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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Positive Growth Rates Surpass Expectations: UAE Economy Demonstrates Resilience with a 7.9% Growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Abdullah bin Touq:
· The UAE government adopts an innovative economic model that serves its future vision through the adoption of flexible economic policies that align with global changes.
· The numbers confirm the robust economic performance of the country, achieving positive growth rates that exceeded the estimates of analysts and specialized international institutions.
· Estimates of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices for the year 2022 exceeded 1.86 trillion dirhams, and at constant prices, 1.62 trillion dirhams.
Dubai, June 25 (WAM) – Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri affirmed that the preliminary estimates for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UAE for the year 2022, issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, confirm the resilience of the country’s economic performance. It achieved positive growth rates that exceeded the estimates of analysts and specialized international institutions. The GDP of the country in 2022, at constant prices, reached 1.62 trillion dirhams, achieving a positive growth of 7.9%. At current prices, it reached 1.86 trillion dirhams, with an increase exceeding 337 billion dirhams compared to 2021, achieving a growth of 22.1%. This reflects the wisdom of the economic policies pursued by the government of the UAE and confirms the strength and stability of the UAE economy amid the global economic conditions and geopolitical repercussions.
His Excellency said: " The government of the United Arab Emirates, thanks to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, may God preserve him, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the State, the Prime Minister, the Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, works on building an innovative economic model that serves its future vision. This is achieved by adopting flexible economic policies that rely on speed and accuracy in responding to global changes. The government also embraces stimulating economic strategies, proactive economic plans based on economic diversification, and improvements in economic procedures and legislation. This preserves the country’s status as an attractive investment environment continuously, enhances foreign trade, and openness to the world as a component of international economic relations. The success and integration of these policies meet the requirements of sustainable development, achieve economic prosperity, and ensure a decent life for all citizens and residents of the country. Moreover, they contribute to establishing the leadership and competitiveness of the UAE at both regional and international levels."
H.E Hanan Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, commented, "The results and figures achieved confirm that the country’s economy continues to grow, both at the overall level and in terms of key economic sectors and activities. This contributes to reinforcing the policy of economic diversification by increasing the relative importance of non-oil activities in the national economy. It aligns with the state’s economic policies to reduce reliance on the oil economy, establish a knowledge-based and innovative economy, and enhance non-oil national industries."
Her Excellency added, "The per capita share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the UAE has grown by an unprecedented rate of 24.7% over the past six years, despite the annual increase in the population. In 2022, the per capita share of the GDP achieved a growth rate of 21.1% compared to 2021, confirming the resilience and success of the UAE economy. It also affirms the success of the economic policies pursued by the government in achieving prosperity and a high quality of life in the society of the UAE."
Enhancing the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022.
The activation of innovative economic initiatives related to non-oil sectors and activities positively contributed to enhancing the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022. The GDP at constant prices amounted to 1 trillion, 623 billion, and 517 million dirhams. The non-oil GDP at constant prices reached 1 trillion, 174 billion, and 615 million dirhams, achieving positive growth across vital sectors.
According to preliminary estimates of the Gross Domestic Product released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, the value added to transport and storage activities had the largest share of growth in the GDP at constant prices, unprecedentedly reaching 20.2% compared to 2021. This was driven by an increase in international flight passengers and the country’s growth in air transport movements, with national airlines achieving the highest growth rate in recent years in this tourism-related sector.
The accommodation and food services sector, reflecting hotel and restaurant activities, also experienced significant growth of 13.2%. Additionally, health and social services activities demonstrated remarkable growth, reaching 13% compared to 2021.
The non-oil sectors played a crucial role in supporting the national economy and enhancing the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The manufacturing industries achieved added value in the GDP amounting to 179 billion dirhams, registering a growth rate of 8.7% compared to 2021. The most significant contribution of non-oil sectors to the GDP was represented by the value added in the wholesale and retail trade activity, reaching approximately 206 billion dirhams. This accounted for a contribution rate of 12.7% to the UAE’s overall GDP.
Real estate activities also experienced growth in 2022, amounting to 12% with a value of around 90 billion dirhams in GDP at constant prices. The positive growth in non-oil activities also had a favorable impact on the financial and insurance sector, which achieved a growth rate of 8.4%, contributing 134 billion dirhams to the overall constant GDP in 2022.
Dubai, Feb. 16 (WAM) — In a move to promote digital transformation in the UAE and to employ big data to support decision-making, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCCC) announced on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, which concluded yesterday in Dubai, the signing of cooperation agreements and strategic partnerships with the aim of benefiting from the large inventory of big data produced by major international and national companies producing data, thus contributing to supporting decision-making and building development policies and strategic initiatives.
The cooperation and partnership agreements signed by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center included the signing of an agreement with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, as well as an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim, one of the oldest national brands with a regional reach, which owns a major chain of shopping malls, stores and entertainment establishments in the Middle East and North Africa.
– Visa and partnership in vital sectors.
Under the cooperation agreement with Visa, the UAE government, represented by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, will be able to develop development initiatives. Based on the data provided by Visa to the health, education, tourism, consumption and other vital sectors data, which contributes to drawing an accurate perception of reality that is reflected on the community through innovative government initiatives, which contribute to improving the quality of life and promoting sustainable well-being.
– Majid Al Futtaim, mutual collaboration for knowledge partnerships. According to the agreement signed between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and Majid Al Futtaim, the two parties will work together to cooperate in the fields of statistical data and information, exchange experiences and information to enhance the country’s competitiveness in global reports and indicators, in addition to cooperation in the implementation of statistical surveys, training and holding seminars and workshops related to data science and statistics.
Joe Abi Akl, Chief Corporate Development Officer and Chief Communications Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding, stressed the importance of strategic partnerships and understandings between the public and private sectors, which represent an added value in optimizing the use of data to support innovative initiatives and knowledge-based government policies.
It is worth noting that all data The resulting agreements of understanding concluded between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center and its strategic partners are guaranteed confidentiality and protected by the Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data, which represents an integrated framework to ensure the confidentiality of information, and protect the privacy of community members by providing sound governance for data management and protection, as the law defines the general frameworks for dealing with data, how to collect, process and store it, means to ensure its protection, and the rights and duties of all concerned parties.
Dubai, Dec. 8 (WAM) – The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years, during this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing its sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the Uzbekistan Economic Forum, organized by the government of Uzbekistan in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
The delegation’s participation comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the experiences of the UAE government.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
She expressed her pride in sharing the UAE government model and highlighting its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years. During this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the "Economic Achievements and Future Prospects of Uzbekistan" forum, organized by the Uzbek government in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
This participation is part of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the UAE government’s experience.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ahli expressed her pride in sharing the exceptional UAE government model and shedding light on its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
It’s worth noting that the strategic partnership agreement in government modernization between the UAE government and the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed two years ago, aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and successful experiences in governmental work across various areas, including governmental accelerators, excellence, quality, services, smart applications, performance, government innovation, leadership programs, capacity building, programming, the future of education and the economy, global competitiveness, and business ease, among others, with the goal of positively impacting the development of Uzbekistan’s governmental system.
Dubai, March 30 2022- Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State, affirmed For International Cooperation Affairs, Chairperson of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, The UAE government adopts the Sustainable Development Goals and supports the visions of nations United Nations in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, for the good of societies and peoples.
He came This was during the work of the Sustainable Development Goals Forum within the summit activities World Government 2022, organized under the theme "New Horizons for the Future" Humanity" organized by the UAE government at Expo 2020 Dubai with the participation of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, Officials of International Organizations and Global Experts and future forward-lookers.
H.E. Wafil Ramkalawan, President of the Republic of Seychelles, participated in the forum. H.E. María Juliana Ruiz, First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, and H.E. Edouard Ngerente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, and Her Excellency Reem Bent Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairperson of the Committee National SDGs, and His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister UAE Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Amina Shona, Minister Environment, climate change and technology in the Maldives.
H.E. Mari-Ilka Bangistu, Director General of Policies Development and Partnerships at the World Bank, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in Indonesia, H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Speaker of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for the Objectives of Sustainable Development, and H.E. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the Fund International Monetary Fund. And a number of Their Excellencies and Excellencies officials in the government of the State UAE, and the chairs and members of the Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy stressed that the launch of the Development Goals Forum Sustainable Project, from Expo 2020 Dubai, reflects the UAE’s message and its pursuit of the good of human societies and the sustainability of the planet, and translates the directives of The wise leadership of the need to intensify efforts to achieve global development goals, Strengthening international frameworks to accelerate the achievement of the Global Development Goals Sustainable.
Her Excellency added that the importance of this forum lies in the fact that it frames visions and directions. for the next stage, and contributes to strengthening the role of the global councils in their session The second in line with the global trends of the future, and contributes to the empowerment of governments and communities to actively participate in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, She expressed the thanks of the UAE government for all the international efforts being made Which met on the land of the UAE through Expo 2020 Dubai, and carried a message state The UAE in love and peace, and strengthening partnerships to serve humanity for all The peoples of the world.
His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that this Global gathering at the Forum contributes through the World Government Summit to Foreseeing a sustainable future for human societies, and building capacity to accelerate efforts Achieving sustainable development goals by investing in solutions Sustainability, building competencies and expertise, and pioneering sustainable development thought Develop a clear strategy to ensure that we keep pace with the requirements of future generations, By employing all future foresight tools, which help us anticipate opportunities Future challenges and repercussions, analyzing their impacts, and developing innovative solutions to them, providing alternatives to them, in addition to stimulating and pushing resources and technologies Information, culture, expertise and innovations to achieve development goals in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
For his part, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said: Digital Economy and Telework Applications, Director, World Summit Foundation For Governments: The World Summit Governments form a global platform that inaugurates a covenant A new and bright new sustainable development that embodies the UAE’s efforts The world’s leading and forward-looking vision of its wise leadership in building A more sustainable future for all humanity" He added: "The SDG Global Councils represented a qualitative addition for international efforts aimed at accelerating the achievement of development goals, and that the role of It has been playing a major role since its transformation from an idea to an idea. A comprehensive international initiative through the World Government Summit platform that provides Councils have the optimal environment to bring together decision-makers and thought leaders from the disciplines of And multiple countries to address the most important issues and files in the world at the level of sustainability".
His Excellency praised the pioneering role of the UAE government in supporting the achievement of the goals of The global sustainability agenda, and its keenness to launch initiatives aimed at accelerating Implementing them in a way that reflects positively on communities around the world.
Addressing the forum, H.E. Catherine Russell, Executive Director The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has the important role it plays The UAE in terms of strengthening The role of international organizations working in the field of Supporting Childhood, she said: "We have made excellent efforts to support childhood, and dedicate the right to Children in quality education, access to necessary health care, and life But it is still in front of the world, whether governments or international organizations. Or the private sector, a lot to do especially in light of the disasters surrounding childhood around the world, whether as a result of the repercussions of the Covid pandemic, or as a result of crises geopolitics around the world".
Russell said that the countries of the world agreed 7 years ago to adopt development goals. UNICEF was fortunate to collaborate with the UAE to Achieving these goals, she continued, "While we have made progress on this Framework, we have also seen some decline due to the challenges of the pandemic and change climate and the current conflicts that threaten the march of this progress. We must We put children’s rights at the heart of global agendas, and we must invest in Social protection programs. Some 23 million children are unvaccinated. essential in 2020 alone, as we have to deal with the health problem The psychology facing many children and adolescents around the world."
Russell added: "The focus must be on children in low-income communities. as The return of children to classrooms and education must be ensured. The pandemic has forced Millions of women around the world are losing their jobs, and there are ten million A child is at risk of early marriage. There are millions of children who do not They have access to clean water and sanitation services. So we can’t Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals without tangible progress on children."
On the other hand, the forum witnessed the participation of His Excellency Val Ramcallon, President of the Republic of Seychelles, who was interviewed by H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Presidency of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs Vice President of the Global Councils for the purposes of Sustainable development.
During the dialogue session, His Excellency the President of Seychelles pointed out that the development goals Sustainable has been an integral part of his life since childhood, noting that the population of Seychelles are keen not to waste water and conserve resources, stressing that the objectives of Sustainable development 13, 14 and 15 specifically address their vulnerabilities An island country like Seychelles that is surrounded by water on all sides.
said On the impact of youth and their role in the future, "We must convey values important to the younger generation and to give them a better future so that they can provide This promising future for the generations to come, as young people should remember that Their actions affect the world in one way or another."
On the theme "Transformational Leadership: New Horizons for the Future of Humanity", H.E. Mary Elka Bangistu, Director-General for Development Policy and Partnerships World Bank, former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic Indonesia, a speech in which she noted that the Sustainable Development Goals represent A map of our common future that we want to build for future generations, stressing that The meeting of 150 countries on these goals was difficult, and the performance of any country in The achievement of these goals depends on its leadership.
Her Excellency said: "The SDGs are interconnected and multiple. purposes, so we should simplify them and turn them into easy goals, and we should There shall be cooperation between local and central governments, companies and entities Academic and society at large, and to allow citizens to engage in these operation".
Another panel discussion on The same topic with the participation of His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, United Nations Special Envoy on financing the 2030 Agenda, and Her Excellency Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government Community development in the Republic of Seychelles.
H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei said: "The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, directives to stop the burning of associated gas for production operations, which contributed to the launch of an initiative to stop gas flaring completely in Our national companies, at a time when other international companies Burn natural gas. In 2007, we started thinking about diversifying the energy mix. We have, and we also launched the first peaceful nuclear program in the region, where we celebrated Recently the commissioning of the second nuclear plant, where the two plants provide 1400 megawatts of energy."
"We seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 70% by 2050, and the diversification of the energy mix as well, and this contributed to the impact on More than 40 countries are on sustainability projects. There is no doubt that these efforts come thanks to The presence of leaders Wise, and this is clearly embodied in the UAE."
H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: "There is no doubt about the importance of leadership in dealing with With the most important challenges, the importance of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank To address the challenges facing the SDGs, there are many Strong institutions that exist in each country, and should take advantage of these institutions to provide solutions to our challenges. The impact of events The last world will be big on fuel, food and financial issues and the economy and fertilizer so there will be a long-term impact on food production, We must have immediate solutions in the short term, and the world must come together to We avoid food crises and famine.
H.E. Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government and Development, said: Society of the Republic of Seychelles: "When I became a minister 17 months ago, I was keen to Motivating my team and enabling them to understand the plans of the new government, as I was keen to Talk to my fellow ministers in the government so that they can understand the role of our ministry, We started implementing a program for change, focusing on encouraging everyone and networking. With. The Government of Seychelles is committed very implement the Sustainable Development Goals, but We can’t implement it alone, we need the support of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. government and support our people as well."
On the subject of advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to prosper Humanitarian, H.E. Florin Sabataro, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Romania, in which he said: "Leaders must provide sustainable solutions on Short, medium and long term. We must also ensure that global growth is More comprehensive.
"We also need to promote a circular economy, competitiveness and the development of The private sector, and rethinking leadership development strategies. The two sectors Public and private need a new form of leadership development to reconfigure Our strategies to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."
Another panel discussion was attended by H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chairman Executive Director, Dubai Cares, and His Excellency Dr. Manal Taryam, Executive Director, DHA Primary Health Care, Executive Director and Board Member Trustees of Noor Dubai Foundation and Dr. Sonia Bin Jaafar, CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation For education.
H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg said: "There are around 250 million children out of school. 750 million children and adolescents cannot read or write. We can’t solve These problems if we are not united and work collectively. And if we don’t In coordination and cooperation, these obstacles and problems will continue. States must Adopts new educational systems to replace the old systems that were implemented 120 years ago years."
"Dubai Cares has been designing a new education system during for the past five years, and I am pleased to announce this system at this meeting.
All United Nations bodies and multilateral institutions have agreed to this. system, and we will unveil it soon."
H.E. Dr. Manal Taryam said: "The implementation of Development and maintenance is not easy. It is critical that we provide Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. And we have many programs In several countries it suits the culture and diversity of each country. And what helped us to reach More than 30 million beneficiaries is understanding what the environment in which we operate and the culture of The people and partners we collaborate with."
She said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar: "In March 2020, 13 million students did not return Universities in the Arab world are able to study at their universities due to the pandemic Surprisingly, but e-learning was a magic tool that helped Continued education. We have learned from this that change is possible, and that it is important New strategies can be undertaken in this regard. We must move towards New systems of partnerships based on shared values around development goals sustainable".
In a session entitled "Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals: Ambassadors Change for limitless possibilities", delivered by His Excellency Ayman Almoayyed, Minister of Youth And sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a speech in which he said: "We rely in Bahrain on 5 The pillars are the exchange of ideas, where we ministers meet every Thursday to network. Exchange of expertise, experiences and lessons learned, in addition to localization of experiences programs, communication and awareness, promoting optimal feelings of confidence, pillar The fifth depends on the replay of this course, which turns us into ambassadors of change real."
Mary Amy Bury, General Manager of Positive Impact Finance, said: Societe Generale for Banking and Investment in the same session: "I see that you must focus on impact first to obtain funding, because showing value The positive impact helps to support access to funding, and can be This is through existing initiatives rather than new ones."
Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, said: Holding, saying: "The momentum must be maintained in the private sector, we have been able to Identify the problem and challenges and focus on solutions and opportunities immediately, and we By integrating these solutions into our business model to increase revenues, there is no doubt that the UAE Serves as an excellent example at the level of the Global Development Goals Councils sustainable so that it can be replicated at the government and private sector levels."
Khawla Al Muhairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and government communication with DEWA, the importance of supporting policymakers at the local and international level to understand the sustainable development goals, noting that SDG Global Councils are a good model for partnerships collaborative, and that these councils are able to develop integrated policy solutions.
Saw Another session entitled "Empowering Communities and the Future of Education and Health and Technology" with the participation of H.E. Amina Shona, Minister of Environment and Change Climate and Technology, Republic of Maldives, and Isabel Abulhoul, Director Executive and Board Member of the Emirates Literature Foundation, and Clint Brown, Director Product Engineering at Esri, Claire Cassie, Global Director of Policy and Insights In the Economist Impact.
H.E. Amina Shona said: "Building a resilient nation that is able to adapt to Climate change requires investment in human capacity, education and care Healthy. The only way we can tackle climate change is Invest in human capital and prepare young people for the impact of climate change. I More than 90% of the Maldives are vaccinated, and we have been able to open up our country Again for tourism after three months of closure. And we relied on technology intensively during the pandemic for development and climate surveillance."
Isabel Abulhoul, Executive Director and Board Member Emirates Literature Foundation: "I came to the UAE in 1968, and you weren’t Life then is the same as it is now There was a scarcity of water. So the population was Careful not to waste resources, and this has had a profound positive impact on Myself, as Dubai is known for its ability to find solutions to every problem, and we have been able to In our turn, we found solutions, and in light of the pandemic, we held events in the air We were open while adhering to social distancing and we used technology as well."
Clint Brown said: "Over the last two years, technology has evolved further. of its development over the past ten years. Five years from now, he will enter High school students to the workforce. So there’s a lot of effort that They should be made to support them and train the next generation of professionals. They will have to Also learn ways to live sustainably and recycle in ways we never imagined. The The younger generation is able to contribute in this context."
Claire Cassie said: "What helps us promote social resilience is taking Evidence-based decisions, data and measurement. This tool is suitable in Empower policymakers to make decisions. We must learn how to respond To improve our systems and develop new structures to be more prepared for any crisis Coming."
In turn, H.E. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, closing speech in which he pointed out that the world is gathering today under the dome of the summit Global governments in person two years after the pandemic, noting that this Reflects what can be achieved when countries cooperate with each other to achieve a goal Shared. "The 2030 Agenda provides a general path and goal in which all are committed to States. We aspire to provide high quality for all citizens, and The Sustainable Development Goals are fully in our national agenda."
"The recovery from the pandemic must be driven by economies and more environmentally friendly communities. 60% of Rwanda’s population is over 18. Years after vaccines, the country has shown promising signs of recovery. No doubt that this forum is an ideal occasion to reflect on our strategies and promote Our commitments and maintaining momentum in this decade. The 2030 Agenda is the ambitious and requires significant financial resources."
It reflects the high-level international participation that the forum enjoyed under the umbrella of World Government Summit, for decision-makers, elite experts and academics in Global Development Goals Councils Sustainable, its leading position The UAE and its pivotal role in supporting international efforts in this field, It confirms the high confidence that the international community places in the UAE and its ability to Implementing its commitments in this vital file and other global issues other.
On the sidelines of the forum, multidisciplinary dialogue sessions were held in which leaders participated. States, ministers and elite decision-makers in governments and international organizations academic institutions, community-based organizations and private sector companies, to shed light Highlighting innovative projects and discussing creative ideas aimed at implementing The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals at the national and global levels.
Participants discussed the capacity of the SDG Global Councils, With its unique network and the multiplicity of partnerships and specializations, to lay the foundation stone for the Transformational leadership, striving to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and drawing A brilliant future for future generations. In addition to the many topics that The world is concerned about sustainability and ways to achieve global goals.
The new session of the World Development Goals Councils features Sustainable by applying a more comprehensive model, so that the focus shifts from each committee’s work to a goal One exclusively, to work on an interconnected model that ensures a methodology that supports the processing of Different global goals in a single project, so that the framework can contain New for each council on a single "focus" goal, can also include a set of Other goals.
It is worth mentioning that the Global Councils for Development Goals initiative was launched Sustainable 2018 at the 2022 World Government Summit, which constitutes A leading global platform that brings together government leaders and ministers Senior officials, decision-makers, thought leaders and specialists in affairs financial, economic and social from different countries of the world, to exchange experiences Knowledge and ideas that contribute to foreseeing the future of governments, and host A variety of workshops, sessions and initiatives focused on the latest Trends and best practices in leading governments, delivering innovative solutions To anticipate global challenges.
Dubai, March 30 (WAM) – María Juliana Ruiz, the First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, affirmed that governments should provide opportunities for women to actively participate in promoting sustainable development in societies, as they are the foundation of change and progress. Without their involvement, countries cannot enter new stages of excellence, development, and advancement in all vital fields and sectors. She emphasized that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity for societies. These statements were made during her participation in a special session at the "Sustainable Development Goals Forum" held at the World Government Summit 2022.
Her Excellency said: “There is no doubt that the SDG Forum represents a very important event, as it discusses topics of great importance to communities in fighting poverty, providing quality education and health, and empowering Women and other global goals endorsed by countries in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, These urgent goals require serious work and alignment of national development plans worldwide with the Sustainable Development Goals, with policies designed to enhance their achievement."
She also expressed her strong belief in the power of partnerships and collective action to achieve these global goals, stating that she believed it is the best way to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in each of the 17 goals, which form ideal soil To cultivate in them our humanity for children, mothers and the elderly, as well as for the which form an ideal ground to nurture humanity for children, mothers, the elderly, and for the planet we all inhabit.
Furthermore, she discussed Colombia’s experience in working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She stated, "Colombia possesses valuable experience in human resource development, particularly in women’s empowerment. The percentage of higher education among Colombian women has increased, and a national strategy has been developed to enhance the skills of the youth in Colombia, along with legislation to curb violence in society, and other initiatives related to childhood, education, and health."
We are proud to have an agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We have sufficient capacity to achieve these goals through the presence of plans to implement them, Colombia is keen to support positive change, and women are the focus of This change, and we must unite efforts to work together, towards a better future.
Her Excellency concluded her speech by stressing that the World Government Summit Platform Inspiring governments and nations with the participation of leaders who inspire people, and on the ground The UAE, which has a world-leading experience, including Actively participate in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCSC) revealed the results of the UAE Security Quality of Life Survey 2021, which indicated that the level of trust in the police agencies in the country and their reliance in law enforcement exceeded 98.4%. The survey was conducted in the field and included a wide range of individuals in public places aged 18 years and over, males and females, in all emirates of the country. The field survey aimed to measure the opinion of the community in the UAE about the quality of security life in the country, the extent of the general impression of the community about the levels of feeling safe, the extent of trust in the Ministry of Interior agencies, the level of trust in police stations in the country and the extent to which they feel reliable by members of the community in the country.
Trust
Hanan Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said: "The results of the UAE Security Quality of Life Survey 2021 are among the highest in the world, and it is a source of pride and confidence in the security and police agencies shown by the community in the UAE, and the percentage of trust in the police in the country and its reliance in law enforcement exceeded 98.4%.
The percentage of feeling Safety when roaming alone outside the house at night 97.5%, as well as the result of the third indicator, which is to measure the extent of trust in the police station near you, achieved 96.4%.
Her Excellency continued: "The UAE Security Quality of Life Survey is one of the innovative surveys, which reflects an accurate impression of the reality of society, and the high confidence shown by the survey outputs in the police and security apparatus in the country, as well as the results of the global competitiveness reports issued by international institutions.
The UAE ranked first globally in the feeling of safely walking alone at night in the "Law and Order 2021" report issued by the international research firm "Gallup", and this advanced level achieved by the UAE in both field survey results or excellence in global competitiveness reports is attributed to the wise directives of the wise leadership in the country, and the tireless efforts made by the police and security agencies, led by the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of Lt. General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister. Minister of the Interior.
His Excellency Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics Sector at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center: "The high results achieved by the indicators of confidence in the Ministry of Interior and safety indicators, which were shown by the UAE Security and Quality of Life Survey, are a reflection of the extent of the UAE society’s confidence in the police and security apparatus in the country. Which was measured with high accuracy, through personal interviews that surveyed the opinions of those included in the random sample, and conducted by field researchers from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, as well as the teams of national statistical centers in the country".
Methodology
It is worth mentioning that the Security and Quality of Life Survey, which has been measured by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center since 2017, is carried out through an approved methodology designed within a representative sample of the community and collected through local statistics centers in the country. The data is analyzed, conclusions and outputs are drawn then recommendations and proposals get submitted to decision-makers to support the improvement of policies and the formulation of initiatives and improvement plans that increase the sense of security in the UAE society.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCSC) has signed an memorandum of understanding with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to enhance national capabilities in data science and artificial intelligence. This came within the activities of the " Mobilising Big Data and Data Science for the Sustainable Development Goals" forum, which was organized at Expo 2020 Dubai in cooperation with the United Nations Expert Group on Big Data and Official Statistics. The partnership seeks to establish a foundation for mutual strategic cooperation between national institutions in supporting youth issues, developing artificial intelligence applications and data science, and building national capacities to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals.
The agreement aims to consolidate strategic cooperation between the two parties by providing specialized training programs in the field of artificial intelligence and data science.
Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, said: "The signing of this agreement with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center represents an important step towards building national capabilities in the field of data and artificial intelligence by aligning projects and training programs with national goals, both employees and students at the university will benefit from this cooperation.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said that this memorandum represents a roadmap for joint cooperation and benefiting from artificial intelligence solutions and applications to be used by experts at the center to analyze and process data, as well as providing the opportunity to use data in the research and projects of university students as well as in the research of professors and researchers.
The UAE delegation participating in the Knowledge Lab at the UAE Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 showcased the nation’s vision and pioneering role in supporting global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The delegation also highlighted the UAE’s commitment to fostering international dialogue and building strategic partnerships that contribute to shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.
The sessions featured pioneering national experiences, innovative solutions, and forward-looking visions for the post-2030 era, reflecting the UAE’s continued commitment to supporting global initiatives aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.
Participation came as part of a series of dialogue sessions organized by the Government Experience Exchange Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, in collaboration with the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. The sessions were held during the “SDGs and Beyond: Future Society for Life Week “at the Knowledge Lab.”
The UAE delegation included a distinguished group of representatives from the Global Councils on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was led by H.E. Hessa bent Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
The delegation also included teams from the Government Experience Exchange Office and the General Secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, both responsible for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Among the members were H.E. Hamoud Al Junaibi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger); H.E. Eng. Marwan Bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); and H.E. Mohammed Alshamsi, Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Hessa Buhumaid: Achieving Sustainability Requires Joint International Efforts
H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid emphasized that the UAE’s participation in this global event reflects the country’s deep commitment to the spirit of collaboration and collective action, and its firm belief that achieving sustainability is only possible through united international efforts.
She added: “By sharing our national experiences and achievements in community development and individual empowerment, we seek to contribute positively to the global dialogue and to serve as an inspiration for nations striving toward a more just, inclusive, and sustainable shared future.”
H.E. Abdulla Lootah: Genuine Partnerships Turn Global Goals into Real Impact for Communities
H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said: “The UAE’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects our continued leadership in building genuine partnerships that translate global goals into tangible realities with a positive impact on people’s lives.”
He added: “Through the Government Experience Exchange Programme, we present pioneering national models that demonstrate that innovation and partnerships are the true drivers for building a more sustainable future. The UAE government continues to strengthen international cooperation and embed sustainable development as a constant approach to shaping a better future for coming generations, guided by the leadership’s vision in this field, as reflected in the Expo Dubai 2020 theme: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.’”
Partnerships Creating Global Impact in Support of SDG 17
The sessions reflected the objectives of the Government Experience Exchange Programme and embodied the overarching theme of Expo Osaka 2025: “Shaping the Future Society for Our Lives.” They emphasized the importance of global cooperation in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of human capital, sustainability, and innovation in government services.
Aligned with the UAE’s established vision of leveraging international partnerships as a driving force for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the Government Experience Exchange Office and the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals organized a series of dialogues and events. These initiatives reflected the UAE’s commitment to advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and reinforcing a multilateral approach to cooperation.
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National Initiatives and International Partnerships
Through the Global Councils on Sustainable Development Goals platform, the UAE showcased a range of successful national initiatives and international partnerships that have demonstrated tangible impact across various countries by exchanging expertise, sharing knowledge, and adopting innovative models in governance and development.
The meetings brought together a distinguished group of decision-makers and experts from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society, alongside delegations from countries participating in the Government Experience Exchange Programme, including Oman, Montenegro, Serbia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malta, and Japan.
The sessions organized by the Government Experience Exchange Programme under the titles “Government Experience Exchange Programme in the Field: Success Stories Driving Global Impact” and “UAE Knowledge Labs – Accelerating Innovation in Government Services” highlighted that the UAE’s experience in building partnerships serves as a global model for translating international cooperation into tangible outcomes. These efforts support the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda and create new opportunities for sustainable growth.
Together for Impact
The General Secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals organized a session titled “Together for Impact: Advancing Government Partnerships to Achieve SDG 17,” which highlighted the pivotal role of SDG 17 in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The session also served as a continuation of the outcomes of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum, which called for fair, innovative, and coordinated action to achieve comprehensive development worldwide.
Beyond 2030
The session titled “XDGs 2045: Charting the Future of Global Development” featured a global dialogue on the future of development beyond 2030. The discussion focused on the role of bold policies, inclusive leadership, and innovative partnerships in shaping a new development agenda. The session drew on the UAE’s initiative, “XDGs 2045,” launched in 2023 at the World Governments Summit, highlighting how global goals can be translated into tangible national impact and how cross-border solutions can be shared to support the building of a fairer and more sustainable future for generations to come.
This approach is based on the UAE’s strong commitment to global cooperation and sustainable development. Through its active participation in platforms such as the Global Councils on Sustainable Development Goals, the UAE has highlighted impactful initiatives and successful partnerships that are being scaled and implemented worldwide, providing a space for exchanging knowledge and experiences and showcasing practical solutions that create tangible impact in communities around the world.
It is worth noting that the series of meetings and sessions organized by the Government Experience Exchange Office and the General Secretariate of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals at the UAE Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 reflect the UAE government’s efforts to transfer best governmental practices and expertise to friendly and sister countries, while enhancing international cooperation in the fields of government modernization, future foresight, and supporting the development journey.
Hanan Ahli: The wise leadership has laid the foundations of an advanced statistical system that translates its vision for the future.
Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi: Statistics are a tool for development and a voice of progress and prosperity.
Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi: Integration is the cornerstone for building a unified national data system.
Younus Al Nasser: Accurate data is the true engine for shaping a prosperous future.
Hajar Saeed Al-Hubaishi: Integration in data production tells the UAE’s success story in a single language.
Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi: Data is a fundamental pillar for planning and development.
Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi: Data is a fundamental pillar for planning and development.
Ibrahim Saad Mohammed: Unifying statistical efforts is an investment in a prosperous future.
Dubai, 19 October 2025: The United Arab Emirates, represented by the National Bureau of Statistics, chaired by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and including local statistical centres and executive councils, joins countries around the world in celebrating World Statistics Day, which falls on 20 October. The day has been observed every five years since its declaration by the United Nations in 2010. It aims to highlight the importance of statistical data in development and decision-making, and its essential role in tracking countries’ progress toward their goals.
The UAE’s statistical system celebrates this global occasion in its fourth edition since its launch in 2010, under the theme: “Accurate Statistics and Reliable Data: Driving Change and Shaping a Better Future for All.” The celebration builds on a rich legacy of qualitative achievements in the UAE’s statistical journey, alongside an ambitious vision for the future, paving the way for a new decade of statistical transformation. With this shift, the national statistical system is moving from a focus on censuses and fieldwork toward proactive analysis and impact creation, solidifying the UAE’s leadership as a country that shapes the future through data.
On this occasion, H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said: “We join countries around the world in celebrating World Statistics Day, which reflects the important and active role of statistical agencies in supporting development pathways and data-driven decision-making, while confidently and innovatively anticipating the future.”
She added: “The UAE’s statistical system is undergoing a new phase of transformation, in which we harness advanced technology, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence techniques to move from the concept of data collection to an integrated system that supports strategic planning and the formulation of future policies, based on a sophisticated scientific approach to data analysis and utilization.” Hanan Ahli continued:: “Statistics in the UAE go beyond numbers to become the language of the future, reflecting our reality and guiding our development journey. By unifying efforts at both the federal and local levels to disseminate the UAE’s unified data, we strengthen the country’s position as a global model for data accuracy and quality, supported by the wise leadership and in active partnership with statistical centers.”
On his part, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development – Sharjah, said: “Statistics are a tool for development and a voice of progress and prosperity. Through unified and collaborative efforts, we turn data into insight, and insight into action., and decisions into a better reality for the nation’s people.”
H.E. Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “Statistical integration between federal and local entities is a fundamental pillar for building a unified national statistical system that accurately reflects the UAE’s developmental reality and enables decision-makers to gain evidence-based insights.”
He added: “With the transition toward an AI-enhanced government, we are working together to develop an intelligent system that links data to policies, transforming numbers into forward-looking insights that contribute to building a more prosperous and sustainable future, embodying our wise leadership’s vision of fostering a knowledge-based economy and establishing the UAE as a pioneer in anticipating and shaping the future.”
H.E. Younus Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment – Digital Dubai, said: “This year’s celebration of World Statistics Day comes with a different character, as it does not merely remind us of the importance of numbers, but celebrates an era in which statistics transform from measurement tools into instruments for foresight and decision-making.”
He added: “In the UAE, federal and local efforts have been unified within a comprehensive national system that speaks in a single language about the reality of development, presenting the world with a model for transforming data into knowledge and knowledge into tangible impact in people’s lives. Today, statistics have become a living language that tells the story of a nation advancing through accurate data and ambitious visions.”
H.E. Dr. Hajar Saeed Al-Hubaishi, Director General of the Ajman Statistics Centre, said: “Every Emirati statistical figure carries a success story behind it. Through our effective national integration in data production, we ensure that the UAE’s success story is told in a single, accurate, and clear language to the entire world.”
H.E. Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Executive Council – Umm Al Quwain, said: “World Statistics Day reminds us that data is the fundamental pillar for planning and development. In collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, we enhance the quality of our figures and data and unify the UAE’s statistical message.”
H.E. Najwa Yacoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre, said: “When efforts are integrated at both the local and federal levels, statistics transform into a cohesive and effective national system that accurately reflects the UAE’s achievements and documents its journey toward global leadership.”
H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Saad Mohammed, Director General of the Fujairah Statistics Centre, said: “Unifying our statistical efforts across the UAE is our investment in a prosperous future. Every accurate piece of information contributes to building more efficient policies and more sustainable development, reflecting the aspirations of our wise leadership.”
Statistics in the UAE: Decades of Achievements
Since its inception with the formation of the Union, the UAE’s statistical work has recorded numerous qualitative achievements in building an advanced statistical system that keeps pace with the latest global standards. The first decade of this journey, from 1971 to 1981, marked the beginning of the need to establish a planning and statistical system to support the construction of the new state. This period witnessed the establishment of the federal planning structure, the formulation of an initial vision for the UAE’s developmental policies, and the launch of the first general census of population and establishments nationwide in 1975.
The second decade of the UAE’s statistical journey, from 1982 to 1991, focused on transforming oil revenues into measurable indicators within development plans. This was achieved by providing comprehensive databases for urban and economic planning, issuing annual reports and development-supporting studies, and expanding the implementation of federal census programs in 1980 and 1985.
During the third decade, from 1992 to 2001, the UAE adopted the approach of “comprehensive and balanced development” and regional planning across the seven emirates to enhance transparency and evaluate developmental performance. During this period, the country also participated regionally in several meetings, including those of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
Institutionalizing Statistics
The fourth decade, from 2002 to 2011, marked the true beginning of institutionalizing statistical work in the UAE and linking federal development plans with economic policies. This was achieved through updating the methods of presenting and publishing statistical and economic data and establishing the Supreme Committee for Coordinating Joint Statistical Work at the national level for the first time. These efforts helped enhance global competitiveness indicators based on statistics and data. During this period, the UAE also made its first representation at the United Nations Statistical Commission meetings in 2011.
Decade of Culmination and Leadership
Upon reaching its fifth decade in 2012, extending to the present, the UAE’s statistical system crowned its journey with numerous fruitful initiatives and achievements. This period marked a turning point in the country’s statistical history and the beginning of a new era of statistical transformation, during which the national statistical system shifted from censuses and fieldwork to proactive analysis and impact creation. This transformation solidifies the UAE’s leadership as a country that shapes the future through data, positioning statistics as a central pillar in achieving the nation’s development journey under the “We the UAE 2031” vision, leading up to the UAE Centennial 2071.
During its fifth decade, the UAE also joined the United Nations Statistical Commission for the 2025–2028 term, supporting its contribution to leading global statistical thinking and actively participating in decisions regarding international statistical activities. During this period, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, launched the “Unified UAE Numbers” project, one of the national initiatives aimed at developing and enhancing the national statistical system and supporting the country’s progress across various economic, demographic, social, and environmental sectors. Additionally, the UAE government launched the Data Index, designed according to best practices and global standards in statistics and data management, with the aim of enhancing governmental performance efficiency and measuring progress in national data governance. The UAE also hosts the regional headquarters of the United Nations Big Data Platform for Sustainable Development.
A New Phase
As it enters its sixth decade of statistical excellence, the UAE continues its journey of innovation and leadership, guided by a vision that transforms data into foresight and progress.. The wise leadership has laid the foundations for an integrated national statistical system at all levels, ushering in a new phase that leverages intelligent analysis, predictive models, and artificial intelligence technologies to transform data into forward-looking knowledge that shapes decision-making and guides the future.
Majed Al Mesmar: These achievements reflect the UAE’s steady progress towards global leadership.
Hanan Ahli: The results reflect the UAE’s leading position in digital transformation regionally and globally.
The UAE has ranked 9th globally and 1st in the region in the World Digital Competitiveness Report 2025 issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. The ranking strengthens the UAE’s position among the world’s top 10 digital performers, reaffirming its regional leadership and outperforming several advanced global economies. It also underscores the UAE’s ability to keep pace with rapid technological shifts and to build a fully integrated digital development model driven by innovation, artificial intelligence, and human capital.
His Excellency Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) stated that “The UAE ranking 9th globally in the 2025 Digital Competitiveness Report is a testament to the efficiency of its digital ecosystem and the maturity of its technological infrastructure across both government and economic sectors. It further highlights the UAE’s position as a global role model in building a comprehensive, resilient, and secure digital infrastructure capable of accelerating innovation and promoting the UAE’s economic competitiveness.”
“In our view, this is the result of the integrated institutional collaboration between public and private sector entities working together to enhance digital performance and sustain progress. This achievement reflects the UAE’s steadfast path toward global leadership, where digital transformation has become a national way of life; enhancing wellbeing and driving sustainable economic growth,” H.E. added.
Hanan Ahli: Results reflect the UAE’s forward-looking vision
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), stated that the UAE’s ratings in the World Digital Competitiveness Report highlight the exceptional progress in digital transformation both regionally and globally. “The UAE’s success reflects the effectiveness of national strategies and policies aimed at building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy by empowering national talents, enhancing technical skills, and preparing future generations to thrive in the digital era,” H.E. noted. “These results further strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global model in digital transformation, fostering a knowledge-driven environment, creatingsustainable opportunities for future generations andbuilding a society grounded in innovation, knowledgeand future sciences,” she added.
Global Leadership in Key Indicators
The UAE ranked 1st globally in key indicators, including internet usage, high-speed connectivity, venture capital availability, public-private partnerships, and digital skills. It also ranked 1st globally in attracting international students and global expertise. In addition, the UAE ranked among the world’s top 5 in 15 indicators and top 10 in 22 indicators, reflecting the depth and inclusiveness of its digital advancement across all sectors.
Sustained Growth in Digital Competitiveness
“The report revealed that the UAE advanced to 9th place globally, up from 18th in the first edition of the report in 2017, marking a consistent upward trajectory in digital competitiveness and highlighting the maturity of its national digital environment and proactive policy framework.”The UAE also maintained its leading regional position, remaining the only country in the Middle East among the global top 10 in digital competitiveness.
Future-Ready and Tech-Driven
According to the report, the UAE ranked 5th globally in Future Readiness, reflecting its high capacity to adopt emerging technologies and develop advanced digital ecosystems. It also ranked 6th globally in the Technology pillar, supported by robust digital infrastructure and extensive investments in advanced technologies and government digital services. In the Knowledge pillar, the UAE ranked 12th globally, underscoring the strength of its education system and national talent development initiatives.
Despite global economic and geopolitical shifts and disruptions to technology supply chains, the report noted that the UAE successfully sustained its digital momentum; reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s most resilient and innovation-friendly digital economies.
For the first time, the report included data on artificial intelligence patents and private-sector investments in AI, in which the UAE ranked 1st regionally, reflecting the ambitions of its National AI Strategy 2031 and its commitment to a knowledge-driven, innovation-based economy.
These results align with the UAE’s strategic national visions, including the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, and the Digital Government Strategy, along with key national initiatives such as 1 Million Arab Coders, Advanced Research Laboratories, and National Talent Upskilling Programs.
A Global Model for Digital Transformation
The UAE’s ongoing development reaffirms its position as a world leader in digital transformation and future economy, embodying the wise leadership’s vision to build a competitive, innovation-driven, and knowledge-based national ecosystem that fosters sustainable growth and empowers future-ready generations.
The UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 hosted the Economic Data Retreat, a specialised strategic retreat which aims to formulate advanced national approaches to managing economic data, as well as enhancing the UAE’s readiness to keep up with rapid global shifts in AI, digital transformation and big data.
The retreat, which hosted three different sessions, brought together ministers and heads of economic, regulatory, financial and tech entities, as well as representatives of Digital Transformation Councils from across the UAE.
Strategic importance
The Economic Data Retreat is strategically timed to underscore the importance of creating a smart, integrated ecosystem of national data, capable of keeping up with global shifts and enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness in digital economy, investment and data-driven planning. The retreat is a key step toward establishing the UAE’s leadership in adopting smart policies, utilising data as a strategic decision-making tool, achieving sustainable development and enhancing the nation’s future readiness.
Unified procurement of big data
The first session titled ‘The Unified Procurement of Big Data: Standardising Federal and Local Contracts’, was led by His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.
The session discussed the pivotal role of big data in supporting policies and decision making, and highlighted the need to increase the efficiency of the government data procurement system to improve data quality and accuracy, facilitate secure data exchange among entities and ensure its effective utilisation to support future plans and national policies.
Participants emphasised that launching a unified national model to coordinate government procurement of big data is a strategic step toward identifying federal and local data needs, and unifying procurement efforts on a national level, leading to reduced costs, increased efficiency and accelerated data access.
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hussaini explained that the UAE government, guided by its leadership, is prioritising big data as a cornerstone of the nation’s competitive and digital economy future. He noted that the goal is to build an integrated, real-time national economic data system. This system will provide decision-makers across all sectors with a reliable, instant flow of data, which is key to accelerating smart developmental planning and enabling effective public policies.
Integrating investment data
The second session, titled ‘National Integration of Inbound and Outbound Investment Data’, was led by His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment.
The session discussed the importance of creating an integrated national system for investment data that contributes to increased data accuracy and reliability, while supporting the UAE’s ability to measure the economic and social impact of investments.
His Excellency Mohamed Alsuwaidi said: “In a highly competitive world vying for quality capital, the UAE continues to solidify its status as a leading global destination for investment, while focusing on measuring investment impact in terms of creating jobs, transferring knowledge and supporting vital sectors. Such efforts help promote sustainable development and underscore the competitiveness of our national economy.”
Smart statistics system
The third session, titled ‘Toward a Unified Smart National Statistics System’ was led by Her Excellency Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State, Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet and the General Supervisor of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).
The session discussed challenges facing the national statistics system, and how to ensure the integration and readiness of data sources and their governance standards cohesion.
The session also discussed plans toward establishing a unified smart national statistics system and approving the development of a regulatory policies package. Such measures help enhance the reliability of national data, and support the accelerated adoption of AI in planning and general policy making.
Her Excellency Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi said: “Building a unified smart national statistics system is essential for transforming the availability and integration of data in real time to bolster the UAE’s competitiveness and accelerate its development plans.”
She added: “The Economic Data Retreat reflects the UAE Government’s vision for advancing to the next phase of statistics integration by developing innovative policies, ensuring that national data is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible to support decision making and future foresight.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the UAE Statistics Mural, a major exhibit at the Statistics Exhibition organised by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre as part of the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The exhibition showcases the UAE’s journey in numbers since the launch of its federal institutions from the 1970s until present.
The mural presents a timeline from the 1970s onward, chronicling the UAE’s key strategic and statistical achievements in each decade. The journey begins in the 70s, when statistics work started and culminated in the nation’s first population census in 1975. This pivotal event established a national framework for planning and modern state-building, transforming numbers into an essential tool to chart the course for development.
The timeline continues to the 2020-2030 decade, highlighting the critical transition into the future. This decade is defined by the shift towards smart transformation and comprehensive digitisation through a smart, integrated statistical ecosystem capable of predictive analysis and guiding data-driven policy.
This era represents a fundamental evolution from traditional fieldwork to smart statistics, transforming data into a power that actively shapes the future.
Organised under the theme ‘50 Years of UAE Statistics’, the exhibition showcases a series of statistics reports and groups that date from the establishment of the Ministry of Planning through to the launch of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.
The exhibition also showcases statistics indicators across various vital sectors, the latest release of the Unified UAE Numbers report, and a video documenting the UAE’s first census and other relevant milestones.
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
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