UAE leaders discuss agenda for the next 50 years at government retreat

The UAE development agenda for the next 50 years will focus on key future economic segments such as digitisation, green growth and sustainable development, as well as food security and productivity.

That’s according to ideas shared at the two-day government brainstorming retreat currently underway in the UAE.

The retreat’s first day (Tuesday) included 10 discussion sessions involving the specialised government taskforces, on ways to boost the UAE’s global competitiveness in vital sectors and the mechanisms for implementing the country’s priorities in the areas of trade, development, media, infrastructure and advanced sciences.

"سيتم العمل على حوكمة جديدة لإدارة أعمال الحكومة الاتحادية والوزارات ".

معالي محمد القرقاوي خلال جلسته ضمن أعمال خلوة_الخمسين pic.twitter.com/5sZ0wrUMes

— UAEGov (@uaegov) February 23, 2021

The specialised committees were set up last year to work on the 50-year preparedness plan as part of the UAE’s golden jubilee celebrations in 2021.

The sessions also addressed future development and proactive solutions for challenges, official news agency WAM reported.

كما تضمنت فعاليات اليوم الأول لخلوة عام الخمسين عقد 10 حلقات نقاشية لمجموعات العمل الحكومية المتخصصة لاستعراض عدد من الأفكار والخطط والمبادرات التنموية pic.twitter.com/ZRBnsKe9Si

— UAEGov (@uaegov) February 23, 2021

The retreat aims to “consolidate the Emirati leadership at the regional and global level”, officials said.

برئاسة محمد بن راشد ومحمد بن زايد، وبالتزامن مع اليوبيل الذهبي لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة انطلاق أعمال الخلوة الوزارية لعام الخمسين بهدف ترسيخ الريادة الإماراتية على المستوى الإقليمي والعالمي وبمشاركة فرق من الحكومة الاتحادية والحكومات المحلية. #الإمارات pic.twitter.com/I64tfbg2sZ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 23, 2021

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also honoured the team responsible for launching Hope Probe to Mars during the retreat.

Honouring the Hope Probe team was part of a ministerial retreat to draft a comprehensive strategy for the next 50 years headed by @HHShkMohd and @MohamedBinZayed. We have a clear future aim to boost the UAE’s global competitive and transformative edge across all sectors. pic.twitter.com/ozJGW27FSd

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) February 23, 2021

“The UAE leadership’s support for innovation and progress is limitless and is reflected in how we ambitiously ventured into space and reached Mars. We now aim to pursue greater achievements,” Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said on Twitter.

“We have a clear future aim to boost the UAE’s global competitive and transformative edge across all sectors,” he added.

.@HHShkMohd & @MohamedBinZayed stand for a group photo to proudly honour the @HopeMarsMission..The UAE leadership’s support for innovation & progress is limitless and is reflected in how we ambitiously ventured into space and reached Mars.We now aim to pursue greater achievements pic.twitter.com/by33giRwaf

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) February 23, 2021