ABU DHABI (WAM)

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the UAE Cabinet’s meeting at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; and His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: "I chaired at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, the UAE Cabinet’s first meeting of the year 2024. We reviewed the work we accomplished during the year 2023. We also approved the Cabinet’s work plan for 2024, which will focus on implementing the national priorities announced by my brother President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Union Day. We gave our directives to all federal government entities to implement governmental plans, initiatives and projects that serve the national priorities announced by His Highness.”

His Highness added: “During the meeting, we reviewed what was achieved in various national sectors during 2023, mainly regarding our top priority sectors: the UAE nationals’ housing and the Emiratisation of employment.

In housing, more than 4,300 decisions were issued regarding UAE nationals’ housing support, with a total worth of Dh3.2 billion. The Emiratis’ home-ownership rate, including all national housing programmes, grew to 90 per cent, which is the second highest home-ownership rate in the world.

In the Emiratisation sector, Nafis programme, thanks to the follow up of my brother Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, successfully increased the total number of the UAE nationals working in the private sector to approximatively 92,000. And yet, these two sectors will remain at the centre of our continuous follow up.”

His Highness said: “In the economy sector, our non-oil GDP witnessed a significant growth scoring a rate of 5.9 per cent during the first nine months of the year only. The UAE was ranked first globally in more than 215 indexes related to development, economy and human capital, according to international reports.”

His Highness added: “During the Cabinet’s meeting, we reviewed the accomplishments of the legislative plan of 2023. A total of 73 federal laws were issued in 2023, including 10 laws issued for the first time in the country as part of the legislative system, with the participation of 1,500 specialists along with 50 governmental teams. Additionally, the Cabinet approved 60 national policies and strategies and 62 international agreements. Therefore, the year 2023 was, in terms of the legislative achievements, the most active year in the country’s history.

His Highness concluded by saying: “The year 2023 was exceptional, under the leadership of my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, along with his deputies and brothers. It was a year during which the UAE witnessed unprecedented economic growth, massive global political presence, scientific advancement, new educational and healthcare developments. The year 2024 will be a new opportunity to achieve further development achievements with greater momentum in all sectors.”

During the meeting, the Cabinet reviewed a report on the outcome of its work during the year 2023, featuring the main strategies, policies, legislation and resolutions issued by the Cabinet during the last 12 months. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid assured that the Federal Government’s priorities for the year 2024 will remain consistent with the general directions of the Union declared by the President on the 52nd Union Day, which includes: consolidating the characteristics of the Emirati identity locally and globally; the UAE is constantly exploring novelty and creativity; We rely on education to achieve progress, as our position in the future will be determined by how progressed we are in the sector of education; Sustainability will continue to be part of our culture, practices and the lifestyle in our country.

1030 government resolutions in various key sectors

During 2023, the UAE Cabinet and the Ministerial Development Council held 23 meetings, issued 1,030 government resolutions in various key sectors. The increase in resolutions number exceeded 100 per cent compared to the year 2014. Main outcomes of the Cabinet’s efforts in the year 2023 included the issuance of 60 national policies and strategies, 73 federal laws, more than 125 executive regulations and resolutions and the signing of 62 international agreements.

UAE nationals' housing and supporting Emiratisation programmes are top priorities

The housing of the UAE nationals has always been a top priority for the UAE government. The Cabinet has issued new policies and initiatives to raise the housing aid for Emiratis. As a result, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme issued more than 4,300 housing aid decisions in 2023, compared to 1,241 decisions in 2021. The increase rate surpassed 250 per cent, with a total value exceeding Dh3.2 billion, compared to Dh1 billion in 2021.

Since their launch until 2023, federal and local governments housing programmes have provided more than 180,000 housing aid with a total value exceeding Dh212 billion. Consequently, the percentage of the UAE nationals who own their house reached 90 per cent.

Significant growth rates in GDP

The non-oil GDP (at constant prices) of the first nine months of the year 2023 witnessed a significant growth rate of 5.9 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

Transport and storage activities topped the growth at a rate of 12.1 per cent compared to the corresponding period a year ago. This was attributed to the significant increase in passenger numbers. During the period under review, the country’s airports achieved its highest passengers’ trafic. Accommodation and food service activities ranked second, growing by 11.6 per cent, influenced by the growing numbers of visitors to tourist destinations and international events hosted by the UAE.