A Note on the State of the UAE’s Economy by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

My brothers and sisters,
Greetings.

I wanted in this brief note to highlight the current status of the United Arab Emirates’ economy and to outline the course we are steering in the period to come. This note, which is released ahead of the annual statistical reports, aims to increase transparency and accessibility to those interested in our national economy and also serve as guidance as regards to the most important economic indicators and trends in the UAE.

Before reviewing the most important economic indicators and variables I wish to refer to several key points: Firstly, the UAE has anticipated many global economic scenarios, and built a range of economic policies in order to be better prepared and equipped to manage a range of variables: it has diversified its economy to reduce its dependence on oil, built more balanced management of global economic forces, and established a clear policy of openness and cooperation in order to align with the interests of other global players.

Secondly, 2014 was the strongest year economically for the UAE, and the country is set to continue to perform strongly in 2015. Today we have a robust and diversified economic base, great confidence in the environment and the stability of our country, expertise to deal with a range of scenarios, and great optimism about the future and the projects we have launched.

Thirdly, there is a regional need for a real economic and developmental movement; thus, serious steps must be taken to achieve economic integration in the Gulf so as to ensure the stability of the whole region. I am confident that the future of the Arab World is dependent upon realising a great developmental and economic revival, led by the Gulf States, and in cooperation with our brother nations.

Fourthly, the major challenges facing the region make it a necessity to implement a clear and executable Arab economic vision, launch significant economic projects, and utilise the human and natural resources of the Arab World more effectively. We must address the imbalances of the region in a comprehensive manner, covering economics, politics and security. We must understand that real and sustainable development is the only guarantee for future stability in the Arab world.

I move with you now to review the most important indicators of our state’s economy, where the data, which will be announced in few days by the National Bureau of Statistics, shows that 2014 was the strongest year economically for the UAE since its foundation, with a growth in Real Gross Domestic Product of 4.6%, and with Nominal Gross Domestic Product reaching AED 1.47 trillion.

We expect to continue to achieve strong growth in 2015 as work continues with a large number of infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of national airports with total cost of AED 100 billion and the construction of AED-40-billion Union Rail Network, in addition to roads and transport projects, improved tourist facilities, electronic infrastructure, real estate and financial services.

The non-oil sector has experienced positive growth during the first quarter of 2015. The continuing rise in government spending and investment and the increase in government and private capital, which amount to AED 353 billion in 2014, also indicate sustained and strong growth in 2015.

The UAE will also adhere to its long-term strategy to diversify its national economy, as the non-oil sector has achieved strong growth rates in GDP (at current prices) of 8.1% in 2014. The contribution of the non-oil sector to the national economy has reached 68.6% of the constant-price GDP.

We have put in place all the necessary plans to contribute to as much as 80% in 2021 through intensive investment in the industrial and tourism sectors, air and maritime transport, import and re-export, as well as supporting a range of knowledge-based economic projects and initiatives.

By developing new sectors as the Islamic Economy, and investing in innovation, content development and other activities, our aim is to diversify our economy in 2021 in order to strengthen the economic and financial stability of the UAE and fortify ourselves against the constant fluctuations and instabilities of world markets.
The UAE in 2014 also continued to capitalise on its strategic location and strong infrastructure in enhancing its import and export systems, as our exports ? inclusive of re-exports ? reached AED 376 billion, while our imports reached approximately AED 700 billion. The UAE continues to lead the Middle Eastern countries as the region’s largest trading partner with the world’s top 10 global economies.

The strategic plans I have launched since I assumed the position of Prime Minister in 2006 have achieved many of their goals and objectives, as national production has risen from AED 1.3 trillion in 2006 to AED 2.5 trillion in 2014.

The total manpower in the national labour market in 2014 reached 275,000 citizens, and we are aiming to take that number to 460,000 citizens by 2021.
Production reached some AED 450 billion in the manufacturing industries in 2014, up from AED 230 billion in 2006, and production in the construction sector reached AED 295 billion in 2014, as compared to AED 155 billion in 2006.

The UAE in 2014 continued to attract great talents, leading the world as a preferred destination for talents and skills according to reports, with total compensation paid to employees in 2014 of AED 410 billion in all sectors, including AED 82 billion in the government sector.

The UAE will continue to implement a long-term plan facilitating our transition to a knowledge-based economy ? an area where the UAE is currently leading the Arab World ? as we aim to triple national spending on research and development before 2021, increase the number of workers in that sector from the current 22% to 40% over the next six years, and take the UAE from being the top of Arab countries in the Global Innovation index to being within the top ten countries in the world in 2021 in that same index.

The decrease in the oil prices has had a positive impact on the growth of many economic sectors in the UAE in 2014, as current-price growth rates for the transport and storage sector amounted to 10%, up from 7.9% in the previous year; the wholesale and retail sector was at 8%, up from 6.8% in the previous year, and the construction sector 6.1%, a substantial rise from 3.4%. This shows clearly the UAE’s economy is distinguished by its resilience.

The financial sector has seen double-digit growth in 2014 of some 15%, with contributions to gross domestic product reaching AED 122 billion. Our banking sector also continued its positive growth and expansion as the total number of banks active in the country reached 57 banks in addition to the presence of 122 representative offices of foreign banks and total assets of about AED 2.38 trillion at the beginning of 2015.

In the tourism sector, the UAE has continued to launch a wide range of tourism projects and entertainment destinations with some 20 million tourists visiting the seven emirates according to statistics issued by the local tourist authorities. The sector continues to consolidate the country’s status as one of the world's most important travel destinations with the support of the transportation, aviation, marketing and exhibitions industries and bolstered by the UAE’s strong international relations and many international friendships.

I would like to end my note by emphasising that we are continuing to work to achieve better standards of living for our people, providing the best environment for our investors, and creating the best destination for our visitors. The UAE continues to approach the world with open arms, providing a safe, productive and stable environment, supportive of regional and global initiatives that aim to achieve good for the people and stability for the nations of the world.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai
20th of June, 2015

27 February, 2016

Why Ministers for Happiness, Tolerance, Youth and the Future?

By Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Over the past two weeks, I have heard and read many questions, comments, and news stories regarding recent changes to the government of the United Arab Emirates. Why, everyone seems to want to know, did we establish a Ministry of Happiness, Tolerance, and the Future, and why did we appoint a 22-year-old Minister of Youth?

The changes reflect what we have learned from events in our region over the past five years. In particular, we have learned that failure to respond effectively to the aspirations of young people, who represent more than half of the population in Arab countries, is like swimming against the tide. Without the energy and optimism of youth, societies cannot develop and grow; indeed, such societies are doomed.

When governments spurn their youth and block their path to a better life, they slam the door in the face of the entire society. We do not forget that the genesis of the tension in our region, the events dubbed the “Arab Spring,” was squarely rooted in the lack of opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams and ambitions.

We are proud that the UAE is a young country. And we are proud of our youth. We invest in them and empower them precisely because they are our future. We believe that they are faster than us in acquiring and processing knowledge, because they have grown up with tools and techniques that we lacked at their age. We entrust them with driving our country to new levels of growth and development, which is why we have now appointed a cabinet minister of their age and created a special council of youth.

We have also learned from hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees in our region that sectarian, ideological, cultural and religious bigotry only fuel the fires of rage. We cannot and will not allow this in our country. We need to study, teach, and practice tolerance – and to instill it in our children, both through education and our own example.

That is why we have appointed a Minister of State for Tolerance. We believe that a legal framework should formalize the tolerance our society already displays, and that our policies and initiatives will provide an outstanding example to our neighbors.

When the Arab world was tolerant and accepting of others, it led the world: From Baghdad to Damascus to Andalusia and farther afield, we provided beacons of science, knowledge, and civilization, because humane values were the basis of our relationships with all civilizations, cultures, and religions. Even when our ancestors left Andalusia, people of other faiths went with them.

Tolerance is no catchphrase, but a quality we must cherish and practice. It must be woven into the fabric of our society to safeguard our future and maintain the progress we have made. There can be no bright future for the Middle East without an intellectual reconstruction that re-establishes the values of ideological openness, diversity, and acceptance of others’ viewpoints, whether intellectual, cultural, or religious.

With every lesson we learn comes a decision that will shape our future. But we also know that we can learn by looking to the future, not just the past or present. Simply put, we must think of what life will be like in a post-oil economy. That is why we have invested heavily – more than 300 billion dirhams ($81.5 billion) – in establishing a focus for the UAE’s path ahead, with the aim of preparing for a diverse economy that frees future generations from dependence on the ever-fluctuating oil market.

Achieving that goal requires reconsidering our legislative, administrative, and economic system fully to move away from dependence on oil. We need a strong and appropriate regulatory infrastructure to build a sustainable and diverse national economy for our children and their children.

In writing this commentary, I want to send a clear message to others in our region that change happens by our hands only. Our region does not need a super-strong external power to stop its decline; we need the power from within that can overcome the hatred and intolerance that has blighted life in many neighboring countries.

I am writing to send a message that governments in our region and elsewhere need to revise their roles. The role of government is to create an environment in which people can achieve their dreams and ambitions, not to create an environment that government can control. The point is to empower people, not hold power over them. Government, in short, should nurture an environment in which people create and enjoy their own happiness.

We are not new to this talk about the government’s role in promoting happiness. Since the dawn of history, happiness is all that humanity has sought. Aristotle said the state is a living being which develops in seeking the achievement of moral perfection and happiness for individuals. Ibn Khaldun said the same thing. Likewise, the United States Declaration of Independence upholds the pursuit of happiness as every person’s right.

In our own time, the United Nations is now calling for changes in the criteria used to measure governmental success from economic indicators to measures related to human happiness and wellbeing. It has dedicated a UN World Day for Happiness to emphasize the importance of this shift.

Focusing on happiness is both feasible and fully justified. Happiness can be measured, and its evaluation is already the subject of many programs and studies. Moreover, it can be developed and its achievement linked to material objectives. Studies have shown that happy people produce more, live longer, and drive better economic development in their communities and countries.

The happiness of individuals, families, and employees, their satisfaction with their lives and optimism for the future, are crucial to our work, which cuts across every sector of government. That is why there must be a minister to guide and follow up with all government institutions (as well as provide leadership to the private sector).

Ours is no empty promise. We will seek to create a society where our people’s happiness is paramount, by sustaining an environment in which they can truly flourish. And we hope our formula benefits others in the region. The formula is straightforward: national development based on core values, led by youth and focused on a future in which everyone achieves happiness.