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Sheikh Khalifa issues federal decree to establish the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority

01 Oct 2015

“President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a Federal Decree No. (6) for the year 2015 establishing the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) under the UAE Cabinet.

The new Authority, to be based in the emirate of Dubai, effectively replaces the National Bureau of Statistics and the Emirates Competitiveness Council by integrating the functions of both the entities.

As per the decree, the Authority will work to strengthen the UAE’s position across all global competitiveness indicators as well as promote sustainable development, in addition to serving as the apex body that organises and manages the statistics and competitiveness sectors.

The Authority is also mandated to build an integrated national statistical system. The establishment of the FCSA supports the goals of the UAE Vision 2021, a strategic roadmap to make the UAE among the best countries in the world by 2021.

Functions of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority Aiming to support the UAE’s competitiveness indicators, the new Authority will undertake a wide array of functions to achieve its goals.

The functions of the Authority include proposing policies, strategies and plans for statistics and competitiveness in coordination with the government and the related entities, as well as evaluating international best practices in all areas of the statistics and competitiveness sectors.

The FCSA will also work to promote a culture of competitiveness, and provide training and support to all government entities for the advancement of statistics and competitive operations.

It will act as an incubator for promoting best and specialized national skills in the UAE, in addition to preparing and implementing a unified statistical system for various sectors in the country.

The Authority will also represent the nation at various international forums in the field of statistics and competitiveness. Enhancing coordination with local entities FCSA is entrusted with a bigger vision and wider tasks to make significant positive changes in strategies to strengthen the efforts of the UAE to increase its competitiveness, especially through information and data revolution.

As per the decree, the Authority is the first and only official reference for all matters related to competitiveness for global reports and surveys.

It will be also a source of official statistics regarding the nation. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority also will serve as the main link between all the federal and local governments, as well as private sector and international organisations in all matters related to the competitiveness and statistics.

The new Federal decree also nullifies the Federal Law No. 9 of 2009 concerning the National Bureau of Statistics, and eliminates all regulations contrary to or inconsistent with its provisions.

The federal decree will be published in the official newspapers, and shall be effective from the day following the date of publishing. The UAE Cabinet also issued a decree appointing Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State, as Chairperson of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority.

The board will include representatives from the Executive Councils of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Al Diwan Al Amiri in Fujairah.

“

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre Participates in the GCC Economic Competitiveness Forum to Establish a Unified Framework

08 Dec 2024

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) participated in the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Economic Competitiveness Forum, organised by Qatar’s Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.

The forum brought together representatives from GCC member states with the aim of establishing a unified framework to enhance economic competitiveness, expand areas of cooperation, and build future partnerships. The goal was to improve the GCC’s standings in global competitiveness reports and indices. During the event, the FCSC shared insights into the UAE’s institutionalised approach to managing global competitiveness, through an operational framework overseen by the National Competitiveness Committee.

The forum featured two key sessions: "The Future of GCC Competitiveness" and "Methodologies of Global Reports." These sessions highlighted the role of GCC competitiveness centres in shaping strategies and policies to bolster the region’s competitive capabilities.

Participants also discussed the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum, which assesses the performance of 141 countries across 103 indicators, grouped into 12 main pillars. These include macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, innovation capacity, and business dynamism.

Hanan Ahli: Achieving GCC Aspirations for global Leadership in Competitiveness Indices

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that the UAE’s participation in the forum reflects the depth of partnerships among GCC member states and the UAE leadership’s commitment to advancing collaborative efforts. These endeavours aim to achieve shared ambitions and position the GCC as a leader in global competitiveness indices.

She noted that the FCSC, operating within an organisational framework led by the National Competitiveness Committee, has developed an innovative and modern model. This approach enables the professional management of the competitiveness portfolio, fostering transformative change and realising future aspirations.

It is worth noting that the FCSC monitors more than 22 competitiveness reports issued by international organisations and tracks over 1,350 global competitiveness indicators across critical sectors such as the economy, health, education, and gender balance. The Centre aligns its efforts with global trends that enhance the UAE’s competitiveness, ensuring its appeal regionally and internationally.

The National Committee on SDGs Emphasises the Importance of Investing in Young Talents and Enhancing International Partnerships

13 Nov 2024

His Excellency Abdulla Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, emphasised the UAE’s wise leadership’s commitment to investing in Emirati youth, highlighting the nation’s dedication to equipping young talents with the skills necessary to contribute to shaping the UAE’s future vision and advancing sustainable development efforts. H.E. noted that the National Committee on SDGs has actively empowered youth to engage in strategic planning and decision-making processes, pinpointing their pivotal role in implementing sustainability agendas both nationally and globally.

This came during the fourth committee meeting, attended by Her Excellency Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy; His Excellency Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Community Development; Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Communities at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; His Excellency Dr. Hassan Obaid Al Mheiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Education; and Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).

In addition to, Her Excellency Bérangère Boell-Yousfi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the UAE; Eng. Nawal Yousef AlHanaee, Director of Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; His Excellency Maywand Jabarkhyl, CEO of the Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI), members of the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals, and representatives from the Ministry of Interior attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the achievements of the Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals in its second term and its pivotal role in supporting decision-making, thus ensuring inclusive policies to align with the aspirations of future generations.

Youth Advisory Council Achievements

The Youth Advisory Council for Sustainable Development Goals highlighted its key accomplishments in promoting national efforts toward sustainable development. The council launched several initiatives, including "Knowledge Without Borders," which shared the best sustainability practices with over 27 countries, and "Art and Culture for SDGs" which established more than six partnerships to enhance the art and culture ecosystem for sustainability. During COP28, the council hosted a series of international dialogue sessions, with the most notable being the "Health and Climate Change Forum." which focused on exploring the future of healthcare and enhancing preparedness for emerging health-related challenges.

National and Global Updates

Bérangère Boell-Yousfi made a presentation to the committee members, summarising key outcomes from the "Summit of the Future" held by the United Nations in New York in September. The presentation focused on international efforts to accelerate sustainable development, emphasising the importance of international and regional cooperation in achieving sustainable development, and the role of data in tracking progress on both the national and global levels.

The committee further discussed updates on the national plan on SDGs, where Her Excellency Maria Al Qassim presented the Ministry of Economy’s sustainability initiatives, including plans for sustainable tourism, circular economy, sustainable financing, and initiatives to encourage the private sector to adopt the sustainability agenda.

Humanitarian Efforts Focused on Sustainability

The Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative team presented the initiative’s achievements, focusing on sustainability and empowering low-income Afghan communities that have faced significant challenges over the past three decades due to wars and natural disasters. The initiative employed over 8,000 Afghans, 70% of whom are women, provided monthly healthcare to over 25,000 people, and enabled 20,000 children to attend school, providing aid to a total of 1.8 million people.

The National Committee on SDGs is responsible for coordinating efforts among entities to align national policies, strategies, and targets with sustainable development goals, fostering and building national skills to achieve these goals, addressing challenges through partnerships at the local and global levels, preparing national reports, and managing the collection and sharing of SDG data across the UAE.

FCSC Promotes Global Partnerships with International Statistical Offices at the BRICS Meeting

11 Nov 2024

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) participated in the 16th Meeting of Heads of BRICS National Statistical Agencies, held in Kazan, Russia. The meeting comes within the activities of the BRICS Summit, in which the UAE participates for the first time as a member of the BRICS.

Meeting of Heads of BRICS National Statistical Agencies serves as an effective platform for decision-makers, statisticians, and global experts in big data, paving the way for sharing knowledge, exploring collaboration opportunities, and getting acquainted with cutting-edge, statistics-related scientific and innovative technologies. The meeting focused on implementing impactful projects and initiatives to support the ongoing evaluation of emerging global needs.

Hanan Ahli: An Opportunity to Highlight the UAE’s Leadership in Digital Transformation and Statistical Excellence

Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stated that participating in this important event provided an opportunity to build bridges and foster effective partnerships with the National Statistics Offices of the BRICS. Furthermore, it paved the way for developing global and innovative statistical systems, using top-notch, reliable data to showcase the UAE’s pioneering model in digital transformation and the application of state-of-the-art solutions to achieve statistical excellence, support development programmes, and address future needs and challenges.

H.E. Hanan Ahli said that the UAE and its statistical landscape are committed to continuously enhancing the national statistical effectiveness, leveraging modern tools and methodologies to ensure the publication of reliable data on the UAE Unified Numbers, through efficient, adaptable, and agile statistical systems that uphold the highest standards of integrity, while adapting to evolving changes.

"We look forward to building effective partnerships with the National Statistics Offices of BRICS as we approach the activation of the UAE’s membership in the United Nations Statistical Commission, 2025-2028. Our goal is to develop statistical communities, build capacities, and exchange expertise in the fields of statistical governance, the use of big data, and leveraging data science in developing official statistics," she added.

The BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2024

During the meeting, the "BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2024", compiled by representatives from the National Statistics Offices of BRICS countries, was launched. It features key economic and social statistics and indices of member countries, such as GDP, inflation rates, price indices, population, employment, and unemployment indicators, etc. Members highlighted that promoting statistical partnerships and cooperation is pivotal to achieving fruitful outcomes in the BRICS statistical activities.

The UAE delegation held bilateral meetings with H.E. Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary General of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of India, and H.E. Mao Shengyong, Deputy Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The meetings focused on the development of statistical systems, enhancing the role of statistics and data in future readiness across vital sectors, utilising alternative technologies and AI tools for data collection and analysis to support decision-making and strategic planning.

«Competitiveness and Statistics» organizes a workshop on statistics of trade in services

12 Dec 2023

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre organized an intensive national workshop on services trade statistics, in cooperation with experts from the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations Trade and Development Organization.

The workshop was attended by experts and specialists in national accounts and trade statistics from government agencies from all around the UAE, including the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, as well as statisticians and economists from local statistical centers in the country.

His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, stressed that the UAE, thanks to the vision of the wise leadership, continues to strengthen its international position in services trade, as it ranked 12th as the largest exporter of services in the world during 2022 according to the World Trade Organization, while the value of UAE services exports reached AED 567 billion, equivalent to $155 billion, according to the "Trade Profiles" report issued by the organization last October. This report provides key data on the trade of goods and commercial services for 197 countries worldwide.

His Excellency added that the new strategy for services exports recently adopted by the Cabinet will increase the contribution of this vital sector with promising potential to non-oil foreign trade and GDP of the UAE, as the UAE’s service exports are growing at rates faster than the global average, helping to solidify the UAE’s position as a global business hub with an increasingly advanced and high-value economy that relies on services.

Her Excellency, Hanan Ahli, Manager Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said that organizing the workshop comes as part of the joint efforts of the Centre, the World Trade Organization, ministries and government entities. These efforts aim to ensure alignment in the methodologies of collecting data related to services trade with the best practices and international standards. This is done to improve the business environment and achieve sustainable economic growth.

UAE is the 1st globally in the Network Readiness Index according to the UN E-Government Survey 2024

25 Sep 2024

The UAE achieved a perfect score of 100 percent in Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (first in the world), the 1st place in the Human Capital Index in Asia and the Arab world, and the first position in the world in the Content Provisioning and Institutional Framework sub-indices.

Talal Belhoul Al-Falasi:

“With these results, we benefit from the achievements of the efforts of the government, and the minds and hands of the people of this generous nation under the vision of our wise leadership."

Majed Sultan Al-Masmar:

“We appreciate the efforts of our partners whether federal or local government entities, or telecommunications service providers (Etisalat & e and du), who have worked together as one national team in the digital transformation journey."

Hanan Mansoor Ahli:

“The results of the UN E-Government Survey reflect the UAE’s effectiveness of the digital government enablers and the integration of data and statistics across various government entities.”

The Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) announced that the United Arab Emirates has achieved outstanding results in a number of indicators related to government and digital services as per the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024, which focuses on the role of governments in accelerating digital transformation and artificial intelligence for sustainable development, and providing services that enhance the quality of life of community members.

The UAE in the lead

The report announced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) indicated that the UAE ranks first globally in the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), with a full score of 100%. The report also indicates that the UAE advanced 34 points in the Human Capital Index (HCI), moving from 44th to 10th place, and getting placed first in Asia and the Arab world in this index. This result reflects the considerable efforts made towards national competencies in the UAE, and provide them with the necessary skills to navigate the era of accelerated digital transformation and technological shifts.

The report pointed out that the UAE belongs to the top rated countries in the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), which constitutes the general framework for a set of criteria. The UAE achieved a score of 95%, and advanced two places from what it had achieved in the previous assessment in 2022; thus, maintaining its position on the list of most developed countries in the world.

Among the results of the report are also the UAE’s full score in the e-government literacy (EGL) index, and the world’s first full score in the content provisioning and institutional framework standards, which are two sub-indices of the Online Service Index (OSI).

A new peak

His Excellency Talal Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of TDRA, praised the results achieved by the UAE in the UN E-Government Survey 2024, which reflects the efforts of various federal and local government entities, saying: “With these results, the UAE has established a new milestone in its journey towards a brighter future, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, along with the government. Today, we reap the rewards of a track record of efforts and achievements by the minds of the people of this generous country, in order to solidify the foundations of a digital knowledge society and economy, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI and other transformative technologies”.

His Excellency affirmed, "The UAE’s progress in digital government is an outstanding model in integrating human creativity with technology to facilitate people’s lives. The UAE government has been proactive in investing in the telecommunications sector as part of a forward-looking vision in line with the directives of the wise leadership. For over more than two decades, major investments have been made in telecommunications infrastructure. This, accompanied by the upskilling of government cadres has reflected on our country’s progress in this vital sector, which represents the basis of sustainability and creating the future."

One team; one goal

For his part, H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of TDRA, stressed that the UAE’s keenness to develop the ICT sector stems from the vision of the wise leadership that this sector is the backbone of development and driver for all other sectors.

H.E. said, "When it comes to global competitiveness and sustainable development strategies, the Telecommunication infrastructure Index stands out as one of the most important pillars as it reflects the level of progress of countries in employing future technologies to create the desired future. We are proud that the results of this index placed the UAE at the forefront of the global scene, and we are reaping the fruits of a long journey of pioneership, effective strategies, insightful vision and joint efforts. Today, the UAE has become an inspiring story in the systematic digital transformation, which supports the digital economy and smart cities based on the principles of inclusive government, customer centricity, business continuity and proactivity. If these results have put us on the top globally, we see this as an important incentive for us to continue to implement the strategic motto of Vision 2031, which is to move from one milestone to another."

H.E. added "Of course, I cannot fail to point out that this index is not the only one in which we have achieved full leadership, as we are today in the first place in Asia and the Arab region in the Human Capital Index, and we have achieved a full score in the e-government literacy sub-index, first in content provisioning and first in institutional framework in the OSI. I would like to point out that these achievements would not have been possible without the spirit of partnership that we shared with federal and local government entities, and especially with telecom service providers in the country (e& and du). I extend my thanks and appreciation to them all.”

On her part, H.E. Hanan Mansoor Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said, “The results of the UN E-Government Survey 2024 are a reflection of the effectiveness of digital government enablers, and the efficient telecommunications infrastructure that supports Intergovernmental Integration projects and initiatives. It is also a reflection on the integration of data and statistics, which enhance the implementation of future technologies to ensure government readiness for a sustainable future.”

The UN report highlights TDRA’s efforts to enhance capabilities in digital transformation, and the focus on developing governance and public services by adopting several initiatives. One such initiative being the unified automated chat platform for government services, "U-Ask", which relies on generative artificial intelligence to ensure smooth access to e-government services. Efforts also include the Federal Network (FedNet) initiative, which contributes to enhancing the digital efficiency through AI solutions, and the digital national identity initiative "UAE PASS", which is the first digital national identity for all citizens, residents and visitors, allowing users to access services of local and federal government entities, and other service providers. The UAE also applies best standards and global practices to ensure consistency and accessibility across federal government websites.

The UN-DESA launched its report entitled "e-Government Survey” for the first time in 2003, to be released every two years to monitor the extent of development in digital governments and determine the progress levels in their various tracks. The survey primarily aims to help decision-makers and those responsible for digital transformation to proceed with their plans based on reliable analytics and benchmarks which include government portals, services, content, e-participation, data, etc. regionally and locally. The UN-DESA has been developing its standards in this regard in line with emerging developments and technologies, in order to achieve compatibility between such standards and the SDGs as they stand today.

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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

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“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

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

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

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

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

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

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

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.

Media Center

DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE

50 Years of Unified UAE Numbers

The UAE … A Leading Competitive Model in Excellence, Innovation, and Future-Making

H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Visits UAE Statistics Mural

The UAE National Data and Statistics Platform

Non-Oil GDP Grows by 6.1% in the First Nine Months of 2025

Emirati Women’s Day… From Numbers to Achievements, Driven by Your Vision

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“RASMI” Initiative

The “RASMI” accreditation mark aims to:

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

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

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

Enhance community trust in published national data and statistics.

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

مبــــــادرة "رســـــــمي"

تهـــدف علامــــة اعتمــــاد "رســــمي" لـ:

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

ضمــــــان أعــلى درجــــــات الشـــــفـــــافيــــة والــــــدقــــة في إنتــــــاج لبيــــانــــــات الـــــــوطنيــــــة.

تعـــــزيـــــــز ثقـــــــة المجتمــــــع فـــــي البيـــــــانــــــات والإحصــــــاءات الــــــوطنيـــــــة المنشـــــــورة.

نشـــــــر الـــــــوعي الإحصـــــــائي بيـــــــن أفــــــراد المـــــــجتمع عبـــــــر محتــــــوى مـــــــرئي تفــــــــاعلي.