President Sheikh Khalifa has declared 2021 as the "Year of the 50th", as the UAE celebrates its Golden Jubilee and plans a route to its centenary, 50 years on from now.
For most governments around the world, five decades in the future would seem a long way off. Political realities mean that most are more concerned about getting to the end of the news cycle, than they are about planning for a distant future. Things are different in the UAE, which has stated its ambition to be the "best country in the world" by 2071. With this as a goal, 50 years suddenly feels like a much shorter length of time.
Realising this ambition by the nation's centenary is going to require a great deal from society. Governmentally, continued agility and openness to innovation will be needed. Over the past few years, a number of cabinet reshuffles have taken place, which have typically involved the merging of different ministerial portfolios, or the creation of entirely new ones, constantly learning from experience to create a more efficient public sector. Last year, Abdullah Al Nuami, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, spoke of the country's approach to governance as "one house", in which officials could move portfolios with the same ease as someone could transition room to room in a home. This commitment to efficiency has led to achievements ranging from a world-leading Covid-19 response and vaccination drive, to the success of the country's Hope probe, which entered the Martian orbit last February.
The UAE is striving to lead in a variety of fields. EPA
The UAE has stated its ambition to be the best country in the world by 2071
Nimble governance has boosted the country's expanding private sector, another pillar in the UAE's centenary goals. Business, which relies on certainty, has been challenged globally by Covid-19. Last month, in early steps towards a new normal for the private sector, the UAE, under stringent Covid-19 regulations, welcomed the world to some of the first major in-person gatherings since the pandemic started, one being Abu Dhabi's international defence summit Idex, the other Dubai's Gulfood, which brought together leaders in the culinary and hospitality industry, so devastated by the pandemic. In the midst of all this, the government is mandating private sector inclusiveness, just this week announcing that all listed companies would need at least one female board member.
This all feeds into a country that showcases itself as a centre for efficiency, business, and most importantly, openness, inclusion and tolerance. In a world that seems to be backsliding in this regard, the UAE has pushed an agenda that pits itself against this worrying trend. In 2019, the country hosted Pope Francis on the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula in history. For young and talented people across the world, the government announced the expansion of its Golden Visa scheme, which allows gifted individuals in certain fields to pursue their talents in the UAE. For expatriates already living in the nation, a series of legal reforms have been announced, for example, allowing foreign residents to divorce according the law of their home country.
The country consistently ranks among the top countries in the region – and often in the world – on major rankings including ease of doing business and passport strength.
If 50 years feels an intimidatingly short period of time to become the best country in the world, perhaps looking back on these achievements can reassure all those who wish the UAE well that the impossible will still be possible in the future.
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
