UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024: Emphasising Citizen Wellbeing And Global Leadership In National Strategy

At the 2024 UAE Government Annual Meetings, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, highlighted the UAE's dedication to enhancing citizens' lives and maintaining its global leadership. These meetings, directed by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, serve as a platform for assessing national progress and future strategies.

Al Gergawi emphasised the UAE's unwavering commitment to its principles amidst global changes. He stated, "Today we meet as one team, as one nation drawing inspiration from the legacy of late Sheikh Zayed and working together to drive the stability and prosperity of our nation." This unity is crucial for addressing both current challenges and future opportunities.

The meetings prioritise national identity, family, and artificial intelligence (AI), following directives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Al Gergawi stressed that preserving national identity is vital, saying it encompasses values, language, heritage, and cultural influence. The leadership consistently underscores this priority.

Regarding AI's role in development, Al Gergawi noted that digital excellence will shape the UAE's future economic landscape. Efforts are underway to integrate AI into government operations to boost efficiency. A dedicated retreat during the meetings will explore AI's critical role in enhancing productivity.

Despite global trade growth of just 1.5% in 2024, the UAE achieved over 11% growth in foreign trade. Foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 35%, placing the UAE second only to the USA in new FDI projects. The number of trade licences doubled to one million over three years.

The UAE's achievements span various sectors. Nearly 134 million passengers passed through UAE airports, while national companies operate over 100 ports globally. The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is now fully operational commercially. These successes reflect the leadership's bold vision for national preparedness.

Government Efficiency and Adaptability

The UAE ranks second globally in adaptability to change and fourth in government efficiency. It also holds seventh place in competitiveness and tenth in the global soft power index. These rankings highlight the nation's proactive approach to embracing change and improving governance.

Al Gergawi shared that since last year's meetings, significant progress has been made across strategic sectors like housing, education, healthcare, infrastructure, transportation, and economy. A total of 121 transformative projects were launched by 33 federal entities.

Streamlining Processes

The Zero Government Bureaucracy programme eliminated 3,000 unnecessary processes from government operations. This initiative reduced procedure times by 70%, demonstrating a commitment to efficiency and streamlined governance.

In four years, over 75% of existing federal laws have been updated. Additionally, 38 new laws were enacted to address global shifts and technological advancements while approximately 100 outdated laws were retracted.

The Annual Meetings bring together ministers and local decision-makers to unify efforts towards achieving UAE Centennial 2071 goals. Established in 2017 under His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's chairmanship, these gatherings foster proactive planning for accelerated progress.

With inputs from WAM