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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The United Arab Emirates ranked first regionally in the 2023/2024 Human Development Index report issued by the United Nations Development Programme, advancing nine places in the global ranking from the previous report, to rank 17th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, ahead of countries such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, thereby attaining a prestigious status and becoming the only Arab country among the top 20 globally.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, said, "Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE government is walking with firm and ceaseless steps towards serving humanity, happiness, and welfare."
He added, "The UAE has proven its leadership at the regional level and its global excellence in the field of human development, thanks to successful policies aimed at achieving prosperity in education, health, economy, living standards, and quality of life, and to ensure sustainable development in all areas to guarantee a promising and sustainable future for future generations."
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), said, "The UAE aspires to be among the best performing countries in global competitiveness reports, as competitiveness has a human and societal dimension focusing on human welfare. Under the wise leadership’s directions, we are working to establish the foundations of decent life in the country to ensure the welfare of its society."
Ahli added, "The UAE’s achievement of ranking 17th globally in the report to be among the leading countries in the field of human development is due to the combined efforts of federal and local entities in the health, education, and economic sectors, where it has topped the first place regionally over several years, advancing globally this year by nine places compared to last year. We are all continuing in the competitiveness race to achieve honourable performance for our country."
According to the report titled "Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World" this year, the UAE’s score reached 0.937, advancing from last year by 0.026 points, while Switzerland, which ranked first globally, scored 0.967. The UAE’s score in the life expectancy at birth indicator reached 79.2 years, contributing to the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (Good Health and Well-being), adopted by the United Nations member states for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The UAE’s score in the Expected Years of Schooling indicator was 17.2 years, while the Mean Years of Schooling was 12.8 years, reflecting on the fourth goal (Quality Education), while the Gross National Income per capita was 74.104 US dollars.
It is worth mentioning that the Human Development Report is issued annually by the United Nations Development Programme since 1990, and it is a composite index that reflects the well-being of peoples in the world through three dimensions (health, knowledge, and living standards), represented in four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and per capita gross national income.
The UAE delegation has recently participated in the meetings of the 55th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held in New York City. This event stands as the largest international gathering of statistics and data science experts globally, drawing the heads and directors of statistical entities and data centres from various countries. The assembly also saw participation from academics, experts, and consultants in UN bodies and international organisations.
The UAE delegation included leaders from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), and local statistics centres including the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD); Digital Dubai represented by Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment (DDSE); the Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) in Sharjah; Ajman Statistics justify; Ras Al Khaimah Statistics justify (RAKSC); and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security.
During its participation in the meetings, the delegation announced its adoption of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s decision proposal to initiate the World Population and Housing Census Programme for the year 2030. The statistical community in the country will commence work on implementing the proposal, positioning the UAE as the first in the world to incorporate this update into its international-level statistical agenda.
The delegation participated in meeting sessions and workshops, surrounding specialised activities and sessions addressing fundamental principles of official statistics, data science, open data, governance statistics, climate change statistics, integration of statistical and geospatial information, the International Comparison Program (ICP), services statistics, statistics related to aging, disaggregated data by age, demographic statistics, human development, and health statistics. Additionally, the agenda covered data and indicators related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plan.
The delegation emphasised that the practices and digital environment in the UAE have enhanced readiness and led to significant advancements in census implementation. This progress included the utilisation of artificial intelligence tools for data collection and processing, facilitated by effective partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations extend to analysing spatial data for censuses and linking them to essential services for the population, thereby enhancing overall well-being.
The UAE delegation engaged in discussions with officials from various international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). They discussed the means of exploring opportunities for collaborative efforts to enhance the measurement of foreign direct investment, aligning with the latest practices and key private standards in data collection and calculation methodologies.
The delegation also met with representatives from statistical offices in various countries, including Statistics Sweden, Statistics Austria, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France, Stats New Zealand, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the Statistics Bureau of Japan, and the Korean Statistical Information Service. The meetings aimed to exchange statistical experiences and explore opportunities for enhancing cooperation, particularly in the context of updating the United Nations big data platform for the Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, the UAE is among the four countries worldwide selected as regional headquarters for the platform.
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Head of the UAE delegation and Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, emphasised the importance of strengthening international collaboration with organisations and partners in the fields of statistics and data science. She highlighted the need for concerted international efforts to leverage big data for the betterment of societies.
Additionally, she highlighted the importance of formulating initiatives to enhance government policies and fostering innovative partnerships between the government and private sectors. These collaborations aim to achieve the strategic goals set by the wise leadership of the UAE, enhance the well-being of communities, and underscore the necessity of working as a global community to unify efforts and design effective solutions for a better tomorrow for humanity.
The first meeting of 2024 for the UAE National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place during the "SDGs in Action Forum" at the World Governments Summit held in Dubai from February 12 to 14.
Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs, emphasised the importance of collaboration between all government bodies, and intensifying national efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, and work to support partnerships to target the UAE sustainable development agenda.
The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), who holds the role of the secretariat of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. Her Excellency appreciated the efforts of the committee members in activating various national and international projects and initiatives, which contribute to a positive impact and building a sustainable future for the next generations.
Stressing the UAE’s leadership role in the field of sustainable development at the global level, His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah said: “The committee meeting serves as a testament to the UAE’s unwavering commitment to guiding sustainable development towards a more expansive horizon. Additionally, it underscores a profound understanding of the essential role of teamwork and close collaboration between the government and private sectors, not only in shaping strategies but also in executing them effectively".
Lootah confirmed that the UAE contribution to achieving the desired progress aims to ensure that no one is left behind, through achieving sustainability at various sectors and cooperation with societies is essential to achieve the 2030 goals.
The “SDGs in Action Forum" engagements at the World Government Summit 2024 were presented during the meeting; which includes the representation of ministers, UN officials, decision makers and representatives of prominent international organizations from all over the world in 13 sessions, and more than 300 participants. The Committee also, adopted the UAE National Data Action Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to measure the progress made in data analysis at the national level and ensure its accuracy.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli said: “Recent data shows that progress towards the sustainable development goals is at the midway point and remains incomplete. Countries must intensify their efforts to enhance the availability of data concerning the 17 sustainable development goals, which aim to secure a better and more sustainable future for all. These goals are designed to tackle the global challenges confronting us."
Her Excellency added: “The availability of data on SDGs in Arab countries shows continuous improvement, with a notable 6 percent increase recorded between 2020 and 2023. According to data provided by the ESCWA organization, which has established a network of specialized technical teams to monitor completed data periodically and track achievements in real-time, there has been a significant advancement. It is noteworthy that the UAE has made remarkable strides in achieving sustainable development goals, reaching a rate of 42%, far surpassing the regional average performance of 14%, as reported by the Arab SDG Monitor by ESCWA".
His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the National Statistics and Data Sector at FCSC, emphasised the importance of the statistics and data sector in knowledge exchange, which contributes to an important economic role equivalent to oil. This shift is attributed to the utilisation of technologies like artificial intelligence and digital technology, which significantly contribute to shaping future economies. The data revolution is seen as instrumental in realising strategic goals and fostering comprehensive sustainable development plans at local, regional, and global scales.
His Excellency further stressed that big data serves as the fundamental cornerstone for maximising the potential of artificial intelligence. It plays a crucial role in empowering this cutting-edge technology to fulfil one of its most critical functions: forecasting. This process proves invaluable in data-driven strategic planning initiatives.
The National Committee on SDGs was established to execute the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at the national level. Its objectives include aligning the UAE’s priorities with those of the United Nations, as well as facilitating the exchange of experiences among local and international stakeholders and partners. This aims to broaden the pool of active participants in implementing the United Nations’ agenda for SDGs.
Source: Dubai ,The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE organized the "Sustainable Development Goals in Implementation" forum in its eighth edition, as part of the World Government Summit 2024. The forum, which was launched under the slogan "Sustainable Development Goals 2045: Paving the Way towards the Future Global Agenda", aimed to exchange best practices to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by providing a space for global dialogue in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, as it is an opportunity for world leaders to present radical solutions to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, face challenges and reshape the common future for future generations. The forum discussed global challenges by proposing innovative solutions, projects and initiatives to accelerate sustainable solutions to all major challenges in the world, including technological development, climate change, inequality, natural disasters and other challenges. Decision Makers The forum brought together world leaders, presidents, ministers, decision-makers, executives, experts and advisers from around the world in various sectors, and the forum was attended by Emine Erdogan, wife of the President of the Republic. Turkish and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Outstanding Persons in Waste Eradication and Champion of Wise Cities in Waste in the World, Levan Davičvili, First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Goals, Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Conference of the Parties COP 29, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Deveka Vidot, Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry of the Republic of Seychelles, and Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Digital Innovation of Rwanda. The forum witnessed the organization of several dialogue sessions, aimed at contributing to shaping a prosperous and equitable future for all by highlighting key themes including promoting growth and change for effective governments, climate neutrality, strengthening partnerships and data-based strategies, modern vision for development and future economies, aspirations of tomorrow’s societies, and transformations. New globalism, urbanization towards new future horizons. Emirati endeavors The forum addressed the UAE’s efforts to make the Sustainable Development Goals a global call to action to eradicate poverty, protect the environment and ensure peace and prosperity, and the key axis of these initiatives in the UAE development agenda, in line with the broader vision for a sustainable and inclusive future. "We have supported and will continue to support all initiatives aimed at protecting the land entrusted to us and ensuring that we leave it a livable heritage for future generations because with the polluted sea crashing on all our shores, with the polluted air poisoning us all, and with the severity of global warming burning us all, we cannot continue to fight our conflicts separately. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, said: "The UAE, under the directives of its wise leadership, continues to move forward towards accelerating The pace of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 at the local and global levels, and its experience and initiatives have become a global example to be followed in this field," he said, noting that the country’s efforts go beyond borders through the global partnerships adopted by the country to help countries and communities around the world, especially in less fortunate countries.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) in the UAE government has launched a new strategic partnership with the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partnership was formalized during the UAE delegation’s participation in the Saudi Statistics Forum 2025 which aims to strengthen institutional collaboration in the field of statistics and data. The key goals include sharing best practices, enhancing the quality of national data in accordance with international standards, and supporting decision-makers with reliable data that informs policy and benefits society.
The MoU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Signing parties included Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nahyan bin Saif: Cooperation Reflects Deep Relations and Emphasizes Support for Sustainable Development
His Excellency Nahyan Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, affirmed that the partnership reflects deep fraternal relations between the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthen cooperation in vital areas contributing to sustainable development and future vision based on innovation and data.
Hanan Ahli: Strengthening Regional Leadership in Data-Driven Development
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli stated, “The cooperation represents a significant step towards strengthening regional leadership in data-driven development, reflecting our joint commitment to promoting statistical excellence, enhancing innovation, and building a future where development relies on the power of data to serve our nations, region, and the world.”
Fahad Abdullah Al-Dosari: Supporting Experience Exchange in Statistical Work Areas
His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation between statistical institutions in areas of knowledge exchange, experiences and success stories.
Dr. Fahad Al-Dosari also stated “We are pleased to sign this MoU, which will strengthen the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices between our two institutions, advancing the region’s statistical capabilities and cooperation.”
International Statistical Methodologies and Practices Session
As part of the UAE delegation’s participation in the accompanying events of the Saudi Statistics Forum, H.E. Hanan Ahli participated in a panel discussion titled “International Statistical Methodologies and Practices,” highlighting the importance of statistical governance mechanisms amid the rapid transformations in the world of data.
Hanan Ahli highlighted the need for innovative governance models that ensure coordination between government and private entities, protect data integrity, and guarantee its quality and accessibility. She emphasized the UAE’s proactive approach, reflected in initiatives such as the “Data Index,” which empowers government entities to lead in data quality and governance. This approach enhances the UAE’s leadership role in the international statistical community, particularly as a member of the UN Statistical Commission for the 2025–2028 term.
H.E. further showcased the model of statistical governance in the UAE under its federal system, represented by the ‘Data Index’ initiative, one of the most important national initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of government data. The initiative focuses on empowering government entities rather than merely fulfilling their role as a primary data source for statistical entities. This underscores the importance of governance as a fundamental element in the success of coordination frameworks between various federal and local entities, supporting the provision of timely and accurate data directly benefiting decision-makers.
Knowledge Visit
The UAE delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT) headquarters, where they explored best practices in statistical governance, data analytics, and the integration of advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning in policymaking. The visit showed Saudi Arabia’s progress in digital transformation.
The UAE has maintained its leading regional position among countries with “very high human development” advancing 11 places globally, according to the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), compared to the 2021/2022 report.
The UAE now ranks 15th globally out of 193 countries covered in the report, surpassing countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Korea. It is the only Arab country among the top 20 nations, reaffirming its commitment to a development vision that prioritizes people’s wellbeing at the heart of its national policies. This is achieved through an integrated approach that supports key sectors such as health, education, and standard of living, establishing the UAE as a global model for sustainability, human capital development, and inclusive progress, building a future based on opportunities and empowerment.
According to this year’s report titled “A matter of choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” the UAE achieved a score of 0.94. Based on the report’s four main indicators, the UAE’s life expectancy at birth reached 82.9 years, aligning with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) “good health and well-being”. The expected years of schooling reached 15.6 years, with an average of 13 years of schooling, reflecting the fourth SDG goal “quality education”. The Gross National Income (GNI) per capita amounted to $71,142, reflecting to the eighth SDG goal “decent work and economic growth”.
AbdulRahman Al Owais: People’s Health at the Core of UAE’s Development Priorities
His Excellency AbdulRahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that people’s health is at the core of the UAE’s development priorities. He emphasized, “The UAE’s leading position in the 2025 Human Development Index reflects our steadfast commitment to providing an integrated healthcare system, adopting medical innovation, enhancing prevention, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services, achieving the UAE’s vision of building a healthy and sustainable future for generations.”
Sarah Al Amiri: Investing in Education is Investing in Humanity
For her part, Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said, “Investing in education is investing in humanity a principle the UAE has upheld since its founding, through flexible educational policies that address global challenges and prepare future generations to compete and innovate. The UAE does not adopt a conventional educational system but invests in thoughtful Emirati minds armed with knowledge, qualified to lead a flourishing future in the era of AI and cognitive transformation.”
Hanan Ahli: Human-Centric Plans and Policies
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), stated that the UAE has established a unique development model that places people at the center of all plans and policies, relying on healthcare, education, and innovation as pillars for a prosperous and comprehensive future. She pointed out that progress in the HDI report affirms that the UAE’s development policies are proactive and data-driven, prioritizing not only economic growth but also wellbeing, enhancing its position as a global leader in sustainable development.
UAE Ranks Third Globally for Net AI Talent Migration The HDI Report highlighted AI tools and their growing impact on human development pathways, amidst slowing development progress and widening gaps between high and low-development countries. It emphasized the need for adaptive, human-focused policies that place health, education, and standard of living at the core of national strategies, recognizing human capital as the key to navigating the digital transformation era.
The report further showed that the UAE recorded the third highest global net migration rate through the LinkedIn platform for AI skills in 2023, underscoring its ability to attract world-class expertise and its status as a global hub for future skills. It further clarified that high-income countries like the UAE achieve net gains in specialized skills, while low to medium-income countries face losses, indicating the dominance of advanced economies in attracting and retaining expertise. It calls for building a collaborative economy where humans and AI work in tandem, focusing on empowering individuals with knowledge and technology to enhance their capabilities and skills, ensuring comprehensive, sustainable development and a prosperous future for all.
The HDI Report has been published annually by the UNDP since 1990, the Human Development Index is a composite measure that evaluates the quality of life in societies worldwide through three main dimensions: health, education, and standard of living, including four indicators: life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per capita.
The UAE has achieved a new qualitative milestone that reflects its global leadership in adopting the principles of digital government and open data. The country ranked 10th globally in the 2024/2025 Open Data Inventory (ODIN) report, issued by Open Data Watch (ODW), surpassing major countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the United States. The report, released biennially by ODIN, evaluates the comprehensiveness and openness of data published on the national statistical offices’ websites in 197 countries, covering vital sectors including economic, financial, social, and environmental statistics, making it one of the leading specialized global reports.
The report ranks countries based on 64 indicators that measure the availability and accessibility of statistical data shared through official open data platforms. It assesses whether countries meet international standards of openness, including criteria such as machine-readability without restrictions, availability of descriptive metadata, and broad geographic coverage.
The UAE ranked first globally in several indicators, including Money and Banking, Food Security and Nutrition, and the Price Index and Inflation, in which the country advanced 45 places. The UAE also ranked second globally in International Trade and Education Outcomes, with a notable leap of 54 places, in addition to strong performance in indicators related to environment, health, and gender statistics.
Majed Al Mesmar: UAE Enhances its Position as a Global Knowledge-Based Decision-Making Platform
His Excellency Engineer Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), said: “This achievement reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to an ambitious futuristic vision integrating digital policies with comprehensive development efforts, by establishing a robust digital infrastructure based on open data as a tool for community empowerment, enhancing global competitiveness, and fostering an innovation culture built on data.” He added that the UAE strengthens its position as a global platform for knowledge-based decision-making and a leader in comprehensive digital transformation regionally and globally. This achievement also reflects the empowering role played by TDRA in strengthening the country’s digital readiness through developing legislative and regulatory frameworks, supporting national policies on open data, and providing digital infrastructure to ensure integration among government entities, solidifying the UAE position as a global reference in adopting concepts of digital government, transparency, and data-driven innovation.
Hanan Ahli: UAE’s Progress Embodies a Leading Model for the Government of the Future
Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), affirmed that the UAE’s progress in the ODIN Report 2024/2025 embodies a pioneering model for the government of the future, based on transparency, openness, and utilizing data as a strategic tool to drive comprehensive development.
She stated, “This achievement represents the foresighted vision of the UAE and continuous investment in building a flexible and advanced statistical system based on digital readiness, contributing to strengthening the country’s global competitiveness, supporting key directions in enhancing integration between government entities, contributing to future planning in various vital sectors, policy development, enhancing community participation, and solidifying the UAE’s position as a leading model in adopting concepts of digital government and open data.”
Open Data
Open data refers to publicly accessible data and statistics that can be used, reused, distributed, and shared freely by individuals and organizations. Governments worldwide provide such data online without restrictions to access. In the current report, the UAE scored 92 points for openness and 74 points in data coverage, resulting in an overall score of 84 points in the report.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) continues its strategic efforts to support to support the UAE government’s data ecosystem and implement data governance mechanisms across federal entities in the UAE, enhancing transparency and efficiency in government data management. In this context, the Centre organized a specialized session titled “Government Best Practices in Data Governance ,” with the participation of several leading federal entities in data management. This session is part of the “Data Index” initiatives launched by the UAE government last year under the Data and Digital Government pillar within the “Ada’a” Government Performance Systemaligns with global best practices in statistics and data management. Its aim is to enhance government performance efficiency and mature data in federal entities.
The session witnessed active participation from over 100 data officials representing 35 federal entities. During the session, various federal entities such as Central Bank of the UAE; Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); as well as Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE), presented their pioneering experiences in data governance and management. This included highlighting data policies and alignment mechanisms with national and international standards, ultimately contributing to greater efficiency in data management and more effective support for decision-makers. The session served as a platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing national capabilities in adopting advanced models in statistics and data, aligning with the UAE’s aspirations in digital transformation, and supporting a culture of continuous development and innovation in data management to strengthen institutional integration and empower data officials to play leading roles in shaping the future of government data and statistics.
His Excellency Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Sciences Sector at FCSC, emphasized the significance of the session as a milestone in the development efforts of the national “Data Index,” providing an opportunity to review achievements of federal entities, discuss key challenges, and anticipate future trends to activate the role of data and statistics in enhancing evidence-based policy-making to serve the public good.
He added, “The ‘Data Index’ reflects the UAE government’s commitment to establish principles of governance and management of government data within advanced regulatory and scientific frameworks, enhancing the country’s position as a global hub in the digital field. The ‘Data Index’ is a key driver in supporting a smart and integrated digital government environment, enabling federal entities to employ data as an effective strategic tool to enhance decision-making and achieve the ambitious developmental agenda of the country.”
Omran Al Shamsi, Director of Labour Market Information at MOHRE, stated that the fundamentals of data governance represent the primary pillar towards enabling digital transformation and decision-making. He added that the ministry has adopted a comprehensive framework for data governance based on international standards like the DAMA framework, including clear policies and standards to define, ensure accuracy, quality, and confidentiality of data, as well as distributing roles and responsibilities among data owners, service providers, and end-users to ensure accountability and transparency at every stage of the data lifecycle.
Al Shamsi highlighted that classifying data according to its sensitivity level – whether it is open, confidential, sensitive, or prohibited – is a crucial part of protecting information and ensuring responsible use. He clarified that the ministry relies on a clear matrix of data access permissions. This approach reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing a data culture and providing an institutional environment based on smart governance to improve services and labor market policies in the country.
He also pointed out that “Data Governance” is not merely a technical project but a cultural change that requires institutional commitment at the highest levels. He added that institutions investing seriously in data governance are better equipped to make strategic decisions based on accurate and reliable data. The presentation concluded with practical recommendations to establish a successful data governance framework, including clearly defining data owners and tools for data documentation and quality measurement, and building an institutional culture that enhances the value of data as a strategic asset.
Dr. Alya Harbi, Director of Statistics and Research Center at MOHAP, praised the prominent role played by the FCSC in launching projects aimed at enhancing the quality of statistical data in line with future requirements. This includes strengthening data governance as a fundamental element in shaping government policies and supporting sustainable development paths. She emphasized the importance of data in shaping future visions and measuring performance indicators, contributing to improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing health planning strategies at the national level.
She highlighted the importance of data integration among various relevant entities and the necessity of establishing effective partnerships in data analysis, which plays a fundamental role in supporting accurate decision-making that contributes to achieving comprehensive development and ensuring fair distribution of resources and services.
In conclusion, she expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for organizing this valuable workshop and for providing the opportunity for the Ministry of Health and Prevention to present its pioneering experience in this field.
The session is part of a series of specialized events and coordination meetings held during the current quarter, with the participation of 264 data management officials from 35 federal entities. Its goal is to provide timely and reliable data and statistics for decision-makers, contributing to supporting the Unified UAE Numbers and achieving effective data-based planning and national statistics.
It is worth mentioning that the “Data Index” was launched last year concurrently with the launch of the “Unified UAE Numbers” project as one of the national projects aimed at advancing and strengthening the country’s statistical system and supporting the country’s development journey across various economic, demographic, social, and environmental sectors, solidifying the UAE’s global leadership in employing data to support decision-making.
UAE’s National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) discussed national efforts to achieve objectives of the Sustainable Development agenda 2030, outlining the third phase of the national data plan, mechanisms to enhance integration across sectors to ensure sustainability goals, and reviewed UAE’s progress indicators in implementing development goals.
This took place during a committee meeting chaired by His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange, Chair of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals. Also present were Her Excellency Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy; Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE); His Excellency Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP); and Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC).
Abdulla Lootah emphasised that the UAE continues its approach in contributing to global dialogue to define sustainable development priorities far beyond the 2030 phase, based on its belief in ensuring a sustainable future for humanity and unifying efforts to achieve a qualitative leap in sustainable development.
He stated that the UAE represents a leading global model in adopting and translating sustainable development goals into tangible reality through a proactive vision that combines national ambition and global responsibility. The Committee supports this approach by focusing on the importance of unifying efforts and ensuring alignment of strategies with development needs and strategic goals, intensifying efforts to achieve national priorities, enhancing future sustainability foresight, and ensuring alignment of national strategies across sectors with global trends.
Global Goals Achievement Updates
The UAE’s National Committee on SDGs reviewed the progress and stages of achieving sustainable development goals at the national level. Committee members emphasised the importance of enhancing data and improving its quality through integrated systems to automate reporting processes on goal achievement, focusing on adhering to internationally approved standards and methodologies, and strengthening the UAE’s approach in sharing insights and experience exchange that positively impact sustainable development futures at community and global levels.
Committee members discussed their team efforts and mechanisms for observing global goal achievement and periodic review with working teams to monitor progress levels, internationally approved standards and methodologies implementation, and linking improvement plans with targeted timelines to ensure a qualitative leap in sustainable development data abundance according to the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and efficiency.
Future Directions
The General Secretariat of the UAE’s National Committee on SDGs reviewed the highlights of the XDGs 2045 Global Survey, conducted during the “SDGs in Action” Forum at the World Governments Summit 2025.
The survey witnessed broad participation from over 50 countries worldwide, highlighting the urgent need to adopt a comprehensive approach in shaping the future outlook, enhancing international cooperation to forge effective partnerships, and unifying efforts in tackling challenges and exploring future opportunities.
Strategic Priorities Beyond 2030
The Committee discussed the UAE’s contributions in sharing visions and driving sustainable development nationally and globally, inspired by the country’s proactive initiative drawn from the legacy of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals 2030, launching the “XDGs 2045” concept in an initiative to foresee the future beyond the 2030 agenda. This initiative included three high-level ministerial meetings, bringing together leaders and government officials at global and national levels in dialogues reaffirming their commitment to shaping long-term strategies for a flexible, comprehensive, and sustainable future towards 2045.
SDGs Talk with HE Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State
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