As we celebrate Emirati Day for Education today, we are reminded that education is more than just learning – it is the foundation that enables every breakthrough, innovation and advancement in our society. This year’s celebration takes on special meaning as President Sheikh Mohamed has declared 2025 the Year of Community, emphasising how learning strengthens the bonds that drive our collective progress.
At the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE), we see education as the bridge between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Our vision of Abu Dhabi becoming the world’s first AI-native government by 2027 starts with empowering our people through learning. When we combine innovative technology with continuous education, we create pathways for everyone to grow, contribute and excel.
The numbers tell a compelling story: Abu Dhabi aims to create more than 5,000 jobs and contribute Dh24 billion ($6.5 billion) to its gross domestic product through digital transformation. But behind these ambitious targets lies a more profound truth – success depends on our investment in human potential. The World Bank’s Human Capital Index shows that nations prioritising education experience higher GDP growth and greater societal resilience. As AI technologies are projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, we are ensuring that our workforce is ready to harness these opportunities.
Our approach to education goes beyond traditional training. Through The Drive Programme, we are creating learning experiences that are as intuitive as modern technology and as personal as a conversation with a mentor. These programmes reflect the theme for this year’s Emirati Day for Education – which is “Education By Everyone, For Everyone” – by offering opportunities that empower government employees at all levels. When government employees gain new skills, they do not just advance their careers, they also enhance their ability to serve our community.
This philosophy aligns with the ”Education By Everyone, For Everyone” theme. It underscores the belief that education is not just an individual responsibility but a collective responsibility, extending beyond formal institutions to involve families, communities and various sectors. By fostering inclusive educational environments, we ensure that learning opportunities are accessible to all, thereby enriching our society as a whole.
As we celebrate Emirati Day for Education, we are reminded that learning is our most powerful tool for progress
Strategic partnerships amplify our impact. Our collaboration with IMA Middle East for the Certified Management Accountant programme ensures our financial professionals meet global standards. Our alliance with Microsoft is not just about technology adoption – it is about embedding AI capabilities across our workforce, enabling public servants to make smarter decisions and deliver better services. These collaborations reflect the collective effort required to build a skilled and future-ready workforce.
The Strategic Capabilities Programme exemplifies our commitment to lifelong learning. By helping government leaders confidently navigate complexity, we are creating a ripple effect that touches every aspect of public service. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development confirms what we have long believed: continuous learning enhances individual capabilities and our entire economy’s resilience and innovative capacity.
When we talk about education at DGE, we are talking about transformation that works for everyone. Every course completed, every skill mastered, and every capability enhanced translates into better government services, more efficient processes and innovative solutions for our community.
Education is not confined to classrooms – it happens in every interaction, every project, and every challenge that we tackle together. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, we are not just preparing for the future – we are actively creating it. Abu Dhabi’s vision of an AI-native government is built on the foundation of human expertise, enhanced by technology but always guided by our commitment to serving people. This inclusive approach to learning ensures that no one is left behind in our journey towards progress.
As we celebrate Emirati Day for Education, we are reminded that learning is our most powerful tool for progress. When we invest in education, we invest in our collective future. We are creating a government workforce that is not just ready for tomorrow’s challenges – they are actively shaping solutions that benefit everyone. “Education By Everyone, For Everyone” is more than a theme; it is a commitment to ensuring that knowledge and opportunity are accessible to all.
After all, education is not just about individual achievement. It is about building a more capable, innovative and resilient Abu Dhabi. When learning thrives, government works better, innovation accelerates, and our entire community prospers. That is the transformative power of education, and that is what drives us every day at DGE.
READ MORE: How education in the UAE is evolving for a changing world
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
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Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
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UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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
