UAE Cabinet Highlights 17 Years of Economic Achievements

In 2006, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid assumed control of the Cabinet and Federal Government. He stated that, under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE will persist in its unwavering journey towards development to enhance the lives of its people.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed stated – “It’s hard to believe that 17 years have passed so quickly and productively. During this time, we have implemented significant improvements to the performance of the UAE government and developed various services.”

“In just 17 years, we have made tremendous progress, making over 10,000 decisions in 440 meetings and enacting more than 4,200 pieces of legislation across all sectors. Our government has undergone a transformation, moving from a traditional model to a new one that provides more than 1,500 smart services.

We have taken on administrative and financial inefficiencies, increasing the government budget by more than 140 percent and making the UAE the most efficient government in terms of public spending worldwide. Our efforts have resulted in the launch of 330 approaches and industries to develop the economic landscape, and we have signed approximately 600 international contracts.

As a result of our hard work, foreign trade has skyrocketed from AED415 billion to AED2,200 billion, and the GDP has doubled to reach AED1,800 billion in the same time period. We are also proud to say that the UAE is the leader in the region in attracting investments, with a value of AED734 billion.”

According to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE has achieved first place in more than 186 international indices and around 430 provincial indices. The country also boasts the most increased sovereign rating in the region and ranks foremost in the ease of running the business and drawing acquisitions in the area.

Journey of Government Action

Since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed became the Prime Minister of the UAE in 2006, the Cabinet has held 440 meetings and passed over 10,000 resolutions by 2022. These decisions have led to the implementation of 4,200 federal laws and regulations, 400 government approaches and industries, and 600 global contracts.

The purpose of these measures was to accelerate national progress, support key sectors that enhance the UAE’s reputation as a prestigious cultural destination, and strengthen its position as a vital economic hub connecting the East and the West.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE Cabinet made significant progress in various areas. For instance, the country’s foreign trade grew to AED2200 billion, and the GDP doubled to AED1,862 billion. Moreover, the UAE has consistently ranked first in over 186 global indices and 430 regional indices, thanks to its ease of doing business and investment attraction policies. The Cabinet also focused on stimulating and regulating the labor market, which has resulted in attracting AED734 billion worth of investments to the country.

More than AED150 Billion for Social Growth and Housing programs
The UAE government has dedicated over AED110 billion to social development programs and over AED50 billion to housing programs that aim to offer the best housing solutions and improve the standard of living for citizens.

Continued support for the education and health industry
During the previous period, the UAE government led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed allocated a significant share of its budget to the education sector, with total spending reaching nearly AED160 billion. This funding benefited over 1.3 million students studying in more than 1,500 schools and educational institutions supervised by over 150,000 teachers.

Moreover, the government allocated more than AED60 billion to the health and community protection sector, which includes more than 5,000 health facilities and over 92,000 doctors and nurses.

Global Competitiveness Reports

The UAE has achieved the top rank in over 186 global and 430 regional indices in the past 17 years, with the Cabinet’s achievements extending across all vital sectors. The Cabinet has approved 330 programs and initiatives to improve the competitiveness of the federal economy and finance industry.

In addition, the UAE Government has given 110 conclusions to enhance protection and safety and 100 guidelines and industries to enhance education, social welfare, and health quality services. Furthermore, the government has issued 100 resolutions to strengthen infrastructure, housing assignments, and environmental stability in reaction to all prerequisites.

To improve the willingness of the government sector, the UAE Government established 90 policies and projects. The government also launched 50 programs and policies to improve energy efficiency and food security and another 50 programs and policies to enhance the efficiency of the labor market and support national human resources.

The UAE Government has made significant strides in providing smart services, with over 1,500 services available through 180 smart platforms. Reliable government information can be accessed through 500 websites, and more than 280 government service centers provide high-quality services to ensure an exceptional customer experience.

Under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE has experienced remarkable economic growth and prosperity. In 2022, the country’s non-oil foreign trade reached a record high of AED2.23 trillion, exceeding the trillion mark for the first time in history. This growth represents a 17% increase from 2021, driven by record growth in non-oil exports.

UAE Accomplishments in Space Industry

Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE has shown tremendous support for its space sector, which has been established for over a decade and is currently valued at AED36 billion. The government’s focus on developing this sector is part of its commitment to a diversified and knowledge-based economy. To facilitate the development of future space activities and projects, the National Space Fund (NSF) was launched as an AED3 billion investment fund.

Currently, the UAE has 19 orbital satellites, with ten new spacecraft in development, and over 50 international and emerging space companies, institutions, and facilities, along with five research centers for space sciences.

The UAE has achieved remarkable milestones in the space industry in a brief time. In February 2021, the country made history by becoming the first Arab nation to reach Mars, and the fifth country in the world to do so.

The UAE is expanding its presence in the space industry with upcoming missions and projects. In October 2021, the UAE Space Agency announced plans for a new interplanetary mission, which involves exploring the orbit of Venus and the asteroid belt beyond Mars. The task is planned for inauguration in 2028.

Moreover, the UAE is also launching a new scheme to study the Moon with a lunar rover named Rashid, which is expected to land on unexplored regions of the Moon by 2024.

To further its space ambitions, the UAE has also established a national team of astronauts through the UAE Astronaut Programme launched in 2017. This team aims to participate in scientific and manned space exploration missions, reflecting the country’s commitment to developing a strong presence in the global space industry.

Hope Probe

The UAE made history on July 20, 2020, by launching the “Probe of Hope” to Mars in the first Arab space mission aimed at exploring planets. The ambitious project was the result of more than six years of work, involving 200 highly skilled Emirati engineers and scientists. The spacecraft traveled a distance of 493 million kilometers over the course of seven months before successfully entering into Mars’ orbit in the first quarter of 2021. The achievement coincided with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The Mars mission reportedly cost approximately US$200 million.

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