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Media Center

DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Press Release
UAE’s National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals Reviews Developments and Agenda Beyond 2030
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09 Jun 2025

UAE’s National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) discussed national efforts to achieve objectives of the Sustainable Development agenda 2030, outlining the third phase of the national data plan, mechanisms to enhance integration across sectors to ensure sustainability goals, and reviewed UAE’s progress indicators in implementing development goals.

 

This took place during a committee meeting chaired by His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange, Chair of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals. Also present were Her Excellency Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy; Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE); His Excellency Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); and Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).

 

Abdulla Lootah emphasised that the UAE continues its approach in contributing to global dialogue to define sustainable development priorities far beyond the 2030 phase, based on its belief in ensuring a sustainable future for humanity and unifying efforts to achieve a qualitative leap in sustainable development.

 

He stated that the UAE represents a leading global model in adopting and translating sustainable development goals into tangible reality through a proactive vision that combines national ambition and global responsibility. The Committee supports this approach by focusing on the importance of unifying efforts and ensuring alignment of strategies with development needs and strategic goals, intensifying efforts to achieve national priorities, enhancing future sustainability foresight, and ensuring alignment of national strategies across sectors with global trends.

Global Goals Achievement Updates

The UAE’s National Committee on SDGs reviewed the progress and stages of achieving sustainable development goals at the national level. Committee members emphasised the importance of enhancing data and improving its quality through integrated systems to automate reporting processes on goal achievement, focusing on adhering to internationally approved standards and methodologies, and strengthening the UAE’s approach in sharing insights and experience exchange that positively impact sustainable development futures at community and global levels.

Committee members discussed their team efforts and mechanisms for observing global goal achievement and periodic review with working teams to monitor progress levels, internationally approved standards and methodologies implementation, and linking improvement plans with targeted timelines to ensure a qualitative leap in sustainable development data abundance according to the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and efficiency.

Future Directions

The General Secretariat of the UAE’s National Committee on SDGs reviewed the highlights of the XDGs 2045 Global Survey, conducted during the “SDGs in Action” Forum at the World Governments Summit 2025.

The survey witnessed broad participation from over 50 countries worldwide, highlighting the urgent need to adopt a comprehensive approach in shaping the future outlook, enhancing international cooperation to forge effective partnerships, and unifying efforts in tackling challenges and exploring future opportunities.

Strategic Priorities Beyond 2030

The Committee discussed the UAE’s contributions in sharing visions and driving sustainable development nationally and globally, inspired by the country’s proactive initiative drawn from the legacy of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals 2030, launching the “XDGs 2045” concept in an initiative to foresee the future beyond the 2030 agenda. This initiative included three high-level ministerial meetings, bringing together leaders and government officials at global and national levels in dialogues reaffirming their commitment to shaping long-term strategies for a flexible, comprehensive, and sustainable future towards 2045.

FCSC Organizes a Session on Best Practices in National Data Governance
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29 May 2025

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.

Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre Launches Strategic Partnership with Saudi Statistics During UAE Delegation’s Participation in the Saudi Statistics Forum 2025
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14 May 2025

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) in the UAE government has launched a new strategic partnership with the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partnership was formalized during the UAE delegation’s participation in the Saudi Statistics Forum 2025 which aims to strengthen institutional collaboration in the field of statistics and data. The key goals include sharing best practices, enhancing the quality of national data in accordance with international standards, and supporting decision-makers with reliable data that informs policy and benefits society.

The MoU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Signing parties included Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Nahyan bin Saif: Cooperation Reflects Deep Relations and Emphasizes Support for Sustainable Development

His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, affirmed that the partnership reflects deep fraternal relations between the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthen cooperation in vital areas contributing to sustainable development and future vision based on innovation and data.

Hanan Ahli: Strengthening Regional Leadership in Data-Driven Development

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli stated, “The cooperation represents a significant step towards strengthening regional leadership in data-driven development, reflecting our joint commitment to promoting statistical excellence, enhancing innovation, and building a future where development relies on the power of data to serve our nations, region, and the world.”

Fahad Abdullah Al-Dosari: Supporting Experience Exchange in Statistical Work Areas

His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation between statistical institutions in areas of knowledge exchange, experiences and success stories.

Dr. Fahad Al-Dosari also stated “We are pleased to sign this MoU, which will strengthen the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices between our two institutions, advancing the region’s statistical capabilities and cooperation.”

International Statistical Methodologies and Practices Session

As part of the UAE delegation’s participation in the accompanying events of the Saudi Statistics Forum, H.E. Hanan Ahli participated in a panel discussion titled “International Statistical Methodologies and Practices,” highlighting the importance of statistical governance mechanisms amid the rapid transformations in the world of data.

Hanan Ahli highlighted the need for innovative governance models that ensure coordination between government and private entities, protect data integrity, and guarantee its quality and accessibility. She emphasized the UAE’s proactive approach, reflected in initiatives such as the “Data Index,” which empowers government entities to lead in data quality and governance. This approach enhances the UAE’s leadership role in the international statistical community, particularly as a member of the UN Statistical Commission for the 2025–2028 term.

H.E. further showcased the model of statistical governance in the UAE under its federal system, represented by the ‘Data Index’ initiative, one of the most important national initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of government data. The initiative focuses on empowering government entities rather than merely fulfilling their role as a primary data source for statistical entities. This underscores the importance of governance as a fundamental element in the success of coordination frameworks between various federal and local entities, supporting the provision of timely and accurate data directly benefiting decision-makers.

Knowledge Visit

The UAE delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT) headquarters, where they explored best practices in statistical governance, data analytics, and the integration of advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning in policymaking. The visit showed Saudi Arabia’s progress in digital transformation.​

UAE: A Leading Development Model in Health, Education, and Standard of Living … Ranks 1st Regionally, 15th Globally in UN Human Development Index
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12 May 2025

The UAE has maintained its leading regional position among countries with “very high human development” advancing 11 places globally, according to the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), compared to the 2021/2022 report.

The UAE now ranks 15th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, surpassing countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Korea. It is the only Arab country among the top 20 nations, reaffirming its commitment to a development vision that prioritizes people’s wellbeing at the heart of its national policies. This is achieved through an integrated approach that supports key sectors such as health, education, and standard of living, establishing the UAE as a global model for sustainability, human capital development, and inclusive progress, building a future based on opportunities and empowerment.

According to this year’s report titled “A matter of choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” the UAE achieved a score of 0.94. Based on the report’s four main indicators, the UAE’s life expectancy at birth reached 82.9 years, aligning with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) “good health and well-being”. The expected years of schooling reached 15.6 years, with an average of 13 years of schooling, reflecting the fourth SDG goal “quality education”. The Gross National Income (GNI) per capita amounted to $71,142, reflecting to the eighth SDG goal “decent work and economic growth”.

AbdulRahman Al Owais: People’s Health at the Core of UAE’s Development Priorities

His Excellency AbdulRahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that people’s health is at the core of the UAE’s development priorities. He emphasized, “The UAE’s leading position in the 2025 Human Development Index reflects our steadfast commitment to providing an integrated healthcare system, adopting medical innovation, enhancing prevention, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services, achieving the UAE’s vision of building a healthy and sustainable future for generations.”

Sarah Al Amiri: Investing in Education is Investing in Humanity

For her part, Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said, “Investing in education is investing in humanity a principle the UAE has upheld since its founding, through flexible educational policies that address global challenges and prepare future generations to compete and innovate. The UAE does not adopt a conventional educational system but invests in thoughtful Emirati minds armed with knowledge, qualified to lead a flourishing future in the era of AI and cognitive transformation.”

Hanan Ahli: Human-Centric Plans and Policies

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), stated that the UAE has established a unique development model that places people at the center of all plans and policies, relying on healthcare, education, and innovation as pillars for a prosperous and comprehensive future. She pointed out that progress in the HDI report affirms that the UAE’s development policies are proactive and data-driven, prioritizing not only economic growth but also wellbeing, enhancing its position as a global leader in sustainable development.

UAE Ranks Third Globally for Net AI Talent Migration The HDI Report highlighted AI tools and their growing impact on human development pathways, amidst slowing development progress and widening gaps between high and low-development countries. It emphasized the need for adaptive, human-focused policies that place health, education, and standard of living at the core of national strategies, recognizing human capital as the key to navigating the digital transformation era.

The report further showed that the UAE recorded the third highest global net migration rate through the LinkedIn platform for AI skills in 2023, underscoring its ability to attract world-class expertise and its status as a global hub for future skills. It further clarified that high-income countries like the UAE achieve net gains in specialized skills, while low to medium-income countries face losses, indicating the dominance of advanced economies in attracting and retaining expertise. It calls for building a collaborative economy where humans and AI work in tandem, focusing on empowering individuals with knowledge and technology to enhance their capabilities and skills, ensuring comprehensive, sustainable development and a prosperous future for all.

The HDI Report has been published annually by the UNDP since 1990, the Human Development Index is a composite measure that evaluates the quality of life in societies worldwide through three main dimensions: health, education, and standard of living, including four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per capita.​

UAE Ranks 10th Globally in Open Data Inventory Report
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08 May 2025

The UAE has achieved a new qualitative milestone that reflects its global leadership in adopting the principles of digital government and open data. The country ranked 10th globally in the 2024/2025 Open Data Inventory (ODIN) report, issued by Open Data Watch (ODW), surpassing major countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the United States. The report, released biennially by ODIN, evaluates the comprehensiveness and openness of data published on the national statistical offices’ websites in 197 countries, covering vital sectors including economic, financial, social, and environmental statistics, making it one of the leading specialized global reports.

The report ranks countries based on 64 indicators that measure the availability and accessibility of statistical data shared through official open data platforms. It assesses whether countries meet international standards of openness, including criteria such as machine-readability without restrictions, availability of descriptive metadata, and broad geographic coverage.

The UAE ranked first globally in several indicators, including Money and Banking, Food Security and Nutrition, and the Price Index and Inflation, in which the country advanced 45 places. The UAE also ranked second globally in International Trade and Education Outcomes, with a notable leap of 54 places, in addition to strong performance in indicators related to environment, health, and gender statistics.

Majed Al Mesmar: UAE Enhances its Position as a Global Knowledge-Based Decision-Making Platform

His Excellency Engineer Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), said: “This achievement reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to an ambitious futuristic vision integrating digital policies with comprehensive development efforts, by establishing a robust digital infrastructure based on open data as a tool for community empowerment, enhancing global competitiveness, and fostering an innovation culture built on data.” He added that the UAE strengthens its position as a global platform for knowledge-based decision-making and a leader in comprehensive digital transformation regionally and globally. This achievement also reflects the empowering role played by TDRA in strengthening the country’s digital readiness through developing legislative and regulatory frameworks, supporting national policies on open data, and providing digital infrastructure to ensure integration among government entities, solidifying the UAE position as a global reference in adopting concepts of digital government, transparency, and data-driven innovation.

Hanan Ahli: UAE’s Progress Embodies a Leading Model for the Government of the Future

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), affirmed that the UAE’s progress in the ODIN Report 2024/2025 embodies a pioneering model for the government of the future, based on transparency, openness, and utilizing data as a strategic tool to drive comprehensive development.

She stated, “This achievement represents the foresighted vision of the UAE and continuous investment in building a flexible and advanced statistical system based on digital readiness, contributing to strengthening the country’s global competitiveness, supporting key directions in enhancing integration between government entities, contributing to future planning in various vital sectors, policy development, enhancing community participation, and solidifying the UAE’s position as a leading model in adopting concepts of digital government and open data.”

Open Data

Open data refers to publicly accessible data and statistics that can be used, reused, distributed, and shared freely by individuals and organizations. Governments worldwide provide such data online without restrictions to access. In the current report, the UAE scored 92 points for openness and 74 points in data coverage, resulting in an overall score of 84 points in the report.

Press Release – “The Ministry of Interior” and “Competitiveness and Statistics” introduce the UAE Regulatory and Preventive Model to Combat Digital Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls
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13 Mar 2025
Dana Al Marzooqi: Ground-breaking initiatives, inspired by the vision of the wise leadership, have propelled the UAE’s standing in global competitiveness rankings.
Hanan Ahli: The guide reaffirms the UAE’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls in both social and digital domains.
• Incorporates 35 laws and legislations focused on protection from domestic and digital violence.
• Showcases over 46 awareness policies, initiatives, and programs executed in collaboration with 22 national entities.
• The UAE ranks first worldwide in 30 competitiveness indicators related to women’s empowerment.
• Holds the top regional position in 38 indicators and is among the global top ten in 34 indicators within the women’s advancement sector.
New York, 13 March 2025: The Ministry of Interior and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre unveiled the “UAE Regulatory and Preventive Model to Combat Digital Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls” during the UAE delegation’s participation in the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This initiative reflects the UAE’s deep-rooted commitment to championing women’s rights and fostering gender balance at the international level.
The guide outlines 35 legislative frameworks dedicated to combating domestic and digital violence, alongside 46 awareness policies, initiatives, and programs, developed in partnership with 22 national institutions. It also incorporates key international agreements designed to uphold women’s rights and reinforce protective measures. Recognized as a comprehensive global reference, the UAE’s model serves as a blueprint for addressing digital violence and supporting sustainable social and economic development.
Dana Al Marzouqi: A Vision Rooted in Tolerance, Justice, and Equality
Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, emphasized: “Guided by the foresight of its leadership, the UAE has embraced a progressive vision grounded in tolerance, justice, and equality. This approach has solidified its standing in global competitiveness rankings and positioned it as a leader in safeguarding all segments of society. Our commitment is particularly evident in the multitude of initiatives dedicated to protecting women and girls—especially within the digital realm and through emerging technologies. These efforts have been instrumental in creating a secure digital environment, empowering women, and equipping them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely. By fostering confidence and security in digital interactions, we enable women to play an active role in building a thriving civil society and shaping the future.”
Hanan Ahli: A Testament to the UAE’s Commitment to Women’s Rights
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, reaffirmed: “This guide goes beyond addressing contemporary challenges faced by women and girls; it is a clear demonstration of the UAE’s unwavering stance on protecting their societal and digital rights while reinforcing the UAE’s global competitiveness in gender equity.”
She further highlighted that women’s empowerment is not solely achieved through legislation but requires a secure environment that fosters their ambitions and aspirations. She emphasized the UAE’s broader commitment to ensuring the well-being of all community members, stating: “The UAE’s global leadership in 30 competitiveness indicators related to women’s empowerment reflects our success in establishing a pioneering model for gender equity.”
A Comprehensive Framework for Women’s Protection
The UAE Regulatory and Preventive Model to Combat Digital Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls underscores national efforts to enhance legal and legislative frameworks that align with the rapid digital transformation. It also emphasizes strengthened collaborations between the public and private sectors and international organizations to ensure a safe and protective environment for women and girls, particularly against digital violence.
The guide highlights the trust placed in women by the UAE’s leadership, as reflected in their outstanding achievements in education, healthcare, business, and innovation, and their growing presence in leadership roles across both the public and private sectors. This empowerment contributes significantly to national economic growth and further cements the UAE’s global stature. This approach has contributed to strengthening the national economy and enhancing the UAE’s global standing. The country has topped 30 global competitiveness indicators related to women, ranked first regionally in 38 indicators, and placed among the top 10 globally in 34 indicators solidifying its position as a pioneering model in women’s empowerment on the international stage.
Aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
 
The guide underscores the UAE’s dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality, as a core priority in accelerating progress on the global development agenda. This goal is interconnected with multiple key areas, including Good health and well-being, Quality education, Decent work and economic growth, and Reducing inequalities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The guide also highlights the pivotal role of national institutions in implementing policies, awareness campaigns, and training programs to combat all forms of violence against women and girls. It emphasizes the UAE’s leadership in upholding international agreements, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Both frameworks serve as global benchmarks for protecting women’s rights and eliminating digital and physical violence against them.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is a specialized body under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established in 1946 with a mission to advance gender equality and promote policies that enhance the status of women worldwide.
Press Release – UAE Shares Its Vision and Experience to Enhance Global Statistical Innovation During the 56th Session of the UN Statistical Commission
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10 Mar 2025
A delegation from the UAE participated in the 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, recently held in New York City. This event represents the world’s largest gathering of experts in statistics and data science, bringing together heads and directors of statistical entities and data centres from around the world, along with academics, experts, and consultants from UN agencies and international organizations. The UAE delegation included leaders from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), local statistical centres, Digital Dubai Authority, the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, and the Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre.
The UAE’s participation this year reaffirms its leading role in strengthening the global statistical landscape as it begins its membership in the UN Statistical Commission for the 2025–2028 term. This participation aimed to support global efforts to developing and sustaining statistical systems, contributing to the establishment of policies, standards, and methodologies that foster a data driven future, and showcasing the UAE’s commitment to shaping the future of global statistics. The country’s involvement also highlights its dedication to fostering international partnerships for building more advanced and sustainable societies.
The UAE delegation participated in various sessions, workshops, and specialised events, exchanging  innovative ideas on utilizing big data and artificial intelligence for decision-making and policy formulation, relying on accurate and comprehensive statistics. Discussions also emphasised the role of statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Hanan Ahli: Strengthening the UAE’s Role in Leading Global Statistical Thought
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, affirmed that the UAE’s membership in the UN Statistical Commission reflects its steadfast commitment to international cooperation in the statistical field. She emphasised the country’s dedication to building strategic partnerships that enhance the efficiency of global statistical systems, positioning the UAE as a leader in shaping statistical thought and formulating effective statistical policies that support sustainable development agendas.
Mohammed Hassan: Enhancing the Sustainability of Global Statistical Systems
His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Sciences Sector at FCSC and the UAE’s representative in the UN Statistical Commission, highlighted that the UAE not only advances its own national statistical system but also actively supports other nations. Through statistical cooperation frameworks and strategic partnerships, the UAE contributes to strengthening the sustainability of global statistical systems.
He stated: “The UAE continues its efforts to redefine the concept of innovative statistical work globally by actively participating in the UN Statistical Commission meetings. This reflects our commitment to enhancing statistical innovation mechanisms and tools, developing evidence-based policies, and significantly contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
Active Participation
During the commission’s sessions, the UAE delegation participated in discussions on “Innovative Approaches to Statistical Capacity Development  ,” exploring cutting-edge solutions to enhance global statistical capabilities and prepare nations for future statistical challenges. They also contributed to the session on “The Future of National Statistical Offices  ” and attended the BRICS National Statistical Agencies meeting, where they discussed the importance of global statistical integration through joint initiatives. Additionally, the delegation participated in a meeting organised by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC STAT) addressing the priorities and perspectives of GCC countries within the UN Statistical Commission discussions.
Throughout their participation, the UAE delegation held several bilateral meetings with international organisations and global statistical institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Statistics Austria. These discussions focused on sharing best practices developed by the UAE in implementing administrative record-based statistical projects and exploring avenues for collaboration in applying key statistical standards for data collection and computation methodologies.
Mohammed Hassan also led key discussions on specialised statistical topics, including “National Accounts” and “Population and Housing Censuses,”   emphasising the role of AI and alternative data sources in generating accurate statistics that support strategic planning and enhance economic competitiveness. He reiterated the UAE statistical community’s commitment to harnessing advanced technology tools to provide real-time data and maximise its utility in strengthening statistical institutions’ capacity to generate SDG indicator data. Additional interventions covered social, demographic, and economic statistics, labour and employment statistics, data science, and national frameworks for quality assurance.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Statistical Commission was established in 1946 as the highest international body responsible for developing the global statistical system. The commission brings together top statistical experts from UN member states and is responsible for making key decisions related to statistical work, developing international statistical standards, and ensuring their implementation.
The commission also plays a crucial role in supporting national statistical systems of UN member states, coordinating statistical activities among countries and international organisations, and providing guidance to UN agencies on data collection, analysis, and dissemination. The commission comprises 24 elected members representing different regions of the world, selected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
UAE Delegation Visit to the UAE Ambassador in Washington
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24 Mar 2019

​​The UAE Ambassador in Washington Acknowledges FCSA’s efforts Locally and Regionally

FCSA Highly Values the Role of the UAE Diplomatic Mission in Washington in Supporting the State’s Competitiveness Efforts in Global Reports and Indicators.

New York, Dubai, 24 March 2019:

H.E. Youssef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador in Washington, received H.E. Hanan Ahli, the Executive Director of the Competitiveness Sector in the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), and the head of the UAE delegation visiting Washington D.C. to meet several representatives of the international institutions and organizations.

The UAE Ambassador welcomed the visiting delegation and highly commended FCSA’s efforts channeled to improve the performance of the UAE in the reports and indicators of global competitiveness and to support statistics and data sector.

H.E. the Ambassador discussed with the delegation different methods to boost and support the efforts of the UAE at the global level in all areas under the responsibility of the Authority. Al Otaiba praised the spirit of joint cooperation and action between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE’s diplomatic missions with the federal and local government authorities.

HE acknowledge the ongoing cooperation to serve the best interests of the UAEand enhancing international standing by achieving the vision of the wise leadership to realize the national agenda and the UAE Vision2071.

During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the achievements of FCSA and its partners of federal and local government institutions, in particular, the members of the executive teams concerned with the competitiveness reports, such as the Ease of Doing Business Report issued by World Bank.

A number of records were also tackled, such as hosting the world’s most important activities and events related to the statistics and data sector by the State. This included hosting the second session of the United Nations World Data Forum in October 2018 by the UAE, as an additional opportunity to meet with stakeholders and focus on how to harness data power to serve humanity.

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The FCSA Delegation Visits the Permanent Mission of The United Arab Emirates to the UN in New York
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09 Mar 2019

UAE Participation in the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Statistical Commission

  • Nusseibeh: Data plays a vital role in enhancing the reputation of the UAE
  • Lootah: The Permanent Mission is making every effort in support of the visiting delegations

Dubai, March 9, 2019

The UAE official delegation participating in the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Statistical Commission headed by H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA), paid a courtesy visit to the UAE Permanent Mission to UN in New York.

The delegation was received by HE Ms. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE Permanent Representative to the UN. During the meeting, they discussed the role of national statistical centers in providing, making available and disseminating data, in addition to other several topics and issues of mutual interest.

H.E. Lana Nusseibeh underlined the importance of the role of data in achieving sustainable development. She stated: “Indeed, the participation of the UAE delegation in the meetings of the UN International Statistical Committee and exhibiting UAE’s efforts in this field will contribute in elevating the reputation of our dearest homeland as one of the most committed countries in consolidating the international partnership and cooperation and supporting the global sustainable development goals through innovation, global partnerships, modern technologies, artificial intelligence and other sectors that shape the future of UAE and the role of UAE future generations will play.”

H.E. Lana Nusseibeh hailed the diligent and dedicated efforts of the delegation for their contributions to the progress of UAE rank in one of the most critical global competitiveness reports and indicators.

The UAE delegation participating in the International Statistical Commission includes a number of the senior officials of the statistics and data centers in the UAE.

In his turn, H.E. Abdullah Naser Lootah, Director-General of FCSA expressed his gratitude for the outstanding role played by the Permanent Mission of UAE to UN, especially in supporting the State delegations in their official missions.

He said: “The Permanent Mission of the State at the United Nations has always been a pioneer in facilitating the tasks of official missions from the UAE with all efforts to overcome any obstacles which may be faced by any of the members of the delegation.”

The UAE delegation is participating intensely in this year’s annual meetings of the United Nations Statistical Committee, following the hosting of the United Nations World Data Forum by the State at its second session held in Dubai in October last year. The State’s hosting of this forum has a tangible impact on data experts, statistics and national competencies in the country as a result of the exchange of information, experiences and the best success stories of data and statistics.

H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah highlighted , during his meetings with all directors of statistics centers in the world participating in the meetings of the Statistical Committee, the importance of putting the “Dubai Declaration” into effect so that the countries of the world can continue their march towards achieving SDGs agenda in 2030.”

At the end of the meeting, H.E. Lana Nusseibeh thanked the delegation of the FCSA for visiting the headquarters of the Permanent Mission in New York and wished them success in their meetings at the fiftieth session of the International Statistical Commission in New York.

FCSA organizes a Brainstorming Session for the Emirati youth on the 4th Industrial Revolution.
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28 Feb 2019

Forecasting the Vision of the Youth Role in Harnessing Future Technologies

Dubai, UAE- 28th February 2019:

As part of plan to involve young people in the activities of the Emirates Innovation Month 2019, the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics (FCSA) organized a brainstorming session for young people at the Arab Youth Center in Dubai on 27 February 2019.

The brainstorming session was conceptualized to encourage the ideation of new outputs and ideas which center the main themes of the national strategy of the 4th Industrial Revolution. This was conducted in accordance with the aspirations of youth and in line with the efforts exerted by the FCSA and its partners to achieve the goals of the National Agenda and the vision of the UAE 2021.

More than 40 young talented Emiratis attended the brainstorming session from various sectors concerned with the national strategy of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The themes tackled during the session were on genetics and health care through robotics, smart and interactive cities, water and food future security, economic security and digital transaction technologies, . Topics such asestablishing a global center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, building an integrated and secure data environment and developing specialized talent and entrepreneurs were also tackled.

H.E. Abdullah Lootah, the Director-General of the FCSA, applauded this unique initiative and stressed that this initiative was developed to be part of the activities of the Emirates’ month for innovation, based on the guidance of the wise leadership to encourage the role of the youth for the the future.

“Youth has a central role in the UAE’s quest to achieve its vision of being the best country in the world by 2071, the centennial of founding the UAE. TheUAE has always been proactive in launching initiatives and programs that harness the creative energies of young people and transform their passion towards technology, sustainability, obtaining knowledge, new sciences and their applications to real initiatives and programs to serve the country and drive progress.” Lootah Said.

H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al-Nathri, the Director-General of the Federal Youth Foundation, visited the brainstorming workshop and praised the efforts of FCSA in providing outstanding opportunities for young people and enabling them to present their creations that support the achievement of the goals of the national agenda. He has also thanked the team of FCSA for organizing and managing the brainstorming session.

Participants were divided into seven teams. They were selected among those who have knowledge and cognizance of this subject and among those entities, which support our national strategy. Entitiesincluded the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the Central Bank and a number of universities, such as UAE University, Khalifa University, University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Health Authority Board, Future Economic Youth Council, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Smart, Abu Dhabi Police, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (DU), ADNOC, Statistics Center-Abu Dhabi, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Department of Economic Development in Dubai and others.

At the end of the session, each of the seven teams reached a set of ideas on the key theme they worked on. The FCSA experts, in cooperation with other concerned parties, evaluated proposals and presented the best ones to the relevant officials in each body.

Malik Al Madani, the Director of Strategic and Future Department and CEO of Innovation at the FCSA, concluded the session by saying: “ FCSA is keen to take advantage of the opportunities and harness them to empower young people. The Emirates Innovation Month is no exception to this rule. Therefore, we have responded promptly to various sectors to organize interactive session with young people and involved them in presenting the ideas that the young generation can implement.”

The FCSA Launches the “Race to the Future” Initiative
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25 Feb 2019

An Innovative Model for Exploring the Future of Institutional Government Action

  • Lootah: This Race Combines Exploring the Future and Turning the Culture of Innovation into Sustainable Work
  • Al Madani: The Core Theme of the Race to the Future is To Be A Better Model Tomorrow Than Today

Dubai, UAE- 25 February 2019:

 

As part of the plan adopted by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) for the UAE Innovation Month of 2019, the FCSA innovation team organized a knowledge session on the “Race to the Future” initiative, which aims to develop a conception on how the shape and work and procedures mechanism of the Authority will be in the medium future, namely, after 6 to 10 years from today.

On this occasion, Abdulla Lootah, the Director-General of the FCSA, said: “This race combines exploring the future and turning the culture of innovation into sustainable work within institutional government work.”

He added: “Every effort by FCSA and it’s employeessee the impact on the future, and this in itself is a positive catalyst to draw and shape the future of the FCSA since today by its experts and staff. They put yesterday’s and today’s experience to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the Authority, the children of the homeland and its residents.”

Malik Al Madani, the Director of Strategic and Future Department and CEO of Innovation, has led the session and said: “Tomorrow will be better than today. This is the essence of this innovative initiative. However, its mold is the race, for its positive factors in motivation and joint action for Achieving success by teams competing among themselves and with themselves for the future of the Authority.”

Malik Al Madani explained: “The race launches in the innovation month of each year for five weeks and aims to explore the future of the Authority and its work method during the medium-term future, i.e., during the next 6 to 10 years. This is the first stop of Emirates centennial 2071, by building internal capabilities in the field of strategic planning and looking ahead, by creating an innovative tool for dealing with future, and ensuring readiness for global leadership, by relying on fostering a culture of institutional leadership and continuous improvement initiatives.”

The idea of the race is based on a previous initiative launched last year by the Authority in the name of the 50×50 Competitiveness Race, which aimed to devise a 50-speed accelerator program for the most critical competitive indicators and find solutions for them within 50 working days, within a comprehensive framework that sets the indicators of high sensitivity and significant importance which affect various sectors within the priorities of some federal and local government agencies.

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The UAE is the first in the region and ninth in the world in global competitiveness in 2020
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16 Jun 2020

UAE maintains its ranking in the top ten for the fourth year in a row

June 16th, 2020 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

For the fourth year in row, the United Arab Emirates is leading the MENA region in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2020, issued by the WCC (World Competitiveness Center) of the World Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, which puts the UAE at 9th place in the world among the most competitive countries in the world.

The UAE maintained its position among the top ten competitive countries in the world in 2020, ahead of countries such as the United States, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to be the only Arab country that succeeded in asserting itself in the Big Ten Club in the World Competitiveness Yearbook for 4 years in a row, since joining the top ten in 2017, despite the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic that influenced the 2020 edition.

According to the results of the report, the United Arab Emirates ranked first globally in 23 indicators and sub-factors, while it ranked among the top five globally in 59 indicators and in top ten globally in 106 indicators, out of 338 indicators covered by the report this year.

The IMD World competitiveness yearbook 2020relies on questionnaires collected (33.33%) and on statistics and data provided by countries (66.67%). The report focuses in its classification of the countries on four factors (Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency and Infrastructure) with 20 sub-factors each that cover 338 competitive indicators in various economic, financial, legislative, management and social fields, along with some new indicators added in this year’s edition of the yearbook. Some of the new additions reflect the importance of achieving sustainable development objectives, and provide a vision of the economy’s position with respect to the various sustainable objectives that must be met within ten years, such as education, environment, empowerment, ageing and health.

UAE takes the lead in 7 factors (The UAE achieves great leaps in 7 factors)

At the sub-factors level, the UAE achieved an improvement in 7 factors, ranking at 1st place globally in the Labor Market factor, and the 5th globally in the Employment Factor, the 6th place in the Pricing Factor. The UAE is also advancing in other sub-factors, such as the social framework, education, and technology, health and the environment infrastructures, while maintaining its rank unchanged in two sub-factors, the factor of Attributes and Values (second in the world) and the factor of Tax Policy (third in the world).

Commenting on the UAE’s performance in this year’s IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority said:

“Within the UAE2021 vision and in preparation for the Golden Jubilee, the UAE is moving forward with an ambitious strategy that anticipate the future, nurture a culture of excellence to be in the lead of world competitiveness at various levels. Thanks to the vision and guidance of the UAE’s leadership, the country managed since 2017 to join the top 10 competitive countries in this report, and to consolidate its well-deserved position among the top ten globally in the overall ranking and regional leadership. ”

Rapid changes

Hanan Mansoor Ahli, Executive Director, Competitiveness Sector, said: “The annual change in the ranking of the top ten countries in the yearbook reflects the intensity of the competition between the leading countries in recent years. And thanks to the guidance and support of UAE’s leadership and continuous efforts by the government to enhance the country’s world competitiveness, the UAE has succeeded in solidifying its position among the top ten most competitive economies in the world.”

Fourth in the world in Economic Performance despite the global pandemic

Despite the emergency circumstances that the whole world is going through because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has achieved a balanced performance in the factors of the report, as it moved forward three places in the Economic Performance factor, with the Netherlands topping the global ranking, followed by The United States and Singapore, while the UAE ranked 4th in the world, moving forward three places comparing to last year’s report, ahead of countries such as Germany, China, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Canada, Japan and others.

UAE is leading the world in 23 indicators

The UAE ranked first globally in 23 indicators included in the report within its factors and sub-indicators. In addition, the UAE ranked first globally in the indicators: Bureaucracy Absence, Immigration Laws, Redundancy Costs, low Central Government Foreign Debt, Tax Evasion, Collected Personal Income Tax (%), Collected Indirect Tax Revenues (%), Real Personal Taxes, and the percentage of Females in Parliament, all of which are indicators included in the factor of the Government Efficiency and its sub-factors.

Furthermore, the country ranked first globally in many other indicators such as Labor Force out of the total population, Working Hours, Competent Senior Managers, Industrial Disputes and Foreign Labor Force, all of which are included in Business Efficiency factor. The UAE once again topped the ranks globally in indicators such as Dependency Ratio, Public-Private Partnership and Environmental Laws within the factor of infrastructure and its sub-factors.

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“RASMI” Initiative

A strategic initiative within the "Unified UAE Numbers" project, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

“RASMI” is a mark of accreditation for national data and statistics issued by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, across all vital sectors, to create new bridges for the UAE through unified, accurate and consistent data and statistics.

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

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

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

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

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Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

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

مبــــــادرة "رســـــــمي"

هي مبادرة استراتيجية ضمن مشروع "أرقام الإمارات الموحدة" الذي أطلقه سمو الشيخ منصور بن زايد آل نهيان، نائب رئيس الدولة نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء، رئيس ديوان الرئاسة، بمثابة علامة اعتماد للبيانات والإحصاءات الوطنية الصادرة عن المركز الاتحادي للتنافسية والإحصاء لكافة القطاعات الحيوية لمد جسور جديدة لدولة الإمارات عبر بيانات وإحصاءات موحدة ودقيقة ومتسقة.

تهـــدف علامــــة اعتمــــاد "رســــمي" لـ:

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

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ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

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دعـــــم آليـــــــات التكـــــــامل والتنسيـــــــق بيــــــن الجهـــــات الاتحادية والمحـــــلية المنتجــــــة للبيانــــــات لتقــــــليـــــــل الازدواجيـــــة.

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تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

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نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.