Coronavirus: Sheikh Mohammed says national priorities must be reviewed as Covid-19 meeting gets under way

The UAE government is holding a three-day remote meeting to assess the country's post Covid-19 strategy

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the UAE's "national priorities" must be assessed, as a three-day meeting to help shape a post Covid-19 action plan got under way on Sunday.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai is leading the remote meeting of the government, gathering ministers, secretaries-general of executive councils and officials from more than 100 federal government and local authorities and international experts.

Sheikh Mohammed has called for a nationwide strategy to be developed to boost economic activity and emergency plans be drawn up to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the medical sector once the country emerges from the pandemic.

He stressed the importance of enlisting the support of local, regional and international experts to help deliver solutions to help the UAE make a robust recovery from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

"New teams are required to work faster, more thoroughly and more responsively to the fast-changing daily developments," Sheikh Mohammed said.

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"Our national priorities need to be reviewed to cope with the post-Covid-19 world. Our financial and human resources need to be redirected to strengthen our medical, food and economic security through new programmes and projects."

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said the government was ready to address the challenges brought by Covid-19.

The meeting – which will continue until Tuesday –  is aimed at drafting a framework for a strategy comprising working plans and policies.

The meeting focused on six key sectors: health, the economy, food security, education, the community and the government.