Three Emirati decision-makers shared the recipe of 'designing' governments that are forward-thinking, during a special presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, said that countries need to start making a lasting impact for its citizens.
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology, and Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, shared examples of how UAE was leading the way.
From the space programme to climate-smart technology, the Emirates has a track record of design-thinking in its governance.
“Today, we have the opportunity to unleash the power of humanity like never before,” said Ms Al Roumi.
“This is where governments come in. We believe that the best way to be ready for the future is to imagine it, design it and execute it.
“We see this as a core role for our government, a future designer.
“Governments need to be forward looking, invent new operating models, leverage technology and work with multi stakeholders to create positive and lasting impact.
“They must become platforms for future design. More importantly, the governments need to change the focus from dealing with short term issues to inclusive, multi-generational well-being. This is the spirit of the UAE. We are a future nation by design.”
The UAE was formed only 51 years ago, but it has many achievements under its belt.
The Emirati passport is one of the most powerful in the world, with more than 180 visa-free destinations for citizens.
Its space programme is leading the way in the Middle East, with an Emirati astronaut sent to space, the Hope spacecraft that reached Mars and a mission to the asteroid belt that will be launched in 2028.
Ms Al Amiri said that the UAE was successful because it managed to create a “sense of urgency without a crisis being present”.
“How do you harness the sense of urgency without a crisis? That's the recipe of the Emirates,” she said.
“I’ll go to the space sector first. The UAE was the utiliser of space technologies and we moved towards having our ‘moon shot’ programme to Mars.
The people of the UAE choose an industry, and they go all in
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications
“That was an extremely risky undertaking, the team did not sleep well for over seven years.
“What drove us was a real sense of urgency, knowing that science and technology are fundamental parts of growth for the future of our economy and our industrial sectors.
“And we continue to invest in the space sector so that we can spring the development of a private space sector.”
Mr Al Olama said that the UAE cannot afford to think small and that “pessimism does not inspire or motivate people”.
He said the UAE has a long history of being resilient and adaptive, which has helped ensure the country thrives.
“For many years, we've always been a nation of resilient, adaptive and agile individuals that make up the psych of the UAE," he said.
“Around 4,000 years ago, our part of the world was a place on the map. We were not an underdeveloped village outpost, it was a thriving commerce hub, between the Western civilisation at the time of Egypt, and the eastern civilisation at the time of India.
“And the UAE was where trade used to happen. For millennia, for centuries, we see that there's always a constant need to adapt, to reinvent ourselves, and to face all challenges and opportunities equally.
“We also see that with every single era, the people of the UAE choose an industry, and they go all in it.”
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
