BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)

The UAE has already surpassed the halfway mark towards achieving its “We the UAE 2031” vision, just three years into the launch of the national plan, according to Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, who spoke at the UAE Government Annual Meetings on Wednesday.

The country has accomplished 67% of its goals under the vision, with six years still remaining to reach the targets, Al Gergawi said.

“We the UAE 2031” was launched in 2022 as a 10-year national roadmap focusing on social, economic, investment, and development aspects. It seeks to bolster the UAE’s position as a global partner and an attractive economic hub.

Al Gergawi highlighted how the UAE is steadily progressing towards its national vision.

He noted that 2025 has been an exceptional year for the UAE’s economy, with the latest International Monetary Fund report projecting the country’s economic growth to exceed the global average, reaching 4.8%.

Non-oil sectors now account for 77.5% of the country’s GDP during the first half of 2025, bringing the nation just a few steps away from its 2031 goal.

“Our target is to reach 80% by 2031, and, according to current projections, we are on track to achieve this milestone ahead of schedule,” he said.

Al Gergawi noted that the value of the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade nearly reached Dh3 trillion in 2024. “In just the first half of this year, non-oil foreign trade recorded a growth rate of 24.5% compared to the same period last year,” he said.

The country ranks 5th globally in competitiveness, and 10th in foreign direct investment, which exceeded Dh167 billion last year, Al Gergawi said.

These accomplishments, he noted, underscore that the UAE’s open economy is built for the long term: “The UAE will remain the gate of opportunities and the centre of the future.”

As the nation’s development journey advances, he emphasised that its achievements “do not represent the finish line”.

“The real measure lies in what will be added in 2026, how the remaining gaps will be addressed, and how the UAE’s leading position will be maintained in a world that waits for no one.”

Five Principles

Economic openness is one of five foundational principles that continue to shape the UAE’s resilience and growth, according to Al Gergawi. The other pillars, he noted, include balanced political relations, government agility, technological advancement, and human-centric development.

Highlighting the government’s responsiveness and adaptability, Al Gergawi said the UAE has updated 80% of its legislation over the past three years. “Our decisions in the UAE are quick,” he affirmed, underscoring efficiency in leadership and policymaking.

Describing technology as a cornerstone of national progress, Al Gergawi emphasised that the UAE ranks among the global leaders in workplace AI adoption, according to a Microsoft report. “The directives of the leadership are clear; we are leading the technological evolution,” he said.

At the heart of every policy, he added, are the people of the UAE. “Every policy is designed with the goal of prosperity and stability for the people,” he said.

World’s Best Country

The facts and figures represent not only the UAE’s achievements – they also stand as “clear evidence that the UAE’s governance ecosystem operates with diligence and efficiency”, Al Gergawi said.

He noted that within just one year, the UAE has strengthened its diplomatic and humanitarian presence on the international stage, cementing its role beyond participation to driving influence and shaping new directions in global cooperation.

“We are here at the UAE Government Annual Meetings as part of a system that shapes the future and moves forward with a unified goal: to make the UAE the best country in the world,” the minister added.

“In an ever-changing world, there is a place only for those with the courage to dream, to decide, and to persevere in being the best. Our leadership has taught us that success is a continuous pursuit; that first place marks the beginning of a new race, and that complacency is the enemy of ambition.”

Concluding his opening remarks, Al Gergawi affirmed that “the UAE moves forward on a solid foundation set by its wise leadership, ambitious people, and a government that works with the spirit of one team.”

He added: “Today, it is our shared responsibility to preserve this teamwork spirit. Our goal remains unchanged: for the UAE to be better every year and to be the best country in the world."