Lebanese Delegation Explores UAE Government Models And Future Modernisation

A high-level Lebanese delegation has visited the UAE to study how the UAE Government designs future-ready institutions. The group examined models of government modernisation, with a focus on digital tools, advanced technologies and AI, and how these elements are used to improve services, policymaking and long-term readiness in both federal and local UAE entities.

The visit sought to understand how the UAE links strategy, performance and competitiveness with public service delivery. Discussions addressed how federal and emirate-level bodies coordinate legislation, data systems and communications, and how these approaches could inform Lebanon’s own efforts to upgrade government work and better serve communities.

The mission followed the launch, in May, of a bilateral UAE-Lebanon government partnership on modernisation under the Government Experience Exchange Forum. The partnership creates a structured platform for cooperation between senior officials in both countries and supports the UAE leadership’s directives to deepen ties with Lebanon through technical cooperation in government development.

Within this framework, both sides aim to share experience on updating government work methods and improving institutional performance. The partnership is designed to support long-term relations and deliver practical benefits for people in the UAE and Lebanon, through joint projects, workshops and regular knowledge exchange between relevant government teams.

The Lebanese delegation included Judge Mahmoud Makieh, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office; Dr. Rawaa Al Harati, Adviser to the President for Cooperation and International Economy; Brigadier General Ziad Haikal, Adviser to the President for Studies; along with a number of other senior officials and advisers from Lebanon.

Meetings were held with several UAE officials, including Maryam Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet; Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council; Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange; Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chair of the UAE Government Media Office.

UAE-Lebanon government partnership focus areas and strategic themes

Further discussions involved Hanan Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and Ibrahim Salman Al Hammadi, Executive Director of Government Performance and Excellence at the Prime Minister’s Office and General Coordinator of the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme. Sessions highlighted performance management, excellence programmes and how data is used to guide decisions and international competitiveness.

The programme, organised by the Government Experience Exchange Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, covered a broad range of topics. These included future foresight, legislation, policy design, service modernisation, government communications, strategic projects, AI-enabled government services and the role of advanced technologies in improving efficiency and public satisfaction.

Abdulla Nasser Lootah described the visit as reflecting strong UAE-Lebanon relations and the UAE’s commitment to share learned lessons in governance. Lootah also underlined that such cooperation is intended to help both governments raise readiness for future challenges and create more agile and effective institutions that respond to the needs of their societies.

With inputs from WAM