminating working methods that have an impact on making the lives of the world’s children. Safer The entities participating in the initiative reached more than 580 entities from 106 countries around the world who benefited from 80 artificial intelligence applications that serve the protection of children around the world, including reducing the time to detect child victims. Among the most prominent projects launched by the initiative is a set of training courses for all those working in areas related to law enforcement. In May 2023, the first specialized training courses in the field of artificial intelligence for safer children began, and to date, 7 training courses were held, in which 415 officers and employees of executive agencies from 20 countries participated. She pointed to the UAE’s role as a responsible global partner in achieving the sustainable development goals through its pioneering efforts in the global humanitarian system, where it provided material and development assistance and exchange of experiences to regions suffering from conflicts, climate-related disasters and other humanitarian disasters. Participating in a session on gender balance, climate, peace and security, held in collaboration with UN Women and the Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN, Lieutenant Colonel Dana Al Marzouqi said: "The relationship between sustainability As the world faces the climate crisis and its growing impacts, we must work to address and reduce environmental crimes such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and dumping of toxic waste, which, according to all studies and reports, have far-reaching consequences beyond environmental damage, undermining sustainable development efforts and exacerbating poverty and corruption levels, and often the effects of this on the levels of women’s participation in economic and societal advancement, and lower levels of equality and gender balance Consequently, development in those societies is disrupted. The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main platform of the United Nations on sustainable development issues, and since its establishment in 2012, it has played a pivotal role in following up and reviewing what has been implemented at the country level in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This edition of the International Forum is held under the theme "Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: Effectively Implementing Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Solutions". Delegates participating in this year’s edition of the Forum are working Throughout its session, it has been conducting in-depth reviews of five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal (1) to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal (2) to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; Goal (13) to support climate action and call for urgent action to combat climate change and its repercussions; Goal (16) to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to achieve sustainable development, provide justice for all and build effective and efficient institutions; and Goal (17) which focuses on Establish global partnerships to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Follow Ajman News on Google News

UAE’s GDP hits AED430 billion in Q1 2024

09 Sep 2024

ABU DHABI, 9th September, 2024 — Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said that the preliminary estimates of the UAE’s GDP growth in the Q1 2024, issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), underline the resilience and vitality of the national economy and exemplify its ability to continue on the path of sustainable growth.

He highlighted that the country’s real GDP reached AED430 billion in Q1 2024, recording a remarkable growth of 3.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023, while the non-oil GDP grew by 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the country adopted an innovative economic model that supports its future vision, along with effective national economic strategies, enhancing openness to the world, promoting partnerships, and transitioning towards an economic model based on flexibility and innovation," Bin Touq added.

He emphasised that the national economy’s positive results reinforce achieving the economic objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision, which includes raising the country’s GDP to AED3 trillion by the next decade.

Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said, "The financial and economic data and indicators endorsing the growth of the UAE’s GDP Q1 2024 reflect the resilience of the country’s vital economic sectors. It highlights the effectiveness of the concerted efforts to implement wise leadership’s directives to enhance sustainable economic diversification, reduce dependence on oil, promote investments, and attract capital and innovative and emerging projects to the country."

She added that the UAE’s advanced rankings in multiple global economic competitiveness indicators can be attributed to several factors, including the stability of the financial system, the strength of the national economy, and the effectiveness of economic legislation and policies applied in the country, besides their ability to adapt to changes and face regional and global challenges.

Based on the data released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, financial and insurance activities have emerged as the leading non-oil economic sector contributing to the UAE’s GDP growth, with a remarkable growth of 7.9 percent. This growth can be attributed to the significant increase in the local credit granted to the private sector, which led to a six percent growth and positively impacted the rebound of non-oil economic activities.

Following closely behind in the second place are transportation and storage activities, which grew 7.3 percent. This growth was driven by a notable increase in the number of travellers at the country’s airports during the first three months of this year, reaching 36.5 million travellers, a growth rate of 14.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

The UAE’s ports have demonstrated exceptional performance during this time, with Dubai’s international ports witnessing a 3.7 percent growth in the number of containers handled, while Abu Dhabi’s ports experienced a 36 percent increase in cargo handling volume on an annual basis.

Ranking third, construction and building activities experienced a growth rate of 6.2 percent, which aligns with the several development projects initiated by the UAE government in early 2024. They saw a substantial rise in the government’s public capital expenditures, reaching AED4.8 billion, compared to that of Q1 2023.

The restaurant and hotel sector secured the fourth spot with a 4.6 percent growth during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Moreover, the UAE emerged at the forefront of the global tourism landscape, attracting a substantial number of tourists from around the world.

In particular, Dubai witnessed a remarkable influx of 5.18 million international tourists, representing an 11 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Abu Dhabi also maintained its exceptional performance in key tourism indicators, including the average hotel occupancy rates and revenue per available rooms.

Trade activities made the largest contribution to the non-oil GDP, accounting for 16.1 percent. Manufacturing activities come in second at 14.6 percent, with financial and insurance activities ranking third at a rate of 13.4 percent.

Construction and building activities contribute 11.8 percent, followed by real estate activities with a contribution of 7.1 percent.

UAE advances 3 places, ranking 7th globally in 2024 World Competitiveness Report

18 Jun 2024

DUBAI, 18th June, 2024 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, stated that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and through the dedicated efforts of its people, continues to improve its standing each year, achieving higher ranks across various global competitiveness indicators.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, "In one of the most important global competitiveness reports issued by the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland, the UAE moved up three places, reaching seventh place globally. The UAE is also among the top ten globally in more than 90 key and sub-indicators in the 2024 World Competitiveness Report."

His Highness said, "Our thanks and appreciation go to all the teams in the government, economic, and development sectors who work with one spirit to achieve a single goal: the progress of the United Arab Emirates."

Building on last year’s achievement of entering the top 10, the UAE made a notable leap in the 2024 World Competitiveness report, advancing three positions to 7th place worldwide, ahead of Norway, Iceland, Japan, Canada and Finland.

The UAE performed exceptionally across various pillars of the report, ranking 2nd globally in Economic Performance, 4th in Government Efficiency, 10th in Business Efficiency.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated, "The UAE’s continuous presence at the forefront of this significant report reflects its status as one of the world’s most competitive economies. The exceptional vision and wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, have made the UAE a pioneering developmental model adaptable to ongoing global changes. This demonstrates the efficiency of the UAE government system, the flexibility of its business environment, and the readiness of its infrastructure."

Commenting on the results, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, praised the integration and governance of real-time data and statistics exchange between federal and local entities. Ahli said, "This achievement is due to dedicated teams committed to implementing the vision and directives of the government of the future, reinforcing the UAE’s leadership. These results reflect the solid principles of the competitiveness culture in the UAE.”

Top Rankings in Key Indicators

The World Competitiveness Report classifies the countries based on four main pillars and 20 sub-pillars encompassing 336 competitive indicators across various economic, administrative, and social fields, including government efficiency, education, and innovation. In this year’s report, the UAE advanced in all four main pillars.

The UAE ranked among the top 10 globally in over 90 key and sub-indicators. The UAE ranked 1st globally in 11 indicators including industrial disputes, labour force (%), employment (%), and household consumption expenditure- real growth.

The UAE secured 2nd place globally in 9 indicators, including tourism receipts, females in parliament, labour force growth, adaptably of government policy, and absence of bureaucracy.

The UAE ranked 3rd globally in 6 indicators including collected capital and property taxes, immigration laws, management of cities and percentage of government budget surplus.

The UAE also achieved 4th place in 12 indicators including consumer price inflation, long-term unemployment, international experience, overall productivity (ppp), labour regulation, and the balance of commercial services and employment in the public sector.

The UAE also achieved 5th place in 13 indicators including GDP (PPP) per capita, quality of air transportation, energy infrastructure, graduates in sciences, start-up procedures, unemployment legislation, foreign highly-skilled personnel, national culture, unemployment rate and tax evasion.

First published in 1989, the IMD World Competitiveness report is a comprehensive annual report and a global benchmark on the competitiveness of countries.

It offers insights into trends, benchmarking, and a wealth of statistics and survey data derived from extensive research. The report analyses and ranks countries based on their ability to manage competencies for sustainable long-term value creation.

Within the «Sustainability Journeys». Afforestation Week launched in Dubai schools

24 May 2024

General Secretariat of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals organized a new trip as part of the "Sustainability Trips" campaign, which was launched last year as part of the "Sustainability Initiatives" in support of the Year of Sustainability, announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, under the slogan "Today for Tomorrow", as part of the UAE government’s efforts to enhance community awareness of sustainability and the importance of achieving it, and to support the country’s achievements and successes in the 17 goals. Global to ensure the prosperity and quality of life of society.

The General Secretariat of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, in cooperation with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and Dubai Municipality, and with the participation of Dubai schools, launched the "Afforestation Week" campaign, which will continue until May 28, by planting seedlings in Dubai schools organized by Dubai Municipality.

Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, stressed that the sustainability travel initiatives are continuing to implement their strategy and achieve their goals in the UAE. It will contribute to the integration of our joint efforts at the state level, to motivate community members to adopt a conscious and sustainable lifestyle, for a brighter and more prosperous future.

Aisha Abdulla Meeran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, said: "We are delighted to participate in this wonderful initiative, in collaboration with our colleagues from supporting institutions and the educational community in Dubai, and we encourage educational institutions in Dubai to join such pioneering initiatives, which contribute to raising awareness among our students and society about sustainability and ways to preserve the environment in the UAE in order to ensure a prosperous future for future generations."

Initiative In the same context, Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: "The initiative reflects Dubai Municipality’s strategic efforts to preserve natural resources and expand cultivated green spaces, by following the best international standards and practices, which contribute to enhancing the sustainability of the environmental system in Dubai, improving air and soil quality, in addition to beautifying the city, while providing the best levels of quality of life for its residents, in a way that supports the municipality’s objectives in building a sustainable system for the environment and resources. Naturalism makes Dubai more attractive and sustainable every day."

He added: "Dubai Municipality has played an effective role in the cultivation and afforestation work over the past years, as it planted 170,339 trees in 2021 to reach 185,000 trees by the end of last year, which is a reflection of its intensive efforts to increase the per capita share of green spaces in balance with the population growth and urban expansion of the emirate."

It is worth noting that the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals was formed with the aim of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, aligning the UAE’s priorities with the UN goals, and exchanging experiences with local and international partners, to expand the circle of active participants in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

The National Committee on SDGs Discusses UAE’s Efforts in Monitoring Indicators for Achieving Development Goals

06 May 2024

The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasised the need to intensify efforts and accelerate implementation to achieve the desired progress in the 2030 sustainable development agenda nationally. This entails closely monitoring progress regarding the 17 goals 231 indicators, capitalising on opportunities, and fostering cooperation between the government and private sectors.

The committee also discussed its mandate and responsibilities, highlighting its crucial role in translating the UAE’s directives and bolstering its involvement in international endeavours towards achieving global sustainable development goals.

This came during the inaugural meeting of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals under its new formation, led by His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs.

The Committee’s members include HE Brigadier General Dr. Rashid Al Dakhri, Deputy Director of the General Department of Strategy and Performance Development at the Ministry of Interior; HE Maria Hanif Al-Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for the Policy and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy; HE Hassan Obaid Al Mheiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Educational Services Sector at the Ministry of Education; HE Ahmed Al Nasser, Assistant Undersecretary of National Human Resources Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; HE Dr Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention; HE Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Community Development; HE Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; HE Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC); HE Nawal Alhanaee, Director of Future Energy Department at the Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; HE Rashid Al Humairi, Director of the Department of Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Shatha AlHashmi, Advisor at the Government Experience Exchange Office, Committee Rapporteur.

The National Committee for SDGs undertakes several main tasks, including: coordinating with relevant entities to align and review national policies, strategies, and targets with the sustainable development goals; building and strengthening national capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals and addressing challenges through partnerships locally and globally; preparing national reports on the country’s progress and efforts to achieve SDGs; and coordinating with authorities to compile and publish related data on SDGs at the UAE level.

Abdulla Lootah emphasised that the UAE’s leadership prioritises the attainment of sustainable development goals, adopting a vision centred on accelerating their achievement and enhancing international participation in these endeavours. He noted that the announcement made by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE in 2024, as an extension of the Year of Sustainability declared in 2023, reaffirms the UAE’s steadfast commitment in this area.

Lootah stated that since its formation, the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals has consistently aligned with the country’s directives and national initiatives aimed at realising the SDGs. Additionally, it has actively contributed to enhancing the UAE’s involvement and leadership in supporting international initiatives towards these objectives. He emphasised the significance of the committee’s efforts in expanding project initiatives, launching new programmes, and intensifying actions to monitor progress in achieving development goals at the national level, thereby accelerating their fulfilment across various sectors.

During the meeting, the members of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals discussed the role of the Committee’s General Secretariat and the responsibilities of its members. They received an update on the progress of the UAE in achieving the SDGs and discussed the Committee members’ role in advancing these goals and accelerating the pace of work towards their achievement.

The meeting reviewed the efforts of the General Secretariat since the committee’s new formation, including its organisation of introductory and technical meetings in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. These meetings focused on discussing the national Data plan for SDGs and reviewing the achievements of ministries and government entities in implementing their indicators.

The attendees discussed the outcomes of the progress report on the adoption of the national plan for sustainable development data, as well as the mechanisms for monitoring goal achievement and conducting periodic reviews with technical work teams to assess progress levels. They also addressed the key initiatives launched and facilitated by the General Secretariat of the National Committee.

Additionally, the meeting reviewed the outcomes of the SDGs in Action Forum, held as part of the World Governments Summit activities, the SDG Young Leaders Programme, and the UAE’s participation in two Voluntary National Reviews assessing global sustainable development goal achievement levels. They also discussed the readiness to submit the voluntary review in 2026 and preparations to participate in the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum for SDGs and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in the United Nations.

The National Committee on SDGs was established to implement 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.

The UAE Joins United Nations Statistical Commission As Member

05 May 2024

The United Nations has selected the UAE as a member of the Statistical Commission, one of the eight technical committees affiliated with the Organization’s Economic and Social Council, for its next session from 2025 to 2028. This membership marks a significant milestone for the country, being the first of its kind since the Commission’s founding in 1946.

The country’s selection for membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission aligns with efforts to enhance the UAE’s participation in international initiatives. It also provides an international platform for sharing the UAE’s advanced models, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of statistical analysis worldwide. Additionally, it supports the establishment of digital platforms for data exchange.

The Statistical Commission, composed of 24 countries elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, stands as the apex of the global statistical system. Serving as the primary entity uniting senior statisticians and experts, it holds responsibility for decision-making regarding international statistical activities, as well as for developing statistical standards and ensuring their implementation on both national and international levels.

H.E. Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), affirmed that the UAE’s election to membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission reflects the nation’s leadership in digitalising the statistical system and its prominent global standing. This achievement underscores the wise leadership’s commitment to bolstering the country’s active involvement in enhancing government operations overall, as well as strengthening the statistical sector’s capabilities both nationally and internationally.

Hanan Ahli highlighted that the statistical system in the UAE, supported by local statistical centres, harnesses technology, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence techniques. This transformation has evolved the system from a mere collector of information and data to an integrated platform supporting strategic planning and nurturing innovative solutions to address future challenges. This process relies on a scientific and practical methodology in data analysis.

She pointed out that the UAE’s membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission will serve as a crucial platform for sharing distinguished Emirati experiences and exchanging statistical knowledge with countries possessing exemplary expertise in this domain.

Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Science Sector at FCSC, emphasised that the UAE’s election as the only Gulf country to the United Nations Statistical Commission reflects its effective role in developing solutions for utilising data to support the achievement of global sustainable development goals. This is evidenced by its embrace of the UN’s Regional Hub for Big Data for Sustainable Development platform, which aims to enhance the capabilities of the statistical community in the Middle East and North Africa region and leverage big data and artificial intelligence techniques to advance the statistics sector.

The UAE’s membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission supports its contribution to leading global statistical thought. It enables effective participation in decision-making for global statistical activities, fosters the development of statistical standards, concepts, and methods, and offers opportunities to learn about the best international statistical practices, standards, and methodologies. Moreover, it facilitates the adoption and adaptation of best practices developed by countries worldwide in the field of statistics, in collaboration with international organisations.

The country’s membership amplifies efforts to showcase the UAE’s achievements in developing the statistics and data sector, share its distinguished Emirati experience in this field, and raise awareness of the role of artificial intelligence solutions, laws, and legislation in advancing statistical work for future endeavours.

Videos

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

30 Apr 2026

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

30 Apr 2026

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

30 Apr 2026

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

30 Apr 2026

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

30 Apr 2026

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

30 Apr 2026

Media Kit

Publications

Press Release

Social Media

Contact us

e-Participation Policy

Feedback & Suggestions

Moderation Policy

Services

Media Center

DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

Do you find this content helpful?

“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

Highlight the strength of the Unified UAE Numbers to support the UAE’s global competitiveness journey.

Ensure the highest levels of transparency and accuracy in producing national data.

Reduce duplication and support mechanisms for integration and coordination between federal and local data-producing entities.

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

Raise statistical awareness among individuals in society through interactive visual content.

إبـــــراز قـــــوة أرقـــــام الإمـــــارات المـــــوحدة، لدعـــــم مسيـــــرتنــــــا في التنــــــافسيــــــة العــــــالميــــــة.

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.

Media Center

DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

Close X

Date will get updated

“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

Highlight the strength of the Unified UAE Numbers to support the UAE’s global competitiveness journey.

Ensure the highest levels of transparency and accuracy in producing national data.

Reduce duplication and support mechanisms for integration and coordination between federal and local data-producing entities.

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

Raise statistical awareness among individuals in society through interactive visual content.

مبــــــادرة "رســـــــمي"

تهـــدف علامــــة اعتمــــاد "رســــمي" لـ:

إبـــــراز قـــــوة أرقـــــام الإمـــــارات المـــــوحدة، لدعـــــم مسيـــــرتنــــــا في التنــــــافسيــــــة العــــــالميــــــة.

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.