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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Dubai, UAE, December 8, 2019
The World Bank Group, with the support of the United Arab Emirates Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) will host, from December 10 to December 13, 2019 in Dubai, the third Doing Business Technical Deep Dive, a Masterclass and a knowledge sharing platform on the reforms counted by the World Bank Group’s Doing Business report. The event will welcome participants from over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle-East and Oceania.
The Technical Deep Dive gathers reform experts and policy makers to discuss the methodology and indicators of the Doing Business report, share best practice on identifying bottlenecks to private sector development and enacting relevant reforms, participate in targeted capacity building and networking sessions and use those interactions to update their country reform action plans.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), said: “Holding the third Doing Business Technical Deep Dive here in the UAE is a testament to the country’s success in firmly establishing itself as a destination of choice for business and economic leaders, partners, and organizations. It reflects the great confidence our partners at the World Bank and IFC have come to place in the UAE to host meetings of this high caliber. With prominent delegations of decision-makers and accomplished economics and business experts slated to attend, the much-anticipated event marks yet another milestone on the UAE’s journey to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 and implement the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
The 2020 Doing Business report, which was launched on October 24, 2019, shows that reform expertise is growing in the Middle-East and Africa regions. Economies in the Middle East and North Africa implemented a record 57 business-friendly reforms and hosted four of the countries that improved the most world-wide in the ease of doing business – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Sub-Saharan African countries implemented a total of 73 reforms, with Nigeria and Togo making the list of the global top reforming countries while Mauritius ranked as 13th easiest place to do business in the world.
The UAE ranks 16th globally and is the highest-ranked economy in the Middle-East and North Africa region. The Technical Deep Dive will offer the opportunity to aspiring reformers from across the globe to learn from the UAE’s best practices and share their efforts aimed at narrowing the gap with top reforming economies in the world.
The Doing Business project provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level. Launched in 2002, it looks at domestic small and medium-size companies and measures the regulations applying to them through their life cycle.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed: The UAE has Demonstrated its Commitment to Adopting Innovation and Technology to Achieve Sustainable Development.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah: The UN Provides One of the Best Platforms in the World to Share Knowledge, Experiences, and Best Practices on Data and Statistics.
New York, Dubai, 16 March 2019:
As part of the UAE participation in the meetings of the fiftieth session of the International Statistical Committee at United Nations Headquarters in New York, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, the Director-General of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA) and the Head of the UAE Delegation held a meeting with HE Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations to discuss the UN SDGs and the opportunities for enhancing cooperation efforts to achieve them.
During the meeting, the officials tackled many related topics, while focusing on the latest technology trends, strategic partnerships, the centrality of the role of youth and the importance of supporting the implementation of data-based sustainable development initiatives around the world.
H.E. Lootah showcased the UAE’s experience and experiments in this field and shed a spotlight on the State’s efforts at the local and international levels to achieve the SDGs, including hosting the second session of the United Nations Global Data Forum in October 2018. The international event was considered as an additional opportunity to meet with stakeholders and focus on how to harness the power of data to serve humanity.
On this occasion, HE Amina Mohammed said: “I am delighted to meet again with the UAE delegation and members of the FCSA. The UAE has always been a committed member of supporting global efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, and the presence of a large team of officials at the meeting of the Fiftieth Session of the International Statistical Committee highlights the deep faith of UAE leadership in the vital role that data can do to achieve a prosperous future.”
On his side, Lootah pointed out: “The United Nations World Data Forum has established a strong and long-term relationship between statistics and data workers in the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations, specifically the International Statistical Committee. Communication and active participation among experts, private sector bodies, private sector companies, and social organizations around the world are the only way through which we can share experiences and innovations that support countries in their quest to achieve or exceed the goals of sustainable development.”
He added: “Today, we are here in New York to promote the commitment that everyone in this world, regardless where they live, can live a life free of poverty, hunger, and disease.”
It is worth mentioning that the International Committee of Statistics (ICS) comprises leading statistical experts from UN member states, and it is the highest decision-making body on international statistical activities.
General Secretariat of the National Committee on SDGs Launches First Report on Private Sector Sustainability Initiatives in UAE
Dubai, UAE- 18 August 2019
The Secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals launched the first report on private sector initiatives for sustainability in UAE titled "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE: Private Sector Contributions." Global Strategy Consulting firm, Oliver Wyman developed the report in partnership with the Private Sector Advisory Council on SDGs (PSAC) founded by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA).
The report sheds a spotlight on the efforts exerted by the National Committee on SDGs to serve as a platform for coordination and partnerships through PSAC. It also focuses on the role of private companies in achieving SDGs by means of sharing ideas and practices on the key opportunities and challenges that companies face in their efforts to implement the UAE Agenda 2030.
The initiatives cover various sectors, including renewable energy, real estate, retail, aviation and land, and sea transport services. These initiatives have contributed to the UAE’s efforts to promote sustainability within the private sector and make progress towards achieving the 2030 global agenda of sustainability.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, Director General of FCSA and Vice-Chair of the National Committee on SDGs and Chair of the PSAC on SDGs, stated: "At a time of multiple drastic and relentless economic, social and technological changes experienced by the world, the public and private sectors partnerships and the achievement of sustainable progress and prosperity for the society of UAE become essential. Based on the initiatives and experiences presented by the report, the UAE has turned out to be a global role model in the governance of SDGs and harnessing the innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors to achieve them."
The report also reviews notable initiatives adopted by the National Committee on SDGs in UAE. The committee is the government team in charge of implementing the 17 SDGs in the UAE and was formed in January 2017 and chaired by Her Excellency Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation. The committee’s members include 17 federal level government authorities who agreed on a road map for the year 2030. The road map focuses on four key stages, including raising awareness, establishing the foundations, developing policies, reporting the progress achieved, and monitoring the performance.
Greg Rung, Partner at Oliver Wyman, stated: "The ongoing cooperation between the UAE government and the private sector is crucial in boosting the country’s efforts to implement the United Nation’s 17 SDGs successfully."
"Oliver Wyman is proud to collaborate with PSAC for producing this report and partner with the entity to support the UAE government in its commitment to successfully achieving a prosperous and sustainable future for all," added Rung.
Members of PSAC have also drafted a consultative framework used as a formal mechanism to engage the private sector in UAE and move forward in achieving UAE Agenda 2030. Additionally, PSAC developed a strategy to engage the youth, to ensure that development is not only for the youth but also for and through them to further promote and increase their positive contributions as agents of change.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah concluded his statement by stating: "Recognizing that the implementation of SDGs could only get ahead by involving all relevant stakeholders from different government and private sectors, we have pooled resources with the Oliver Wyman team to prepare this important report with sights set to shed light on the efforts of the private sector as a strategic partner of the UAE government. I am proud of the commitment of the members of PSAC and their contributions to supporting the sustainability process in UAE, and the dissemination of such UAE experiences to the global community."
The report showcases the most important sustainability initiatives developed by 12 national and international companies operating in UAE, namely: Dubai Holding Company, Careem, Majid Al Futtaim Group, DP World, EMAAR Group, Al Serkal Group, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates Airline, Multinational Companies Business Group, Dubai Free Zones Council and MASDAR Group.
Dubai, Wellington- 7 August 2019
In the recent official visit to the head office located in New Zealand’s capital Willington, the senior management of the New Zealand’s G2G Know-How Foundation welcomed H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA).
G2G Know-How is a public foundation that reports to the New Zealand government. It dedicates all its efforts in developing innovative government solutions through exchange of ideas and experiences with the most significant experts from the public and private sectors from around the world.
H.E. Lootah’s visit to New Zealand G2G Know-How came as part of his tour of New Zealand’s government, semi-government and private institutions this week. During the meetings held at its premises, the G2G Know-How teams briefed H.E Lootah on their wide range of activities and successful experiences in areas of developing innovative government projects.
FCSA’s Director-General and New Zealand’s task forces discussed FCSA’s initiatives that are channeled towards developing the UAE’s National Statistical System for improving the Competitiveness Strategy and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The G2G Know-How officials introduced the foundation’s methodology in collaboratively developing initiatives of various government entities in New Zealand. Their process includes identifying challenges, defining development goals, drawing up a master plan to develop and implement solutions, identifying partnerships with experienced foreign governments, and examining and analyzing results.
On his visit to the G2G Know-How Foundation, H.E. Lootah stated, “New Zealand is featured by the foremost global competitiveness reports and indicators as one of the most developed countries. It is an exciting opportunity for the UAE to be G2G Know-How Foundation’s first-ever international co-operation experience. Learning from this experience inspires us to further excellent the efficiency and effectiveness of UAE’s National Teams and the innovative services offered to individuals and institutions in our homeland.”
A meeting was held between H.E. Lootah and Mr. Malcolm Miller, Executive Director of the G2G Know-How Foundation and former New Zealand Ambassador to UAE. Mr. Miller availed this opportunity to appreciate the active collaboration between New Zealand and the UAE’s public institutions. He noted the similarity and convergence of government visions on various aspects of government initiatives, including establishing an innovation culture, the role of accurate and up-to-date data in supporting decisions and placing sustainability as part of the government priorities in all areas and sectors.
FCSA’s – Director General’s visit to New Zealand included visiting several semi-government and private institutions specializing in the field of data such as the Data Ventures of the New Zealand Statistics Center and the head office of Creative Company. Data Ventures is a global provider of specialized and innovative services and products of data-driven insight while Creative Company is a private company that aims to build and promote innovation and creativity culture across the government and private institutions through the development of individual and institutional skills of work teams.
H.E. Lootah concluded his statement by saying: “Our visit to the capital of New Zealand was very successful. I am happy with the results of the meetings held with all the institutions. It has been agreed to intensify bilateral efforts by organizing more activities, exchanging experiences and launching projects and initiatives in various specialties and fields of common interest, particularly in fields of developing Statistical Activities, Management of Competitive Strategy and Governance of initiatives dedicated to achieving SDGs.”
During FCSA Participation in the Biggest Global Conference for Geospatial Systems Users held in San Diego
Dubai, 30th July 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has concluded participation at the Esri User Conference-2019, the largest international gathering of experts and users of geospatial information systems (GIS) and solutions and digital geospatial platforms, held at the San Diego Convention Centre in San Diego, California.
During the days of the conference, UAE was so keen to shed a spotlight on its latest efforts and achievements it realized in the practices and applications of modern technology in general, and GIS technologies in particular in support of its journey to achieve the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
H.E. Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of Statistics Sector at FCSA, headed the FCSA official delegation. He delivered a specialized presentation as part of the main agenda of the conference organized by Esri, the world leader in GIS technologies. The session was attended by an international audience of specialists, experts and users of GIS from around the world.
During the session, H.E. Mohamed Hassan put on display the UAE page available on the UN Sustainability Information Platform, which has more than 26 specialized contents. These contents include summaries of significant sustainability initiatives, in addition to data and studies, most importantly, the part on documenting and showcasing UAE’s sustainability initiatives.
Commenting on the documentation processes, H.E. Hassan stated: “UAE singled itself out by being the first in the world to add such a documentary part to its initiatives. This part turned out to be a knowledge center accessible to the public and features the achievements and successes of UAE institutions and how they were successful in addressing several subjects and issues related to sustainability.”
He also pointed out: “UAE is among the very first States to take the positive initiative to link sustainable development initiatives to the Global Esri Geospatial Platform. The information on several key sustainability initiatives could be displayed and updated in real-time on this platform. For example, presenting information on external assistance provided by UAE to many countries around the world to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life via the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform which is based on Esri technology. Indeed, it has become the most important international platform showcasing the achievements of the world’s nations in the field of SDGs 2030.”
“UAE’s presence in these global platforms confirms the commitment of all federal and local government institutions, the private sector, and the society as a whole to harness the latest technologies and innovations to boost the achievements of UAE in the field of SDGs, and not only at the level of the State but regionally and globally,” Hassan commented on the UAE’s participation in this global conference.
He went on to say: “These platforms adopt cutting-edge technologies of artificial intelligence, machine learning and linking satellite images with numbers and ground-based data. All of these factors serve our best interests to deliver high accuracy results, as well as saving time, efforts, and money.”
Noteworthy, members of the UAE delegation took part in various sessions and bilateral meetings that tackled the most recent developments in the fields of statistics, data, and geospatial systems. They were also briefed about specific leading international experiences, such as the feature of the Automatic Data Update developed by the USA Census Bureau and has already been adopted to implement its ongoing Census Project 2020.
H.E. Mohamed Hassan concluded his statement by saying: “Such global participations of the FCSA teams support the UAE’s efforts exerted to keep pace with the 17 SDGs. This is achieved by providing perfect data tools that facilitate planning, monitoring, following up the progress in realizing SDGs and reporting the progress achieved to the UN Statistics Division. Definitely, cooperation between FCSA, The UAE National Committee on SDGs and Esri in the field of e-linkage of the FCSA systems with the UN platform will boost its capacities and promote its planning capabilities in the future with sights set to further support the sustainability dossier at the national and global levels, as well as the achievement of the agenda of SDGs 2030.”
Abdullah Lootah: Local Government Entities Play a Key Role in Supporting the National Strategy for Global Competitiveness
Dubai, 22 July 2019
The High Level Committee for Competitiveness, a specialized committee to monitor competitiveness at the federal and local levels in the UAE, held its first meeting for 2019 at the head office of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) in Dubai. The meeting was attended by members of the committee, including the Ministry of Interior, the Abu Dhabi Competitiveness Office in the Department of Economic Development- Abu Dhabi, Dubai Competitiveness Office, Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Center, Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, the Executive Council of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and the Municipality of Dibba Al Fujairah.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director-General of FCSA and Chairman of the High Level Committee for Competitiveness, chaired the meeting. He welcomed the members of the committee and emphasized on the vital role played by local entities in supporting the UAE’s competitiveness strategy. He also highlighted their essential role in raising awareness among the employees of the federal and local authorities on the concept of competitiveness.
"Our experience in working on the global competitiveness strategy which the UAE had launched in the last ten years proved that continuous cooperation among all federal and local government entities along with the private sector is essential to further improve the performance of the UAE on the global competitiveness indices," Lootah said.
He highlighted: "Through this committee, we will constantly cooperate with all our local partners to spread the culture of competitiveness as a way of thinking, and as a means of promoting the outstanding performance of the government to provide government services to individuals and institutions efficiently and according to the highest global standards."
In the meeting, the UAE’s competitiveness strategy was thoroughly reviewed, with much focus laid on the most important milestones achieved during the last ten years. . Attendees also tackled the details of several current and future projects and initiatives. The meeting highlighted the initiatives of "Ease of Doing Business in Local Emirates" in (Abu Dhabi and Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah), developed in coordination between the World Bank, FCSA and the relevant authorities in the three emirates.
In the meeting, the UAE’s competitiveness strategy was thoroughly reviewed, with much focus laid on the most important milestones achieved during the last ten years. . Attendees also tackled the details of several current and future projects and initiatives. The meeting highlighted the initiatives of "Ease of Doing Business in Local Emirates" in (Abu Dhabi and Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah), developed in coordination between the World Bank, FCSA and the relevant authorities in the three emirates.
Members of the committee emphasized the need to develop a shared vision for improving the UAE’s performance in several high-priority indicators in vital sectors. They also underlined the need to remain updated on the latest competitiveness reports, as well as the most recent laws and procedures that will serve the best interest of all emirates in their current and future competitiveness projects.
Completion of over 50% of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2019 Project
Dubai, 17 July 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) recently announced the completion of over 50% of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2019 project.
More than 50% of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2019 project have been concluded, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has recently announced.
The project witnessed a participation of a sample of 20,500 households distributed across all the seven emirates of the UAE. It is being conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) and local statistics centers.
Recent statistics data collected by the management team show that 89% of the sample contacted (9628) participated in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2019.
Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, highlighted the importance of households’ participation in this integral project. “The implementation of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey Project is aligned with the strategic goals of the MoCD. This project was developed to meet the directives of our wise leadership in sustaining economic development and social growth for all UAE residents.”
Her Excellency added: “The results of the survey are one of the pillars supporting the implementation of the quality of life strategy in the UAE based on accurate and up-to-date data reflecting the current realities of households’ income and expenditure in UAE. Such data is meant to be a knowledge base that makes it possible for decision-makers to develop informed social policies and launch initiatives. This project also promotes collaboration between government entities and private sector institutions to further improve the living standards of individuals and households in several aspects, most importantly education, health, and housing. Such achievements are substantial proofs that the UAE is moving forward on the right track to be the “home of happiness”.
Her Excellency pointed out: “We are proud of the work achieved by the survey team thus far, considering the set plan in terms of time and achievement. I want to thank all the professionals and administrators involved in this project and commend the efforts of the households who cooperated in providing data; helping achieve the survey targets.”
Confirming the efficiency of the survey activities being conducted as per the timeline of the project, H.E. Abdullah Lootah, FCSA Director-General, highlighted that the survey team involved almost 450 researchers, observers, supervisors, experts, technicians, and administrators in partnership with local statistics centers. He also indicated that this is over and above the FCSA administrative teams and local statistics centers that provide the human and technical capabilities to support the project team.
He hailed all the efforts exerted by all teams under hard conditions. “I avail this opportunity to thank all teams for their devotion and dedication, particularly the field teams who sometimes were obliged to work under severe weather conditions,” Lootah said.
On the participation of households, he said: “I look forward to seeing a greater interaction from all households contacted by the field survey teams, and more cooperation in providing accurate data to the teams. Our teams strongly believe the importance of the survey’s success and usefulness to everyone who lives in the UAE. They are working round the clock tirelessly to ensure the completion of the project according to the timeline.
Qualified Teams
In addition to the FCSA administrative teams and the local statistics centers that provide the human and technical capabilities to the work team, a group of observers, supervisors, researchers, is conducting the survey and experts distributed across all the emirates. All field teams have undergone intensive training, to be equipped with latest advanced field tools and methodologies such as geo-spatial positioning systems, mobile applications on handheld devices, and other advanced techniques and modern statistical methods to ensure accuracy and quality of results.
The survey will help extract more than 115 key indicators, such as the basket of goods and services, consumer price indices, cost of living index, and price indices to help assess the standard of living of families.
The survey also provides updated data on the demographics, social, and economic characteristics of individuals and households in the UAE, which help in linking them to income and expenditure indicators. The survey will help update the base years of statistical indicators of inflation rates considering that the periodicity of survey implementation extends to five years, and provides seasonal coverage of households’ income and expenditure rates.
Moreover, the survey aims to provide a wide range of data and information to help decision-makers plan and develop informed initiatives and programs by examining various living standards and measuring the level of well-being and quality of life in the UAE.
This survey helps to identify behavior and patterns of the individuals’ consumption and changes in consumption patterns due to a change in their income. It also aims to provide relevant and most recent data that serves the demographic, social, and economic aspects. Likewise, it also aims to provide data that sheds a spotlight on the most critical indicators of consumption patterns, along with the social and economic conditions of the different segments of the UAE society.
The size and distribution of the sample were designed following the appropriate statistical and scientific methodologies by teams of experts in FCSA and local statistics centers to ensure achieving high levels of accuracy. The sample was distributed across the seven emirates by using the sampling method proportional to the size of the number of the Emirati and Non-Emirati households in each emirate.
The Most Important Survey
The Household Income and Expenditure Survey is one of the most important international surveys in the statistics system. It is the biggest and most comprehensive survey after the National Census Survey in terms of significance and data availability. This survey has been designed to measure a large number of indicators that reflect the social and economic levels of households, Results of this survey will assist decision-makers to draft development and economic policies and plans intended for improving the standards of living and achieving stability and prosperity.
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
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