• Women empowerment foundational to all 2030 SDGs, hears high-level roundtable at UN HLPF
• UAE delegation hosts roundtable on innovation and bridging the digital gender gap

Dubai- UAE. 19 July 2025 – The UAE has reaffirmed the critical role of women empowerment and gender equality in achieving the United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda during the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York.

The UAE delegation highlighted the nation’s model for women empowerment, gender equality, and its focus on motherhood and childhood as the basis for inclusive and sustainable growth. The UAE built this model through the comprehensive empowerment system that it provides for women and families, who form the nucleus of society and guarantee the sustainability of human, social, and economic development.

The UAE delegation presented national policies and legislation that have contributed to increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making positions. This includes the Equal Pay Law and the Constitution guaranteeing equal opportunities for both genders.

The delegation highlighted several milestones, including the fact that women now represent 50% of Federal National Council members and 26% of Cabinet members. Women also constitute 46% of STEM graduates in the UAE and 80% of the scientific leadership team in the Emirates Mars Mission.

The delegation also addressed the UAE’s role in supporting women empowerment globally through initiatives like Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s Women in Peace and Security Initiative. The delegation concluded by reiterating the UAE’s willingness to share its expertise and success with the international community to promote gender equality towards 2030 and beyond.

Promoting innovation and bridging the digital gender gap

The National Secretariat on SDGs and the UAE Consulate General in New York City hosted a roundtable on ‘Accelerating Innovation in Promoting Gender Equality to Continue Achieving Sustainable Development in the Post-2030.’

The discussion explored bridging the digital gender gap, transforming the care economy, and empowering women in leadership. It presented scalable solutions and practical models to drive progress around SDG 5.

The discussion featured contributions from Her Excellency Savannah Mazhya, Minister of Information and Communications Technology in the Kingdom of Eswatini and Chair of the Global Council for SDG 5; His Excellency Abdulla Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on SDGs; Dr Manal Taryam, CEO and Board Member of Noor Dubai Foundation; while other participants included Chelsea Molden, Executive Director of the Public Policy Lab; Stephanie Sirota from RTW Investments in Life Sciences; and Andrew Billo, Head of Partnerships at the UN Initiative to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

HE Lootah: ‘The UAE has built a pioneering global model that supports social progress

HE Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on SDGs, said: “Over decades of sustainable development centred on the family, the UAE has made community empowerment both the finish line and the starting point of development. This approach is what the UAE is ready to share with everyone around the world.

“Through the UAE’s participation in HLPF, and through the delegation’s meetings and partnerships, we are sharing knowledge gained in empowering society to ensure inclusive development.”

Additionally, the UAE delegation shared the country’s experiences in establishing the National Committee on SDGs in 2017 during its participation in an event organised by the Government of Qatar to introduce the agenda of the second edition of the Global Summit for Social Development, which will be held in Doha from 4-6 November.

New York-USA. 20 July 2025 – The UAE has held its first national exhibition at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City, as part of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025.

Titled “Shaping Tomorrow: UAE Leadership for a Sustainable Future”, the exhibition reflects the UAE’s commitment to expanding international action to achieve SDGs, as well as its involvement in shaping the future of global development.

The inauguration was attended by Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General; His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN; His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, and head of the UAE delegation participating in the HLPF; alongside representatives from international organizations and government delegations from around the world.

Platform for Showcasing Inclusive Development

The exhibition was organised jointly by entities including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Investment, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Dubai Chambers, and Noor Dubai Foundation, a member of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). The entities showcased their experiences and globally replicable initiatives in sustainable development, including in innovation, climate action, community empowerment.

Beyond 2030: Four Pillars for Development

The exhibition is the first of its kind organised by the UAE at the UN HLPF. It offers an engaging experience that highlights the UAE’s sustainable development journey since the 2002 Rio+10 Summit. The exhibition is a continuation of the dialogue launched by the UAE with 170+ leaders and decision-makers during the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023.

The exhibition showcases the Extended SDGs (XDGs) framework. It is based on four core pillars: integrating sustainability into national policies and legislation; monitoring impact through accurate indicators and data; developing a flexible development model through ‘Future Zones’; and enhancing international partnerships through knowledge sharing, particularly through the Government Experience Exchange Programme.

HE Abdullah Lootah: the Exhibition Reflects UAE’s Commitment to a More Sustainable Future

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah said: “The UAE is committed to sharing best practices and successful experiences with partners around the world.

The ‘Shaping Tomorrow” exhibition embodies the UAE’s vision for a global development pathway based on partnership, knowledge sharing, and innovation. This reflects the UAE’s approach to creating solutions that can be scaled globally and reflects its commitment to supporting global dialogue on the post-2030 era. This includes initiatives like the Government Experience Exchange Programme.”

National Initiatives Supporting Global Goals

The exhibition highlighted major national development efforts that have had global impact. The Ministry of Interior showcased its “Green Justice” initiative in Latin America, aimed at combating transnational environmental crimes, as part of its efforts supporting SDG 17.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) presented its contributions to financing projects in 100+ countries, supporting infrastructure, education, and renewable energy.

The Supreme Committee for Motherhood and Childhood showcased its initiatives aimed at empowering women and children, including the “National Child Empowerment Guide” and the “Emirati Children’s Parliament,” which enhance children’s participation in decision-making in support of SDG 5.

Noor Dubai Foundation presented its model for combating visual impairments in support of SDG 3. This includes the iBSAR project in Asia and Africa, which provides preventive and therapeutic care.

EAD showcased its efforts in protecting marine ecosystems through initiatives such as the “Marine Turtle Protection Program” and smart monitoring technologies for coral reefs, aligning with SDG 14.

UAE Model for Integrated Development

These initiatives exemplify the integration between the UAE’s national vision and its global commitments, by linking local policies with international development goal.

• Report outlines five priorities for global development post-2030, backed by insights from a 55-country survey and grounded in UAE-led foresight and international cooperation.
• 20245 XSDGs Global Survey finds: 94.7% support moving beyond economic indicators, 85.4% support participatory policymaking, 70% back cross-sector approaches, 67.8% support regionally adaptable goals, and 64.9% believe AI and digitisation are more impactful than traditional policies.

Dubai- New York, UN, 22 July 2025: The UAE launched the 2025 edition of the 2045 XSDGs Report at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City, as part of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

This took place at the headquarters of the United Nations, where H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Chair of the National Committee on SDGs welcomed the high-level attendees of the launch event, which included Her Excellency Savanna Maziya, Minister of Information and Communication Technology of the Kingdom of Eswatini, His Excellency Victor Verdon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, Her Excellency Seema Sami Iskander Bahouth, Executive Director of UN Women, His Excellency Eliot Minchenberg, Director of the UNESCO Office for Communication in New York and UNESCO Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency Benjiran Herani Tajuddin, Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations, and Her Excellency Tsvai Yelma Sabo, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, while the opening speech was delivered by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN.

Created by the National Committee on SDGs 2025, the report builds on outcomes from the ministerial session held at the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025, in addition to recommendations from the high-level 2045XDGs roundtable held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025, and survey responses from the 2045 XDGs Global Survey.

During the forum, the UAE delegation also presented findings from the UAE-led 2045 XDGs Global Survey, which gathered insights from participants across 55 countries, spanning a wide range of age groups and academic disciplines.

Redefining Global Development Goals 2045

Titled “Envisioning 2045: Inclusive Pathways to Sustainable Development,” the report outlines five key priorities: redefining SDGs for 2045; proactively future-proofing economies and societies; enhancing global cooperation at the leadership level; accelerating the transition of global development to a new phase; and establishing a shared international commitment to the future development agenda.

The report positions the transition from current SDGs to a future-ready global framework as a necessary transformation that must be proactive, innovative, agile, and equipped to address emerging challenges.

It also urges governments to embed future foresight into policymaking, calls on the private sector to help shape sustainable development through AI, circular economies, and responsible innovation, and encourages international organisations to apply lessons learned from the current SDGs to build inclusive and adaptable frameworks.

The report emphasises the need to empower communities and individuals – especially women, youth, and vulnerable groups – to take an active role in contributing to the development agenda and shaping the future. It also highlights milestones from the SDGs in Action initiative, organised by WGS in Dubai in 2016, as a platform for advancing global dialogue and collaboration.

The report’s release at UN HLPF reflects the UAE’s broader commitment to accelerating SDG progress, particularly in the five focus areas of this year’s forum: SDG3, SDG5, SDG8, SDG14, and SDG17. These efforts are centred on three core pillars: innovation, partnerships, and strategic insight.

Proactive Approach to Shaping Development Goals

His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Secretariat on SDGs, described the report as a pivotal milestone in shaping the next twenty years of global sustainable development. He emphasised its foundation in practical pathways for international cooperation and its aim to define more comprehensive and impactful global goals.

H.E. Lootah said, “This report reflects the UAE’s approach – anticipating challenges, strengthening global partnerships, and designing innovative solutions grounded in research, data, and evidence.”

He added: “The UAE is committed to building early global consensus on the 2045 XDG framework, building on lessons learned from the 2030 goals to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.”

H.E. Lootah noted that while UN’s official discussions on post-2030 development goals will begin in 2027, the UAE has already engaged international thought leaders since 2023. Platforms such as the SDGs in Action Forum at WGS have so far convened over 170 global leaders to shape this vision.

The report stands as a strategic contribution to the future international development agenda, reflecting the UAE’s role as a pioneer in advancing global sustainable development through evidence-based, practical initiatives that anticipate the future and serve humanity.

UAE Call for More Resilient and Inclusive Development Goals
The UAE delegation also presented findings from the 2045 XDGs Global Survey, which gathered insights from participants across 55 countries, spanning a wide range of age groups and academic disciplines. The results highlighted a strong global appetite for rethinking how progress is defined, implemented, and measured beyond 2030.

94.7% of respondents supported expanding the definition of progress to go beyond conventional economic growth indicators. Additionally, 85.4% stated that engaging people in decision-making and policymaking increases their level of engagement and participation in achieving SDGs.

The survey further indicated that 70% of participants backed a collaborative, cross-sector approach to sustainable development that is not limited to the government’s role. Another 67.8% supported the establishment of flexible development goals that can be adapted to regional contexts and priorities. Furthermore, 64.9% of respondents expressed the belief that AI and digitisation will surpass traditional policies in terms of impact and effectiveness in driving results.

UN High-Level Political Forum
The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN’s central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda.

Participating delegations at HLPF conduct assessments of progress toward the SDGs, with this year’s forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalising the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) continues its strategic efforts to support to support the UAE government’s data ecosystem and implement data governance mechanisms across federal entities in the UAE, enhancing transparency and efficiency in government data management. In this context, the Centre organized a specialized session titled “Government Best Practices in Data Governance ,” with the participation of several leading federal entities in data management. This session is part of the “Data Index” initiatives launched by the UAE government last year under the Data and Digital Government pillar within the “Ada’a” Government Performance Systemaligns with global best practices in statistics and data management. Its aim is to enhance government performance efficiency and mature data in federal entities.

The session witnessed active participation from over 100 data officials representing 35 federal entities. During the session, various federal entities such as Central Bank of the UAE; Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); as well as Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE), presented their pioneering experiences in data governance and management. This included highlighting data policies and alignment mechanisms with national and international standards, ultimately contributing to greater efficiency in data management and more effective support for decision-makers. The session served as a platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing national capabilities in adopting advanced models in statistics and data, aligning with the UAE’s aspirations in digital transformation, and supporting a culture of continuous development and innovation in data management to strengthen institutional integration and empower data officials to play leading roles in shaping the future of government data and statistics.

His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Sciences Sector at FCSC, emphasized the significance of the session as a milestone in the development efforts of the national “Data Index,” providing an opportunity to review achievements of federal entities, discuss key challenges, and anticipate future trends to activate the role of data and statistics in enhancing evidence-based policy-making to serve the public good.

He added, “The ‘Data Index’ reflects the UAE government’s commitment to establish principles of governance and management of government data within advanced regulatory and scientific frameworks, enhancing the country’s position as a global hub in the digital field. The ‘Data Index’ is a key driver in supporting a smart and integrated digital government environment, enabling federal entities to employ data as an effective strategic tool to enhance decision-making and achieve the ambitious developmental agenda of the country.”

Omran Al Shamsi, Director of Labour Market Information at MOHRE, stated that the fundamentals of data governance represent the primary pillar towards enabling digital transformation and decision-making. He added that the ministry has adopted a comprehensive framework for data governance based on international standards like the DAMA framework, including clear policies and standards to define, ensure accuracy, quality, and confidentiality of data, as well as distributing roles and responsibilities among data owners, service providers, and end-users to ensure accountability and transparency at every stage of the data lifecycle.

Al Shamsi highlighted that classifying data according to its sensitivity level – whether it is open, confidential, sensitive, or prohibited – is a crucial part of protecting information and ensuring responsible use. He clarified that the ministry relies on a clear matrix of data access permissions. This approach reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing a data culture and providing an institutional environment based on smart governance to improve services and labor market policies in the country.

He also pointed out that “Data Governance” is not merely a technical project but a cultural change that requires institutional commitment at the highest levels. He added that institutions investing seriously in data governance are better equipped to make strategic decisions based on accurate and reliable data. The presentation concluded with practical recommendations to establish a successful data governance framework, including clearly defining data owners and tools for data documentation and quality measurement, and building an institutional culture that enhances the value of data as a strategic asset.

Dr. Alya Harbi, Director of Statistics and Research Center at MOHAP, praised the prominent role played by the FCSC in launching projects aimed at enhancing the quality of statistical data in line with future requirements. This includes strengthening data governance as a fundamental element in shaping government policies and supporting sustainable development paths. She emphasized the  importance of data in shaping future visions and measuring performance indicators, contributing to improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing health planning strategies at the national level.

She highlighted the importance of data integration among various relevant entities and the necessity of establishing effective partnerships in data analysis, which plays a fundamental role in supporting accurate decision-making that contributes to achieving comprehensive development and ensuring fair distribution of resources and services.

In conclusion, she expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for organizing this valuable workshop and for providing the opportunity for the Ministry of Health and Prevention to present its pioneering experience in this field.

The session is part of a series of specialized events and coordination meetings held during the current quarter, with the participation of 264 data management officials from 35 federal entities. Its goal is to provide timely and reliable data and statistics for decision-makers, contributing to supporting the Unified UAE Numbers and achieving effective data-based planning and national statistics.

It is worth mentioning that the “Data Index” was launched last year concurrently with the launch of the “Unified UAE Numbers” project as one of the national projects aimed at advancing and strengthening the country’s statistical system and supporting the country’s development journey across various economic, demographic, social, and environmental sectors, solidifying the UAE’s global leadership in employing data to support decision-making.