The UAE: Let Achievements Speak for Themselves.

By Prof Nabil Mickail

The success of any country is measured by the achievements of its government. This general rule applies to the UAE, where its government stands as a model of success and accomplishment. Observers of developments in the UAE have reached a firm conviction that the UAE government has accumulated so many achievements that it is often difficult to list them all. These accomplishments have not only been spread over the days of the year but across every hour of the 24-hour day. This was made evident during the UAE Cabinet’s first session for 2025, where Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, stated:

“I chaired the first Cabinet meeting of the new year… A year of prosperity, stability, and progress for the UAE people, God willing… We reviewed the achievements of 2024, which was the best economic and developmental year since the UAE’s founding, by the grace of God.”

He added:
“Our nation strengthened its global presence under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan… signing more than 140 international agreements in 2024 in fields such as economy, sustainability, clean energy, technology, artificial intelligence, security, defense, and international humanitarian work.”

Comprehensive Accomplishments:
Among the major accomplishments was the completion of a three-year project involving 2,500 government officials to update all UAE legislation issued since the country’s founding. The team successfully updated 80% of the UAE’s economic, social, and regulatory legislation, creating a better environment for growth. This effort resulted in remarkable achievements in 2024, including:
• A record 200,000 new companies registered in 2024.
• UAE’s foreign trade exceeded AED 2.8 trillion for the first time.
• Foreign direct investments are expected to reach AED 130 billion for the first time.
• Industrial exports reached AED 190 billion.
• Nearly 150 million passengers passed through UAE airports.
• The tourism sector received over 30 million visitors.
• Over 25,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) launched by UAE youth.
• The number of UAE nationals in the private sector grew by 350%, reaching 131,000 for the first time, thanks to the national “Nafis” program.

Additionally, the UAE government launched more than 750 national projects and initiatives to accelerate development and attract the best talents and investments. The Cabinet and Ministerial Development Council issued 1,300 decisions aimed at creating the best regulatory environment to support rapid growth for the next two decades.

Global Leadership:
Observers note that the UAE constantly seeks innovation daily. In 2024, the country announced its participation in the development of a lunar space station alongside the U.S., Japan, Canada, and the EU. The UAE also became the first Arab country with a permanent polar research base.

Furthermore, the UAE launched the world’s first Zero Bureaucracy Program to simplify government procedures, along with 84 national legislations and initiatives in strategic sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.

Sustainability:
In the “Year of Sustainability,” the UAE issued 87 policies, initiatives, and regulatory decisions, including:
• The launch of the “Grow UAE” national program.
• The enactment of a federal law to mitigate climate change impacts.
• Adoption of the UAE National Biofuel Policy.
• Hosting the Global Food Security Summit.
• Signing multiple international agreements to advance renewable energy, hydrogen, the circular economy, and biodiversity strategies.

Education and Workforce:
The UAE government continued to prioritize education and workforce development, with initiatives such as:
• Establishing ministries for family affairs and higher education and research.
• Hosting 1.2 million students across 1,325 schools and educational institutions.
• Launching policies under the “Nafis” program, integrating 131,000 UAE nationals into the private sector compared to just 29,000 before the program’s launch.

Global Partnerships:
The UAE built bridges of economic and strategic cooperation worldwide, completing negotiations for 24 comprehensive economic partnerships, signing 15 agreements, and preparing to announce nine more in 2025.

The UAE’s GDP is expected to exceed AED 1.7 trillion for the first time in its history, with foreign direct investment projected to reach AED 130 billion in 2024, compared to AED 111 billion in 2023.

Conclusion:
These accomplishments represent only a fraction of what the UAE achieved in 2024. Detailing these achievements would require an entire year to cover what was achieved in just one. The UAE has proven itself a global leader in accomplishments across governmental and non-governmental sectors, operating under the motto: Let the achievements speak for themselves, as the word “impossible” has no place in the UAE’s vocabulary.

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