UAE's Ohood Al Roumi Emphasises Commitment To Global Partnerships For Future Readiness

Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, reaffirmed the UAE's dedication to future preparedness and collaboration with global partners. "The only time to create the future is the present moment," Al Roumi stated, stressing the need for proactive measures in a swiftly changing world. "Our countries may have similar or different challenges, but our goal is the same: to ensure future generations inherit a world that is prosperous, secure, and sustainable."

During a session with participants in the 2nd Global Government Leaders Programme (GGLP), Al Roumi discussed the UAE's strategic approach to future readiness. This programme involves field visits to various government entities and national projects, showcasing the UAE’s best practices and achievements in key sectors. The initiative aims to enhance leadership skills among government leaders from diverse countries.

The UAE's commitment to future readiness dates back to its founding. Al Roumi highlighted initiatives like Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's greening of the desert long before sustainability became a global focus. "Our wise leaders today continue to build on this legacy," Al Roumi noted. President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan envisioned celebrating the export of the last oil barrel nearly a decade ago.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed emphasised investing in new economic sectors such as AI, space exploration, advanced technologies, and sustainability. Human capital development remains central to these efforts, aiming to cultivate a skilled workforce for long-term prosperity. This vision underscores the importance of preparing for a post-oil economy.

Another significant milestone was achieved when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum initiated e-government in 2000. This move positioned the UAE as a leader in digital governance and economy globally. The early adoption of digital strategies has been pivotal in shaping modern governance practices.

Al Roumi identified key global trends influencing the future, including digital economy growth, cybersecurity importance, sustainability, and evolving skill requirements. She stressed adapting policies and regulations for emerging industries while ensuring inclusivity and ethical standards, especially concerning AI advancements.

Proactive Future Initiatives

The UAE has launched several initiatives to prepare for future challenges. These include the UAE Future Mission platform for co-designing quality projects with government entities; the Future Readiness Framework for assessing organisational preparedness; Jahiz programme aimed at upskilling federal employees; and the Future Readiness Seal awarded to innovative projects demonstrating foresight.

The Global Government Leaders Programme is organised by the Government Experience Exchange Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD). It empowers first- and second-tier government leaders from participating countries by enhancing their leadership and management skills through field visits.

Diverse Participation

The 2nd cohort of GGLP includes participants from 31 countries: Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, Bermuda, Ethiopia, Georgia, Maldives, Andorra, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Barbados, Romania, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Seychelles, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Fiji, Rwanda, Senegal, Colombia, Paraguay Brazil Turkmenistan Guyana Brunei Malta Zimbabwe Serbia UAE.

This diverse participation reflects a shared commitment among nations to improve government performance through learning from each other's experiences. By engaging in this programme participants gain insights into project management approaches they can apply within their own governments enhancing overall effectiveness globally.

With inputs from WAM