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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
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.
Dubai, 11 July 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has recently announced the launch of the "Manual of Desk Review and Audit of National Statistics Surveys Data."
The manual is a standard guide specializing in setting the limits essential for controlling the phase of the desk audit of the national statistical surveys data. This step aims to establish and spread the culture of knowledge-transfer adopted and implemented by FCSA as an element essential for developing the task forces’ efficiency and improving the quality of data in the UAE.
Noora Ali, Director of the Methodologies Department at the Statistics Sector of FCSA stated: "The process of creating statistical assets including the human and information components is one of the most important goals that FCSA is striving to achieve with sights set to build up the national statistical system."
"The FCSA team is committed to adopting the best international recommendations and practices for producing accurate and up-to-date statistical data that meet the needs of local, regional, and international institutions. Additionally, the team is taking advantage of data that could be used in planning, constructing and sustainable development on a scientific basis and a modern vision," she added.
In this context, FCSA regularly publishes several specialized standards guides, in cooperation with its strategic partners, particularly the local statistics centers. By publishing these guides, FCSA aims to govern the statistical work system and standardize all methodologies, classifications, and standards put in place to produce statistical data in the UAE by FCSA, local statistics centers or any other relevant institutions to ensure their quality, consistency, and comparability. Copies of these methodologies are available on the methodologies portal at the FCSA official website (www.fcsa.gov.ae.)
Dubai, July 2nd, 2019
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has recently announced the launch of the UAE Administrative Census 2020 Project.
The UAE Administrative Census 2020 Project is a vital comprehensive project that will continue until the end of December 2020. Its implementation is in cooperation with all local statistics centers and many other government entities in the UAE
While emphasizing on the importance of this Census and the importance of the data it will provide to UAE decision-makers, Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director-General, said "Launching the Unified Census 2020 Project is consistent with the directives of our wise leadership. It also aligns with the UAE government’s interest in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and formulating policies supported by data and statistics. All of these efforts are meant to achieve the prosperity and well-being of the entire United Arab Emirates.
He added, "The Administrative Census relies on a transition using administrative records and modern technology, which enables us to implement this project with high accuracy while reducing the financial investments and human efforts. This is being achieved by utilizing the recorded data available at various government entities. The recorded data form the basis, which feed the Administrative Census 2020 Project databases. The project was launched in the beginning of the second quarter of 2019 and will continue until the end of December 2020."
The census project is dedicated for counting and surveying both population and housing units. It is based on the administrative recorded data updated by government entities for achieving the pre-set development goals. This step provides an alternative to the classical Census based on households’ visits and interviews for data collection in every emirate.
For the completion of this wide-ranging project, task forces from all over the UAE will cooperate at both federal and local levels. The task forces specializations are varied and include specialized technical, administrative, media, and IT individuals to have an e-integrity of the systems and protect the confidentiality of collected data and to save it in databases ultimately.
Mohamed Hassan Ahli, Executive Director of Statistics and National Data Sector at FCSA and the General Manager of the Administrative Census 2020 Project pointed out: "The execution plan of the project is developed to implement the best and most prominent international practices, methodologies and recommendations in the digital statistical transformation process related to the data collection process in the Administrative Census 2020 project. Thus, from the very beginning, we are committed to benefit from the best international experiences in this area. A delegation, headed by FCSA and attended by a number of federal government bodies and local statistics centers, visited the statistics centers in Belgium and Austria to review the latest techniques and methods used in such kind of censuses to apply them to the Administrative Census 2020, along with the data validation mechanisms and integration of different types of data and applications that support the optimal implementation of this project.
The Census is significant because it is one of the essential sources of accurate and comprehensive population data. Its results will contribute to the provision of modern and informative databases that contribute to informed decision making, especially in light of the economic, social, and environmental developments that necessitate the implementation of a population census. Therefore, completing the current census project is in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and meets the international recommendations of the United Nations that every country should conduct a census by 2020.
This Census is essential for many important indicators and contributes to the provision of characteristics on living conditions and housing units. The project has more than 70 indicators that are based on the population and their characteristics. These indicators fall within the goals of the National Agenda, Global Competitiveness indicators, and SDGs 2030. Therefore, the sustainability of the periodic flow of population data is imperative for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development and for making informed decisions.
Quotes from the speeches of senior government officials in the federal and local government authorities on the launch of Unified Census 2020 activities:
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah stated: "The Census is a leading national project, part of the UAE’s major development plans. This government initiative aims at accelerating the development of community- households and individuals, to reach sustainable development based on accurate and timely data obtained from administrative records. It is crucial to increase investment and efforts in the preparation and development of government records and databases to provide an essential source of data to be utilized in studies and reports."
H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Kaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Energy and Industry stated, “The Administrative Census 2020 Project is of great importance and is one of the most important tools for acquiring knowledge about UAE and its geographical unity. Such an issue is necessary to facilitate implementing urban development projects and social and economic planning. This will help the UAE in developing plans for different areas such as workforce, education, health, housing, and social services to achieve prosperity and to optimize the quality of life for its citizen and residents."
H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centers and Clinics Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) said: "MOHAP is participating in the Administrative Census 2020 Project, in cooperation with FCSA recognizing its significance in providing the data necessary for calculating the UAE basic health indicators. These indicators are integral for MOHAP to develop health and prevention strategic plans to further boost the quality of health care services levels by measuring health indicators and developing appropriate health policies set to achieve the goals of the UAE Vision 2021 which aims to implement a global health system and enforcing the Sustainable Development Goals 2030
H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy underscored "The Census is an embodiment of the government’s efforts to establish a dynamic database for economic and social variables through the use of technology. This project will form the main pillar for building a central database for the indicators of the Sustainable development goals. The project methodology relies on the administrative records of government entities to automatically, systematically, and accurately obtain information, thus enhancing the confidence and credibility of the country’s data."
Eng. Aisha Al Midfa, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure Planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, stressed that the Administrative Census 2020 is channeled to achieve all national strategies designed to support and promote the indicators of Emiratis owning a house and infrastructure, besides the time of being granted the housing unit. “The project of development in UAE which would contribute to accomplishing the UAE general policies and strategies and taking decisions based on highly accurate data," she said. She indicated that the Census would serve the policy and strategy development process, determine the status and baseline of the national agenda associated with infrastructure and housing, and facilitate appropriate decision-making. The availability of timely, accurate and valuable data on individuals and their social status, housing statistics and manpower, as well as the characteristics of buildings, homes, Emirati households and the health levels of Emirati families will help making informed decisions.” he said.
H.E. Aisha Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Human Resources Policies at the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), commented: "FAHR supports this vital national project by providing FCSA and all concerned authorities with all necessary statistics and data on human resources in the federal government and local governments. This is done via the human resources e-system managed by FAHR called the Federal Government’s Human Resources Information System (Bayanati). Bayanati is a unified federal and local government database that is an important reference point for official human resource statistics in UAE, in planning the future of UAE’s human resources flawlessly and effectively."
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Hosani, Director General of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), emphasized on the importance of the Unified Census 2020 for the UAE in terms of establishing an updated national database.
He added: “The near real-time, updated information and reports provided by the UAE’s unified electronic record will direct the national, federal, and local efforts as well as resources to further enhance the level of preparedness and capacities of all government entities This will aid in successfully and effectively managing emergencies, crises, and disasters. The success of this project depends on cooperation between institutions and individuals, which will result in monitoring the well-being of individuals and society and contribute towards positioning the UAE as par with developed countries in the field of statistical data and records.”
H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Yousuf Al Suwaidi, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Statistics Center (ADSC), stated: “In light of the Abu Dhabi Government’s interest in development and its role in improving the level of well-being of the society, its commitment to extract statistical indicators that monitor the population and social changes, and its efforts exerted to analyze these indicators and make them available to the decision-makers who will use them to develop programs and policies developed to serve the best interests of the society. ADSC will be using the administrative records to identify Abu Dhabi’s population and their social and economic characteristics. The decision-makers are using these records as an alternative to the classical method of conducting censuses, i.e., to collect data from the field. Conducting this Administrative census will save time, effort and money, and contribute to conducting population census projects regular without any further delays usually experienced when conducting the traditional Census, given the rapid population changes taking place in Abu Dhabi.”
Tariq Al Janahi, Deputy Executive Director of Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) and member of the Census Higher Committee, said that this Census is a qualitative leap in the integration of government systems. "It provides a real opportunity to achieve immense added value to policies, strategies, systems, and advanced technology that the government sought to implement over the past years. It will also be a critical source of information to assist policymakers, planners, and decision-makers by providing them with up-to-date demographic data of the highest quality obtained through the least financial investment and human effort. By uniting government efforts, the UAE can become a global role model in the field of Census. .
Dr. Abdulrahman Alshayeb Alnaqbi, Chairman of the Ras Al-Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies, stated: "The Census is of great importance to the UAE as it is foundation for all efforts exerted to measure the emirates capabilities. The data and statistics collected through this Census will assist us in taking future decisions regarding the economic and social development plans. They will assist in identifying the needs of the emirates in all sectors and determine its competitive advantage. It will also assist us in identifying ways of directing budgets and channeling resources to cater for the population’s needs by providing them with basic services, including schools, hospitals, food, and factories.”
Dr. Hagar Saeed Al Hubeishi, Executive Director of the Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Center (ASCC), availed the opportunity to emphasis that the Unified Census 2020 project is one of the top priority statistical projects that ASCC seeks to implement in 2020. She went on to say "The goal of conducting this project is to support and provide high-quality coordinated statistics. This will be achieved by taking advantage of the administrative record databases of the government entities. ASCC management has expressed its keenness and readiness to implement this project. To ensure the success of the project, ASCC has formed a higher committee, a technical committee, and other specialized census teams."
Dr. Ibrahim Saad Mohamed, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, said: "Many countries, including the developed ones, tend to use administrative records for counting their population and their characteristics rather than the field surveys. Indeed, conducting censuses this way is time-saving and cost-effective."
Dr. Ibrahim drew attention to the fact that based on the UAE’s (and particularly Fujairah’s) interest in the development and its role in boosting the levels of well-being of the society, policies should have solid foundations supported by statistical figures and indicators. He added: "By taking advantage of these figures and indicators, we will be smoothly able to monitor and analyze population characteristic and social changes. They will be of great importance to the decision-makers who will use them to cater to the actual needs of the society."
Dubai, UAE – 27, May 2019
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed all government entities in the UAE to achieve the top ten in 1000 global competitiveness indicators over the coming ten years.
His Highness’ direction came during his visit to a meeting held at the Bab Al Shams Resort in Dubai today on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the beginning of competitiveness in the UAE. FCSA Board of Directors met today in the same hall from which the first government team was created to manage UAE competitiveness ten years ago.
I congratulate my brother Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed on the 10th anniversary of the beginning of our competitiveness path. We have taken the UAE to top positions in education, health, economy, innovation, security and safety. We started with a small team and an ambitious idea. Today, competitiveness is an integral part of the UAE government ecosystem"
"We are looking forward to a decade of innovative competitiveness … building upon what we have achieved in the past ten years. Today, the UAE is in the top positions in more than 300 indicators… In the next ten years, UAE will be in the top ten in more than 1,000 indicators. We have faith in our youth to achieve what our people aspire the UAE to be, the best in the world."
The FCSA team presented a summary report on list of key achievements of UAE global competitiveness over the past 10 years. The team also briefed His Highness a number of upcoming strategic initiatives in competitiveness, statistics and sustainable development goals.
His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, instructed the FCSA team to work in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. He instructed FCSA to launch an initiative to accelerate achieving advanced competitiveness positions in partnership with the executive teams of the competitiveness indicators, in order to preserve the accomplishments the UAE achieved so far.
The FCSA Board of Directors also stressed the importance of focusing on capacity building and empowering young national talent in understanding competitiveness reports and indicators. Formal training, secondments conferences, events and specialized workshops are to be utilized for enhanced capacity building in competitiveness.
The FCSA board also praised the FCSA management team’s efforts in developing and modernizing the statistical the infrastructure in the UAE, underlining the importance integrating statistical and competitiveness strategy.
FCSA board also directed the FCSA management to identify global experiences in the field of statistics and data to mark a quantum leap based on the latest technologies on the global arena, such as analytical tools for large data, the Internet of things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
"Cooperation between federal, local and private sector entities and the community is an important factor that enabled the UAE to achieve such major achievements in global competitiveness reports and indicators, and enabled UAE be in the Top Ten ranks in 311 competitive indicators," said HE Al Gergawi.
Al Gergawi stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, have become a model of excellence and leadership. Not only in the Arab world, but also globally, the UAE today leads in how government performance can be enhanced and modernized, making the UAE a destination for other governments around the world looking to enhance their own competitiveness journey"
HE Abdullah Lootah, director general of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority said, "The celebration of the 10th anniversary to launch of the global competitiveness journey is a major milestone for the country’s ongoing march towards global leadership. The cooperation we are witnessing from our government and private sector stakeholders contributed significantly in the impressive results UAE achieved today. Through these innovative partnerships, we will continuous our enhancement in legislations and procedures," added Lootah.
Journey of competitiveness achievements
he UAE’s competitiveness journey began in 2009 with a small team of seven working under the leadership of His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future. After less than 18 months of founding work, the competitiveness Team expanded in size and function. An independent governmental body representing members of its administration representing the seven emirates. After the establishment of the Emirates Competitiveness Council (ECC), HE Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation became chair of the board for nearly eight years.
Under her leadership, UAE competitiveness witnessed several important milestones such as hosting international experts and global events in competitiveness, the 3rd the Global Federation Competitiveness Councils (GFCC) forum held in Dubai in 2012.
The ECC Council also worked to strengthen bilateral relations prominent publishers of global competitiveness reports and indicators such as the World Economic Forum, Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland and The World Bank, the publisher of the Ease of Doing Business report.
In 2015, ECC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) merged to form the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), the federal agency charged with three mandates: enhancing UAE’s global competitiveness, modernizing the country’s statistical ecosystem and fulfilling UAE’s sustainable development goals.
The current board of directors includes 20 members representing a group of ministries and the local statistical center in the country.
The UAE competitiveness journey also marked a number of important achievements since the establishment of the FCSA, such as achieving the UAE’s top positions globally in 75 international competitive indices. The United Arab Emirates is among the top ten in 311 competitive indicators in 17 competitive reports monitored by the Authority. Another accomplishment that supported UAE competitiveness was the formation of the Executive Teams on Competitiveness Indicators as one of the outcomes of the competitive sessions in the UAE Annual Government Meetings, as well as the Number One Indicator Challenge project.
Dubai, 23 May 2019
In commemoration of Zayed Humanitarian Day, which falls on the 19th day of Ramadan every year, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority observed this day and noble initiative by serving 4000 healthy food parcels to labors at their work places in Dubai.
All FCSA’s staff participated in preparing food parcels comprising of a fresh meal, free from any processed or preserved ingredients to express their gratitude to laborers for their ongoing efforts in support of the UAE’s progress and development.
Abdullah Lootah, Director-General of FCSA, availed the occasion to express admiration of accentuate FCSA’s commitment to contributing on the Zayed Humanitarian Work Day in honor of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s (may God have mercy upon him)philosophy on humanitarian action. “Our founding father late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah rest his soul in peace, devised a crystal-clear approach for humanitarian work and we are definitely following his steps and honoring such a noble ongoing initiative to show appreciation and respect to our fellow human beings.”
The United Arab Emirates has achieved a significant global accomplishment by entering the top 10, securing the 10th position globally in the overall ranking as one of the best countries in the world in the "World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2021," published by the world Competitiveness Center (WCC) affiliated with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
In doing so, the UAE topped the MENA Region, not only ranking first regionally the UAE surpassed leading countries globally such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan, and Belgium. This achievement is notable during a period marked by major global challenges that significantly impacted economies worldwide. The UAE managed to make significant strides in various indicators in the report.
New achievement
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the UAE’s Competitiveness Council, Mohammed Abdullah Al Garqawi, said that the UAE’s entry into the Top 10 globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021, is one of the most important global competitiveness reports, and represents a new achievement in its journey towards establishing the UAE’s position as one of the best countries World.
He added, "The country has demonstrated its exceptional ability to overcome challenges and turn them into inspiring opportunities, thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the State, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, which enhances the country’s ability to achieve positive results in various competitiveness reports and indicators, making it one of the most competitive countries in the world."
His Excellency continued, "This achievement adds to the UAE’s track record in the global competitiveness journey, keeping pace with the significant developments and the new methodology of government work witnessed by the country. It reflects the government’s aspirations for the future, embodying its strategic goals aimed at achieving further progress and prosperity on all fronts. It also reinforces the UAE’s leadership in global competitiveness indicators."
Digital Transformation
H.E. Omar Sultan AlOlama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the government of the UAE supports innovative projects that enhance the concept of innovation and reinforces strategic partnerships and digital initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
He affirmed that the new achievement of the UAE reaching the 10th position globally in the report among the best countries in this field is a result of the leadership’s vision that prioritizes a knowledge-based economy and embraces smart solutions and innovative digital initiatives among its current priorities and future plans.
He added that the UAE government adopts a policy of digital transformation that enhances the efficiency of smart platforms and contributes to the successful implementation of projects in the fields of digital economy and artificial intelligence, which positively impacts both the government and society.
Ready For The Future
In the same vein, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, Sarah AlAmiri affirmed that the government of the UAE embraces advanced technology and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies as a fundamental axis in its future-oriented directions. This reflects the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to develop an integrated technological infrastructure based on innovation and digitization, supporting the state’s efforts in preparing for the next fifty years.
Her Excellency praised the progress achieved by the UAE in the "Global Digital Competitiveness Report," securing the fifth position globally in the Technology Framework Index. She highlighted the qualitative leap in the Digital and Technological Skills Index, with the country advancing seven positions to rank 10th globally.
Vision 2021
H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar The Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, stated that the significance of the results achieved by the UAE in the "World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021" lies in the timing, aligning with the accomplishment of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’ to be among the best countries globally.
He added, ‘This result comes to confirm that, with the guidance of our leadership, we have achieved digital transformation goals in successive stages until now. This encourages us and strengthens our determination to move towards new heights and achievements in the next fifty years, God willing.
Work Style
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity of the UAE Government, that the digital transformation witnessed by the country touches all aspects of life in the state’s society. It has become a culture and a working style in the UAE government. With the technological progress in our world today, digital security has become an integral part of the national security of advanced countries. Innovation, adaptability, and the ability to renew play a crucial role in protecting digital societies and proactively addressing any cyber threats.
Al Kuwaiti affirmed that the UAE is moving steadily according to the ‘Plan 50,’ aiming to be among the best countries in the world in various sectors through insightful vision, an effective government, and the capability to flexibly and efficiently deal with future changes. This enhances its position regionally and internationally within the most competitive knowledge-based economies globally.
H.E. Hanan Ahli, acting director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, expressed her sincere thanks to the strategic partners in the federal and local government entities, national statistical centers, and private sector partners.
She emphasized that the UAE government attaches great importance to the role of effective partnerships between federal and local government entities and the private sector to support the competitiveness file.
Global Leadership In 4 Indicators
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured the top spot globally in four indicators in the report: "Cybersecurity," "Net Inflow of International Students," "Resilience of Residence Laws," and "Wireless Broadband Subscriptions."
Additionally, the country has claimed the second position worldwide in indicators such as "Availability of Global Expertise," "Presence of International Experts," and "Globalization Trends."
Furthermore, it has achieved the third position globally in indicators such as "City Management," "Companies’ Use of Big Data and Analytical Tools," and "Availability of Opportunities and Absence of Threats."
Significant Leaps by the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has made significant advancements in various indicators, making a leap of 31 positions in one go in the "Internet Users" index, securing the fourth position globally. Furthermore, it achieved a remarkable advancement of 31 positions in the "Percentage of Population with Higher Education" index, attaining the 16th position worldwide.
In addition, the country experienced a leap of 22 positions in the "Subscribers to Mobile Broadband Service" index, ranking 12th globally. It also made a notable jump of nine positions in the "Percentage of Women University Graduates with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees," securing the 10th position globally. These achievements are complemented by numerous other indicators in which the UAE has demonstrated substantial progress.
The country has consistently ranked within the top 10 globally in 25 out of the 52 indicators covered in the report.
The ‘Global Digital Competitiveness Report’ assesses the performance of 64 countries worldwide across three main pillars: Knowledge, Technology, and Future Readiness. The three main pillars are further divided into nine sub-pillars, encompassing a total of 52 indicators. The report methodology relies on 20 opinion survey indicators and 32 statistical data indicators.
UAE Leads in the Arab Region
In this year’s report, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as the top-ranking Arab country, securing the first position in all main pillars. It achieved the 5th position globally in the ‘Technology’ pillar, the 12th position globally in the ‘Future Readiness’ pillar, and experienced a significant leap of 13 positions in the ‘Knowledge’ pillar, landing at the 18th position globally.
In the nine sub-pillars of the report, the UAE claimed the top spot globally in the ‘Talent’ pillar, advancing four positions from the previous year. It secured the 2nd position globally in the ‘Regulatory Framework’ pillar and the 5th position globally in the ‘Technological Framework’ pillar.
Furthermore, the UAE made a substantial leap of 19 positions in the ‘Education and Training’ pillar, achieving the 25th position globally. It also secured the 10th position globally in two sub-pillars: ‘Workforce Flexibility’ and ‘Information Technology Integration.’
The UAE surpassed countries such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France in the overall rankings.
Dubai (Union) – The UAE has achieved a new global achievement by being among the best countries in the world in government digital transformation, to be the only Arab country in this group, in the Government Digital Maturity Report "GovTech" issued by the World Bank for the year 2021, which measures the levels of maturity of digital transformation and reliance on modern technology in conducting work in the government sector in 198 countries around the world. The report divided the countries included into 4 groups, the first of which was Group A, which included "the global leaders in government technology maturity", which included 43 countries, including the UAE, Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Britain, France, and Japan, which were ranked "very high" in the maturity of technology adopted in government digital transformation processes, as countries in this category had innovative solutions and distinguished practices. Group B includes countries that have achieved a "high" rank in government technology maturity and have large investments and good practices in government technology in most of the report’s themes, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Ireland. The third group (c) included countries whose governments have improvements in government digital transformation technology and have active efforts in digital government practices, while the fourth group (d) came to express countries with minimal focus on digital government initiatives. UAE Centennial Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA said: "The GovTech report from the World Bank represents a new milestone in the UAE’s march towards a sustainable digital future that includes both government and society, in implementation of the UAE Centennial Vision 2071, which was defined by our wise leadership. These include a forward-looking government, a diversified knowledge economy, and a more cohesive society." He added: "This achievement represents a natural reflection of the spirit of solidarity and one team that prevailed throughout the digital transformation process at the national level, including the federal and local governments as well as the private sector, and we do not forget the role of society through its active participation through digital platforms in the development of services and policies followed, which ultimately aim to achieve the highest levels of happiness for all in the UAE." Ambitious goals For her part, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said: "The UAE is proceeding thanks to the vision and directives of the wise leadership for the next fifty years with ambitious goals that foresee the future, and consolidate the culture of excellence in being at the forefront of the countries of the world at various levels, and the digital, technical and scientific excellence of the UAE is a key pillar in its development and economic process." Ahli affirmed: "The UAE’s solutions within Group A, which is ranked the highest globally in the GovTech Digital Maturity Report issued by the World Bank, are new evidence of its leadership regionally and globally in the field of government digital transformation, in addition to its rich balance in global competitiveness reports, as the country ranked first globally in 121 competitive indicators, and first in the Arab world in 496 indicators, despite the rapid transformations in the global competitiveness map and the successive developments in the global economy, which makes The UAE experience is an icon from which to inspire the countries of the region and the world in the march of global competitiveness." Discriminate global The World Bank report based its classification on four main axes: "main government systems", "public service delivery", "community participation", and "government enablers for technological transformation", and pointed to the UAE’s global excellence in all axes, under which 48 indicators fall, the UAE achieved the full mark in 31 of them, which qualified it to be in group (A) the highest in the world, which includes countries that obtained a score ranging from 0.75 to 1.00 "full mark" in The maturity of government technologies, the only Arab country to join Group A, and participated with Israel alone in the top of the Middle East and North Africa countries within the same group, achieving a score of 0.80 on the index, knowing that the global average did not exceed 0.52, while countries in other groups obtained a score of 0.74 or less. A pioneering experience The report devoted a special space to reviewing the UAE’s experience in digital transformation, and pointed out that it is one of the most mature countries in the world in the field of digital government services provided to society, and touched on its adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The National Innovation Strategy and the UAE Blockchain Strategy 2021. The report pointed out that the digital transformation strategy in the country aims to adopt advanced technologies and use them to convert 50% of government transactions at the federal level to the "blockchain" platform, and expected that government procedures in Dubai will become completely paperless by the end of 2021, which leads to the dispensation of more than one billion papers that were used in government transactions every year. The report concluded by presenting the UAE’s experience by detailing the results obtained in the four axes, and the indicators in which it excelled to exceed global averages, as the country won 0.60 in the "main government systems", noting that the global average is 0.48. The UAE achieved 0.92 in the "Providing Public Services" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.61, and it won 0.88 in the "community participation" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.46, and the country achieved 0.79 in the axis of "government enablers for technological transformation", while the global average was 0.53. It is worth noting that the World Bank’s GovTech Digital Maturity Report is the most comprehensive measure For digital transformation in the government sector, as it highlights the most important practices for designing digital transformation projects in the world.
Dubai, Dec. 8 (WAM) – The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years, during this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing its sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the Uzbekistan Economic Forum, organized by the government of Uzbekistan in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
The delegation’s participation comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the experiences of the UAE government.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
She expressed her pride in sharing the UAE government model and highlighting its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years. During this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the "Economic Achievements and Future Prospects of Uzbekistan" forum, organized by the Uzbek government in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
This participation is part of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the UAE government’s experience.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ahli expressed her pride in sharing the exceptional UAE government model and shedding light on its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
It’s worth noting that the strategic partnership agreement in government modernization between the UAE government and the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed two years ago, aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and successful experiences in governmental work across various areas, including governmental accelerators, excellence, quality, services, smart applications, performance, government innovation, leadership programs, capacity building, programming, the future of education and the economy, global competitiveness, and business ease, among others, with the goal of positively impacting the development of Uzbekistan’s governmental system.
Dubai, March 30 2022- Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State, affirmed For International Cooperation Affairs, Chairperson of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, The UAE government adopts the Sustainable Development Goals and supports the visions of nations United Nations in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, for the good of societies and peoples.
He came This was during the work of the Sustainable Development Goals Forum within the summit activities World Government 2022, organized under the theme "New Horizons for the Future" Humanity" organized by the UAE government at Expo 2020 Dubai with the participation of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, Officials of International Organizations and Global Experts and future forward-lookers.
H.E. Wafil Ramkalawan, President of the Republic of Seychelles, participated in the forum. H.E. María Juliana Ruiz, First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, and H.E. Edouard Ngerente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, and Her Excellency Reem Bent Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairperson of the Committee National SDGs, and His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister UAE Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Amina Shona, Minister Environment, climate change and technology in the Maldives.
H.E. Mari-Ilka Bangistu, Director General of Policies Development and Partnerships at the World Bank, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in Indonesia, H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Speaker of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for the Objectives of Sustainable Development, and H.E. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the Fund International Monetary Fund. And a number of Their Excellencies and Excellencies officials in the government of the State UAE, and the chairs and members of the Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy stressed that the launch of the Development Goals Forum Sustainable Project, from Expo 2020 Dubai, reflects the UAE’s message and its pursuit of the good of human societies and the sustainability of the planet, and translates the directives of The wise leadership of the need to intensify efforts to achieve global development goals, Strengthening international frameworks to accelerate the achievement of the Global Development Goals Sustainable.
Her Excellency added that the importance of this forum lies in the fact that it frames visions and directions. for the next stage, and contributes to strengthening the role of the global councils in their session The second in line with the global trends of the future, and contributes to the empowerment of governments and communities to actively participate in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, She expressed the thanks of the UAE government for all the international efforts being made Which met on the land of the UAE through Expo 2020 Dubai, and carried a message state The UAE in love and peace, and strengthening partnerships to serve humanity for all The peoples of the world.
His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that this Global gathering at the Forum contributes through the World Government Summit to Foreseeing a sustainable future for human societies, and building capacity to accelerate efforts Achieving sustainable development goals by investing in solutions Sustainability, building competencies and expertise, and pioneering sustainable development thought Develop a clear strategy to ensure that we keep pace with the requirements of future generations, By employing all future foresight tools, which help us anticipate opportunities Future challenges and repercussions, analyzing their impacts, and developing innovative solutions to them, providing alternatives to them, in addition to stimulating and pushing resources and technologies Information, culture, expertise and innovations to achieve development goals in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
For his part, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said: Digital Economy and Telework Applications, Director, World Summit Foundation For Governments: The World Summit Governments form a global platform that inaugurates a covenant A new and bright new sustainable development that embodies the UAE’s efforts The world’s leading and forward-looking vision of its wise leadership in building A more sustainable future for all humanity" He added: "The SDG Global Councils represented a qualitative addition for international efforts aimed at accelerating the achievement of development goals, and that the role of It has been playing a major role since its transformation from an idea to an idea. A comprehensive international initiative through the World Government Summit platform that provides Councils have the optimal environment to bring together decision-makers and thought leaders from the disciplines of And multiple countries to address the most important issues and files in the world at the level of sustainability".
His Excellency praised the pioneering role of the UAE government in supporting the achievement of the goals of The global sustainability agenda, and its keenness to launch initiatives aimed at accelerating Implementing them in a way that reflects positively on communities around the world.
Addressing the forum, H.E. Catherine Russell, Executive Director The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has the important role it plays The UAE in terms of strengthening The role of international organizations working in the field of Supporting Childhood, she said: "We have made excellent efforts to support childhood, and dedicate the right to Children in quality education, access to necessary health care, and life But it is still in front of the world, whether governments or international organizations. Or the private sector, a lot to do especially in light of the disasters surrounding childhood around the world, whether as a result of the repercussions of the Covid pandemic, or as a result of crises geopolitics around the world".
Russell said that the countries of the world agreed 7 years ago to adopt development goals. UNICEF was fortunate to collaborate with the UAE to Achieving these goals, she continued, "While we have made progress on this Framework, we have also seen some decline due to the challenges of the pandemic and change climate and the current conflicts that threaten the march of this progress. We must We put children’s rights at the heart of global agendas, and we must invest in Social protection programs. Some 23 million children are unvaccinated. essential in 2020 alone, as we have to deal with the health problem The psychology facing many children and adolescents around the world."
Russell added: "The focus must be on children in low-income communities. as The return of children to classrooms and education must be ensured. The pandemic has forced Millions of women around the world are losing their jobs, and there are ten million A child is at risk of early marriage. There are millions of children who do not They have access to clean water and sanitation services. So we can’t Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals without tangible progress on children."
On the other hand, the forum witnessed the participation of His Excellency Val Ramcallon, President of the Republic of Seychelles, who was interviewed by H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Presidency of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs Vice President of the Global Councils for the purposes of Sustainable development.
During the dialogue session, His Excellency the President of Seychelles pointed out that the development goals Sustainable has been an integral part of his life since childhood, noting that the population of Seychelles are keen not to waste water and conserve resources, stressing that the objectives of Sustainable development 13, 14 and 15 specifically address their vulnerabilities An island country like Seychelles that is surrounded by water on all sides.
said On the impact of youth and their role in the future, "We must convey values important to the younger generation and to give them a better future so that they can provide This promising future for the generations to come, as young people should remember that Their actions affect the world in one way or another."
On the theme "Transformational Leadership: New Horizons for the Future of Humanity", H.E. Mary Elka Bangistu, Director-General for Development Policy and Partnerships World Bank, former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic Indonesia, a speech in which she noted that the Sustainable Development Goals represent A map of our common future that we want to build for future generations, stressing that The meeting of 150 countries on these goals was difficult, and the performance of any country in The achievement of these goals depends on its leadership.
Her Excellency said: "The SDGs are interconnected and multiple. purposes, so we should simplify them and turn them into easy goals, and we should There shall be cooperation between local and central governments, companies and entities Academic and society at large, and to allow citizens to engage in these operation".
Another panel discussion on The same topic with the participation of His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, United Nations Special Envoy on financing the 2030 Agenda, and Her Excellency Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government Community development in the Republic of Seychelles.
H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei said: "The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, directives to stop the burning of associated gas for production operations, which contributed to the launch of an initiative to stop gas flaring completely in Our national companies, at a time when other international companies Burn natural gas. In 2007, we started thinking about diversifying the energy mix. We have, and we also launched the first peaceful nuclear program in the region, where we celebrated Recently the commissioning of the second nuclear plant, where the two plants provide 1400 megawatts of energy."
"We seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 70% by 2050, and the diversification of the energy mix as well, and this contributed to the impact on More than 40 countries are on sustainability projects. There is no doubt that these efforts come thanks to The presence of leaders Wise, and this is clearly embodied in the UAE."
H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: "There is no doubt about the importance of leadership in dealing with With the most important challenges, the importance of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank To address the challenges facing the SDGs, there are many Strong institutions that exist in each country, and should take advantage of these institutions to provide solutions to our challenges. The impact of events The last world will be big on fuel, food and financial issues and the economy and fertilizer so there will be a long-term impact on food production, We must have immediate solutions in the short term, and the world must come together to We avoid food crises and famine.
H.E. Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government and Development, said: Society of the Republic of Seychelles: "When I became a minister 17 months ago, I was keen to Motivating my team and enabling them to understand the plans of the new government, as I was keen to Talk to my fellow ministers in the government so that they can understand the role of our ministry, We started implementing a program for change, focusing on encouraging everyone and networking. With. The Government of Seychelles is committed very implement the Sustainable Development Goals, but We can’t implement it alone, we need the support of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. government and support our people as well."
On the subject of advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to prosper Humanitarian, H.E. Florin Sabataro, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Romania, in which he said: "Leaders must provide sustainable solutions on Short, medium and long term. We must also ensure that global growth is More comprehensive.
"We also need to promote a circular economy, competitiveness and the development of The private sector, and rethinking leadership development strategies. The two sectors Public and private need a new form of leadership development to reconfigure Our strategies to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."
Another panel discussion was attended by H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chairman Executive Director, Dubai Cares, and His Excellency Dr. Manal Taryam, Executive Director, DHA Primary Health Care, Executive Director and Board Member Trustees of Noor Dubai Foundation and Dr. Sonia Bin Jaafar, CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation For education.
H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg said: "There are around 250 million children out of school. 750 million children and adolescents cannot read or write. We can’t solve These problems if we are not united and work collectively. And if we don’t In coordination and cooperation, these obstacles and problems will continue. States must Adopts new educational systems to replace the old systems that were implemented 120 years ago years."
"Dubai Cares has been designing a new education system during for the past five years, and I am pleased to announce this system at this meeting.
All United Nations bodies and multilateral institutions have agreed to this. system, and we will unveil it soon."
H.E. Dr. Manal Taryam said: "The implementation of Development and maintenance is not easy. It is critical that we provide Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. And we have many programs In several countries it suits the culture and diversity of each country. And what helped us to reach More than 30 million beneficiaries is understanding what the environment in which we operate and the culture of The people and partners we collaborate with."
She said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar: "In March 2020, 13 million students did not return Universities in the Arab world are able to study at their universities due to the pandemic Surprisingly, but e-learning was a magic tool that helped Continued education. We have learned from this that change is possible, and that it is important New strategies can be undertaken in this regard. We must move towards New systems of partnerships based on shared values around development goals sustainable".
In a session entitled "Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals: Ambassadors Change for limitless possibilities", delivered by His Excellency Ayman Almoayyed, Minister of Youth And sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a speech in which he said: "We rely in Bahrain on 5 The pillars are the exchange of ideas, where we ministers meet every Thursday to network. Exchange of expertise, experiences and lessons learned, in addition to localization of experiences programs, communication and awareness, promoting optimal feelings of confidence, pillar The fifth depends on the replay of this course, which turns us into ambassadors of change real."
Mary Amy Bury, General Manager of Positive Impact Finance, said: Societe Generale for Banking and Investment in the same session: "I see that you must focus on impact first to obtain funding, because showing value The positive impact helps to support access to funding, and can be This is through existing initiatives rather than new ones."
Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, said: Holding, saying: "The momentum must be maintained in the private sector, we have been able to Identify the problem and challenges and focus on solutions and opportunities immediately, and we By integrating these solutions into our business model to increase revenues, there is no doubt that the UAE Serves as an excellent example at the level of the Global Development Goals Councils sustainable so that it can be replicated at the government and private sector levels."
Khawla Al Muhairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and government communication with DEWA, the importance of supporting policymakers at the local and international level to understand the sustainable development goals, noting that SDG Global Councils are a good model for partnerships collaborative, and that these councils are able to develop integrated policy solutions.
Saw Another session entitled "Empowering Communities and the Future of Education and Health and Technology" with the participation of H.E. Amina Shona, Minister of Environment and Change Climate and Technology, Republic of Maldives, and Isabel Abulhoul, Director Executive and Board Member of the Emirates Literature Foundation, and Clint Brown, Director Product Engineering at Esri, Claire Cassie, Global Director of Policy and Insights In the Economist Impact.
H.E. Amina Shona said: "Building a resilient nation that is able to adapt to Climate change requires investment in human capacity, education and care Healthy. The only way we can tackle climate change is Invest in human capital and prepare young people for the impact of climate change. I More than 90% of the Maldives are vaccinated, and we have been able to open up our country Again for tourism after three months of closure. And we relied on technology intensively during the pandemic for development and climate surveillance."
Isabel Abulhoul, Executive Director and Board Member Emirates Literature Foundation: "I came to the UAE in 1968, and you weren’t Life then is the same as it is now There was a scarcity of water. So the population was Careful not to waste resources, and this has had a profound positive impact on Myself, as Dubai is known for its ability to find solutions to every problem, and we have been able to In our turn, we found solutions, and in light of the pandemic, we held events in the air We were open while adhering to social distancing and we used technology as well."
Clint Brown said: "Over the last two years, technology has evolved further. of its development over the past ten years. Five years from now, he will enter High school students to the workforce. So there’s a lot of effort that They should be made to support them and train the next generation of professionals. They will have to Also learn ways to live sustainably and recycle in ways we never imagined. The The younger generation is able to contribute in this context."
Claire Cassie said: "What helps us promote social resilience is taking Evidence-based decisions, data and measurement. This tool is suitable in Empower policymakers to make decisions. We must learn how to respond To improve our systems and develop new structures to be more prepared for any crisis Coming."
In turn, H.E. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, closing speech in which he pointed out that the world is gathering today under the dome of the summit Global governments in person two years after the pandemic, noting that this Reflects what can be achieved when countries cooperate with each other to achieve a goal Shared. "The 2030 Agenda provides a general path and goal in which all are committed to States. We aspire to provide high quality for all citizens, and The Sustainable Development Goals are fully in our national agenda."
"The recovery from the pandemic must be driven by economies and more environmentally friendly communities. 60% of Rwanda’s population is over 18. Years after vaccines, the country has shown promising signs of recovery. No doubt that this forum is an ideal occasion to reflect on our strategies and promote Our commitments and maintaining momentum in this decade. The 2030 Agenda is the ambitious and requires significant financial resources."
It reflects the high-level international participation that the forum enjoyed under the umbrella of World Government Summit, for decision-makers, elite experts and academics in Global Development Goals Councils Sustainable, its leading position The UAE and its pivotal role in supporting international efforts in this field, It confirms the high confidence that the international community places in the UAE and its ability to Implementing its commitments in this vital file and other global issues other.
On the sidelines of the forum, multidisciplinary dialogue sessions were held in which leaders participated. States, ministers and elite decision-makers in governments and international organizations academic institutions, community-based organizations and private sector companies, to shed light Highlighting innovative projects and discussing creative ideas aimed at implementing The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals at the national and global levels.
Participants discussed the capacity of the SDG Global Councils, With its unique network and the multiplicity of partnerships and specializations, to lay the foundation stone for the Transformational leadership, striving to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and drawing A brilliant future for future generations. In addition to the many topics that The world is concerned about sustainability and ways to achieve global goals.
The new session of the World Development Goals Councils features Sustainable by applying a more comprehensive model, so that the focus shifts from each committee’s work to a goal One exclusively, to work on an interconnected model that ensures a methodology that supports the processing of Different global goals in a single project, so that the framework can contain New for each council on a single "focus" goal, can also include a set of Other goals.
It is worth mentioning that the Global Councils for Development Goals initiative was launched Sustainable 2018 at the 2022 World Government Summit, which constitutes A leading global platform that brings together government leaders and ministers Senior officials, decision-makers, thought leaders and specialists in affairs financial, economic and social from different countries of the world, to exchange experiences Knowledge and ideas that contribute to foreseeing the future of governments, and host A variety of workshops, sessions and initiatives focused on the latest Trends and best practices in leading governments, delivering innovative solutions To anticipate global challenges.
Dubai, March 30 (WAM) – María Juliana Ruiz, the First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, affirmed that governments should provide opportunities for women to actively participate in promoting sustainable development in societies, as they are the foundation of change and progress. Without their involvement, countries cannot enter new stages of excellence, development, and advancement in all vital fields and sectors. She emphasized that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity for societies. These statements were made during her participation in a special session at the "Sustainable Development Goals Forum" held at the World Government Summit 2022.
Her Excellency said: “There is no doubt that the SDG Forum represents a very important event, as it discusses topics of great importance to communities in fighting poverty, providing quality education and health, and empowering Women and other global goals endorsed by countries in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, These urgent goals require serious work and alignment of national development plans worldwide with the Sustainable Development Goals, with policies designed to enhance their achievement."
She also expressed her strong belief in the power of partnerships and collective action to achieve these global goals, stating that she believed it is the best way to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in each of the 17 goals, which form ideal soil To cultivate in them our humanity for children, mothers and the elderly, as well as for the which form an ideal ground to nurture humanity for children, mothers, the elderly, and for the planet we all inhabit.
Furthermore, she discussed Colombia’s experience in working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She stated, "Colombia possesses valuable experience in human resource development, particularly in women’s empowerment. The percentage of higher education among Colombian women has increased, and a national strategy has been developed to enhance the skills of the youth in Colombia, along with legislation to curb violence in society, and other initiatives related to childhood, education, and health."
We are proud to have an agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We have sufficient capacity to achieve these goals through the presence of plans to implement them, Colombia is keen to support positive change, and women are the focus of This change, and we must unite efforts to work together, towards a better future.
Her Excellency concluded her speech by stressing that the World Government Summit Platform Inspiring governments and nations with the participation of leaders who inspire people, and on the ground The UAE, which has a world-leading experience, including Actively participate in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
SDGs Talk with HE Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State
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