Building the Future : UAE’S Next 50 Years
As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) eagerly waits to celebrate its golden jubilee in 2021, the country has already begun thinking about its next 50 years; dedicating 2020 to develop an elaborate strategy to guide the nation over the next half century.
“Preparation for the Next 50 Years”, as the strategy has been named, is meant to prepare minds across all sectors of the Emirati community, to equip institutions, and design robust plans for what the UAE will be, its image, and its economy in the next fifty years.
The dedication of 2020 to this cause was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Two committees
The preparations are taking shape following a directive for the formation of two committees affiliated to the UAE Cabinet. The first committee is headed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Minister of Presidential Affairs. He is deputized by His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future. It is charged with drawing a comprehensive development plan, to upgrade the entire government work system to be the fastest, most flexible and efficient to adapt to future changes, and to involve all societal groups in shaping the life form in the Emirates over the next five decades.
The committee’s tasks also include setting the new economic map of the country, developing exceptional economic projects and policies to achieve qualitative and significant leaps in the national economy to consolidate UAE’s soft power.
Developing the state media is a priority for UAE to tell a new story of Emirates to the world in order to achieve economic and social returns in addition to protecting the gains and enhance its opportunities in the new economy. The committee is also expected to work on developing the basic social sectors and prepare them for the future as well as setting an integrated vision for the Emirati society over the next half century, putting into account the demographic, family and cultural aspects.
Furthermore, the committee has set a new system to consolidate the global footprint of the Emirates, especially in the humanitarian and environmental sectors besides designing a system that promotes civilization and productivity to prepare the new generation for the future.
The second committee to supervise the activities of the golden jubilee of the UAE is headed by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He is deputized by Her Highness Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Its major task is managing the activities leading to UAE’s golden jubilee celebrations next year.
This committee will form working teams to implement a comprehensive plan for the celebrations, and encourage the participation of various social groups to develop plans for the golden jubilee celebrations to create impact on the international scene.
It will also draw up a map of accomplishments in the UAE since its foundation and work to preserve it for future generations. It will involve the country’s embassies worldwide in the preparation and implementation of the golden jubilee celebrations to promote UAE’s global image.
Additionally, the committee is tasked to develop integrated mechanisms to coordinate the activities of the golden jubilee celebrations at the federal and local level plus drawing up of local and international media plans to narrate the journey of the Emirates in the last 50 years.
The aspirations of the UAE for the next 50 years are based on a clear
history, creative legacy and unique administrative system that has
been marked by remarkable achievements at all levels.
Unlimited ambitions
The aspirations of the UAE for the next 50 years are based on a clear history, creative legacy and unique administrative system that has been marked by remarkable achievements at all levels since the founding of the Union on December 2, 1971.
UAE focuses on moving forward
in making the future and
investing in it with a modern
development project aimed at
maximizing its gains during the
next fifty years.
Today’s sound planning, adaptation of the right strategies and excellent implementation are all built on the modern institutional construction of the federal state in the Emirates that is continually driven by an insightful, ambitious and strategic vision.
All of these integrated elements collectively drive the various sectors of the country to prepare a highly effective strategy for the next stage. They benefit from the UAE’s growing trend towards investing in artificial intelligence and technology, relying on them in all fields of life. Encouraging innovation and attracting distinguished creative energies and providing an innovative environment for companies and institutions working in the field of future investments based on knowledge and information.
“Preparation for Fifty Years” deals with a long horizon, which requires a distinctive creative imagination to design life and the future in the Emirates in a manner that takes into account the future generations and achieves its aspirations in a compatible way.
For years, UAE’s wise leadership has prioritized these aspirations and challenges through awareness campaigns about the near and far future, focusing on sustainable development, the post-oil economy, artificial intelligence, innovation and investment in knowledge and space exploration.
The indicators of growth and prosperity in the Emirates send promising messages of advancement and superiority. And when expressions of success and self-confidence prevail in the words of wise leadership, this reflects positively on the country, and motivates the people to be more productive. The declaration of 2020 as the year of “Preparation for the Next 50 Years” renews ambitions and stimulates energies to create a bright future, keeping pace with plans that are based on vanquishing the impossible to meet the aspirations of future generations.
Based on the countless achievements of the past, the vision of UAE’s creative leadership towards a new stage of comprehensive and inspiring development path promises a future that secures a better life for the current and future generations.
What distinguishes the UAE and stands behind its various successes is its strong belief in science, planning, excellence and ambition. This constitutes the foundations for a successful transition to the future, and for this, since its establishment in 1971, has always looked to the future and works for and invest in it.
The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and rulers of the Emirates laid the foundations and rules that ensured the growth and prosperity of the union state, and made it a unitary experience to be emulated in building, development and making the future. The UAE continues under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to follow the founding fathers’ approach to development and foreseeing the future, and working to consolidate it until it formed an inspiring model for the leading countries in making and investing in the future, through clear and specific plans and strategies.
When announcing “2021 Vision” in 2010, UAE intended to be among the best countries in the world by the golden jubilee of the Union in 2021. Indeed, the UAE achieved all the goals of this vision, and even surpassed them by being ranked highly based on international development indicators. When the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan was launched in 2017, the leadership affirmed that its ambition is unlimited as it strives to be the best and most advanced country in the world by its centenary celebrations.
It is evident that the UAE is working day and night for its prestigious position as a unique economic, development and political model, and does not pay attention to those who are trying to undermine it and question its achievements. UAE focuses on moving forward in making the future and investing in it with a modern development project aimed at maximizing its gains during the next fifty years. Therefore, it always represents a bright ray in our Arab world, and it provides to others the guaranteed recipe for success in building, development, achievement and excellence. Its wise leadership harbors an ambitious strategic vision that understands the position of the Emirates and works to raise its profile among all the nations of the earth.
