The United Arab Emirates is embarking on an exciting new decade marked by innovation and more diversified economic opportunities. Launched in 2022, ‘We the UAE 2031’ is a comprehensive national plan — a roadmap — that will turn His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision into a concrete reality. The vision has four national priorities and pillars: a Forward Society, a Forward Economy, Forward Diplomacy, and a Forward Ecosystem. In this exclusive interview, H.E. Huda AlHashimi, deputy minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, discusses the country’s efforts to become a resilient, knowledge-based powerhouse.
The UAE aspires to have a more diverse, knowledge-based economy. What are some of the most important goals of the UAE under this vision, and how does the government aim to turn them into actionable and impactful results?
At this critical juncture for social, economic, and human development, the UAE is doubling down on its efforts to build a more resilient world.
In the UAE, we aim to build a strong and well-rounded knowledge-based economy by strategically integrating key elements across its various sub-pillars. We strive to provide cutting-edge education that caters to lifelong learners, fostering an ecosystem that will eventually cultivate skilled, knowledgeable, and well-educated individuals. These individuals will be equipped to design the future and continuously upgrade their skills throughout all stages of life.
We also aim to create an advanced environment that fosters innovation and shapes the future. This includes establishing research and development centers, supporting startups, and enhancing collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of the digital economy, driving productivity and efficiency while creating new opportunities in emerging industries.
A diversified, knowledge-based economy is also the product of a dynamic and competitive environment. It is an economy that is fast-paced and focused on promising sectors, such as advanced industries and financial technology, while also investing in emerging sectors of the future, such as space exploration.
Our vision drives us to build competitive, flexible, and highly productive human capital. Stimulating local talent and attracting global talent are crucial responsibilities for leaders in government as we work to shape the future of our economy and society. Talent is a primary economic driver behind the leadership’s vision for developing a diverse, knowledge-based economy.
By fulfilling the ambitions outlined in We the UAE 2031, we aim to further enhance the UAE’s position as a dynamic, attractive, and competitive hub of innovation. To ensure effective implementation, we have set ambitious national goals, including:
- Doubling GDP from AED1.49 trillion to AED3 trillion
- Generating AED800 billion in non-oil exports
- Increasing foreign trade to AED4 trillion
- Boosting the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP to AED450 billion
Our goals extend beyond mere numbers; they focus on impact. For example, we aim to position ourselves among the top 10 countries worldwide in attracting global talent.
To achieve these results, the government made sure to provide multiple programs, platforms, and centers such as the Government Accelerators and the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI), for example, is working to ensure all government entities and institutions and the private sector are cooperating toward delivering We the UAE 2031. This includes fostering collaboration, reforming regulations to create an attractive environment for business and investment, and investing in infrastructure development — including digital — to position the UAE at the forefront of the industries and sectors of the future.
You serve as the Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs. Can you share some of the most critical elements of the UAE’s policy frameworks? How do these frameworks ensure the efficient implementation of the country’s strategic plans?
Policymaking lies at the heart of the UAE government, empowered by a multi-layered framework that ensures an efficient implementation of our overall national strategies.
The first layer focuses on the UAE Centennial Plan 2071, which forms the cornerstone of our long-term vision. It’s an inspiring vision designed to enhance the UAE’s leading position and reputation for cutting-edge innovation on the global stage. This roadmap sets the direction for the nation’s development over the next 50 years, aiming to position the UAE as a model of resilience and prosperity.
To achieve these goals, we have established ten-year national agendas and visions that provide a structured work program focused on national priorities. For example, Vision 2021, the first long-term vision launched regionally, was activated by the National Agenda 2021. Building on the success of Vision 2021, we introduced We the UAE 2031 in 2022 to continue our journey of growth and development.
Additionally, we have set five-year strategic plans for entities, enabling each authority and ministry to align its efforts with the nation’s goals. To ensure the successful operation of the government and the implementation of these strategic plans, we have introduced key enablers:
- Principles of the 50: These principles serve as guidelines for all institutions in the UAE and chart the strategic roadmap for a new era of economic, political, and social growth. They are followed by cross-sectoral national projects, which aim to propel our economy to unprecedented heights and enable us to navigate shocks and crises with resilience and foresight.
- Transformative Projects: Launched at the entity level, these projects are designed to be fast, disruptive, and completed within six months to 2 years. They are monitored through performance contracts with key entities and ministers. These contracts include key milestones and, importantly, KPIs to assess and measure implementation and impact.
- National KPIs: These ten-year KPIs and targets support the achievement of the new vision. Entities are activating these through the design of projects and programs, including transformative projects.
- Innovative Platforms: Our innovative platforms, such as the Adaa system, The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, The Regulations Lab, The AI Office, The Zero Government Bureaucracy, and The Government Accelerators, enable us to be efficient and forward-thinking. They also allow us to create a testbed for innovation in government.
Reaching the UAE’s strategic objectives is a concerted effort. Which stakeholders or entities do you work with most, and how crucial are their roles?
The UAE government works closely with public sector partners, the private sector, academia, and the non-profit sector.
Throughout our journey of activating and implementing our vision, we interact and work very closely with all federal entities, ministries, and authorities.
Coordination between federal and local government entities ensures alignment across all levels of government. Our leadership encourages us to maintain open communication lines between local and federal governments.
For instance, during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2023, where we discussed the government’s main directions for the coming year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that teams from federal and local government institutions should convene to discuss national initiatives and projects, aiming to provide a better future for our people. The meetings saw the participation of over 500 dignitaries, including heads of UAE executive boards, ministers, and senior officials from both federal and local governments, fostering collaboration on joint projects at both levels.
Meanwhile, private sector companies — whether local or international — drive innovation, create jobs, and foster economic growth. Through public-private partnerships (PPPs), policy, and special economic zones, the UAE government is facilitating a business-friendly environment that encourages investment and entrepreneurship.
Last year, we upgraded and updated our PPP framework and drafted Decree-Law No. 12 of 2023 on Public-Private Partnerships. This new law is designed to support the UAE’s goals and agenda for building a sustainable, competitive economy based on knowledge, expertise, and diversity.
Then, of course, there is the indispensable role of academic and research institutions. These represent knowledge partners and are instrumental in driving the research and development that empowers national strategic objectives. The government also engages civil society and community organizations, which provide valuable insights that help shape policies that meet the needs of our diverse population.
Finally, we cannot overlook the importance of community engagement. The contribution of individual citizens and residents and their active participation in various national initiatives bring our strategic objectives to life. Empowering our people, particularly through education and skill development, ensures they are equipped to contribute to the UAE’s progress.
In today’s society, being agile and future-ready is especially important. How does the UAE use innovation and technology in its government to stay ahead?
Innovation is everyone’s responsibility in government. This is why, for example, every federal entity in the UAE has a chief innovation officer responsible for fostering a culture of innovation and for ensuring innovation tools and practices are leveraged to achieve each entity’s most important strategic priorities.
But more broadly, in our rapidly evolving world, it is essential that the UAE stay ahead of the latest trends and spot emerging signals below the radar screen. MBRCGI, which I oversee, has been set up specifically to transform government practices for a better tomorrow.
In practice, this means ensuring that ideas are translated into actions that impact the everyday lives of citizens and residents in the UAE. For instance, the House of the Future Competition encourages the design of affordable housing, a priority particularly, but not exclusively, for newly-wed couples. Through its possibilities pillar, the Centre enables groundbreaking initiatives such as the first participatory urban planning process. This initiative involves citizens in the redesign of public spaces in their neighborhoods with the support of a generative AI model trained specifically on Dubai architecture.
Innovative programs, such as the UAE Government Accelerators, have established themselves internationally as best practice and have been adopted by other governments and international organizations.
Meanwhile, Pitch@Gov is a program that creates new opportunities for UAE startup entrepreneurs by connecting them with government entities seeking innovative solutions.
Of course, the fact that we have a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications speaks volumes about the UAE government’s focus on prioritizing and anticipating technology-driven disruptions and developments. By embracing change, we are steering our citizens toward a prosperous, inclusive, and thriving future.
What are some of the upcoming initiatives or strategic plans that the UAE is focusing on to continue its trajectory of progress and development?
As stated earlier, We the UAE 2031 and the UAE Centennial Plan 2071 are two key umbrellas that propose a clear roadmap for the development of new strategies driving the UAE’s progress and development. Under these frameworks, the country is pioneering hugely ambitious strategies for various economic sectors, the environment, and the social sphere.
Some of these include strategies we began working on in recent years, such as Operation 300bn, which aims to increase the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, which is expected to contribute around 3 percent to the national GDP.
We are currently working on an initiative titled “Zero Government Bureaucracy”. This program eliminates redundant government procedures and requirements, simplifying administrative processes for businesses and individuals.
The target is to cancel a minimum of 2,000 government measures that are burdensome and unnecessary. By the end of the year, we will remove all unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the existing procedure processing time by 50 percent. At the end of the Program, entities will be ranked based on their success in eliminating unnecessary procedures to ensure accountability.
A new agenda that we are very proud of is The National Youth Agenda 2031, which seeks to empower young Emiratis to lead by example and enhance their impact on the UAE’s economic and social progress — both within the country and internationally.
This agenda has five strategic goals focusing on the youth. It aims for them to be major contributors to national economic growth, contribute to the community while adhering to Emirati values, drive positive change globally and be role models, keep up with the latest breakthroughs in advanced technologies, and enjoy the highest levels of health.
The success of each is based on a pre-determined set of KPIs, but the progress they generate is also reflected in the UAE’s standing in global indices.
In recent years, the UAE has consistently improved its rank in international indices, such as Global Competitiveness Index, the Gender Inequality Index, the Global Innovation Index, and the Ease of Doing Business Index, to name a few. In addition to indices, the UAE measures progress against international frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The most important indicator will always be the wellbeing of citizens and residents in the UAE, and their voice will continue to drive our work.
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