Hundreds of officials are in Abu Dhabi to attend the two-day UAE Government Annual Meeting. On the first day, the country's leaders revealed 11 initiatives that will make the UAE an even better place for its citizens. Many of these are in effect and others could be introduced soon. The schemes cover tourism, the digital economy and cutting bureaucratic red tape. Also mentioned is a plan to create an ethical code of conduct for Emiratis, based on the legacy of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.
This is what you need to know:
Promoting tourism: The UAE is ramping up efforts to attract more tourists. Millions visit the country every year to enjoy its pristine beaches, vast deserts and historic forts. Louvre Abu Dhabi, for example, has welcomed two million visitors since it opened in 2017. Much of the discussion on Monday focused on regulating tourism and providing access to good data for the sector.
Digital economy: Plans discussed putting the UAE at the forefront of embracing of the digital economy. Delegates heard about the planned launch of the "future of the digital economy council", the development of a digital legislative environment, the support of national digital start-ups and the establishment of a global platform to attract investors to the digital economy.
Early childhood: Discussion focused on improving the lives of children up to the age of eight. The initiatives aim at a legislative system that achieves the best care for more than one million children. New laws are expected soon.
Supporting teachers: Education is central to the country's success. After the discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi in 1958, money poured into schools. That legacy remains today. Part of Monday's discussion centred on supporting teachers, providing them with new skills and appreciating their work.
Ease of doing business: Thousands of companies flock to the UAE because of its strategic position and transparent system. A review of the cost of doing business here and examining ways to cut red tape are being considered..
Sheikh Zayed's legacy: A new proposal put forward was a code of ethical conduct for Emiratis based on the legacy of Sheikh Zayed. Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, discussed developing a type of ethical charter for all Emiratis. The code will be translated into several languages and spread internationally.
National payment system: Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, discussed ways to develop the "national payment system initiative", which aims to link government payments at federal and local levels. The system is expected to be up and running within a few years and will provide a safe electronic environment for the customer.
Promotion of trade: Delegates were told about the "national trade promotion programme" – to promote Emirati goods and services around the world. This aims to boost the competitiveness of the UAE economy. It means promoting the country's products and services in international markets and increasing the competitiveness of national exports.
Unified health records: Plans to provide an efficient and unified health record for each Emirati in a national platform were also on the table. Abdulrahman Al Owais Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, discussed an integrated data platform that would ensure privacy and access to the best healthcare services.
Retirees: Discussions also focused on taking care of retired workers. Initiatives being developed include a national pension platform, retirement retraining, awareness programmes, advisory boards for retirees and service packages.
Customers' digital file: Also discussed at the meeting was a unified digital file to enhance the efficiency of government work. More information about this initiative will be revealed in the coming months.
