HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

RULER OF DUBAI, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UAE

No list on key voices in the Middle East is complete without His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai. As stated in other parts of this publication, Dubai has been the trailblazer when it comes to the modernising of the Middle East, and Sheikh Mohammed has been at the forefront of that charge.

Under his leadership, Dubai has become a byword for dynamism, innovation, daring and futuristic living, and building on that legacy, His Highness has recently released the UAE's 5 core priorities for 2023. HH Sheikh Mohammed revealed the 5 priorities when he chaired the first UAE cabinet meeting of 2023, after which he took to Twitter to share details of the meeting, which are as follows.

The 5 Priorities for the UAE in 2023

1. National identity and its consolidation

2. Environment and sustainability

3. The educational system and the development of its vision, indicators, and outputs

4. Emiratisation and its acceleration

5. Expanding the UAE's international economic partnerships

With this vision, HH Sheikh Mohammed is clearly attempting to bridge a gap that has left many nations around the world split down the middle on. Namely, does a country take a global or national-centric approach.

We’ve seen this issue at play in many major countries, with half a population seemingly eager to engage in a modern, interconnected globalised world in which national identity plays a subordinate role to interconnectedness around the world. Meanwhile, the other half of a given nation, usually the less affluent and privileged of the two, seemingly desires a more ‘nationalistic’, protectionist approach.

Perhaps this has always been a friction in modern-day nation states, yet at no time in history has it been as explicit as it is now, which is presumably why Sheikh Mohammed is pursuing a dual track of expanding international partnerships and collaboration, while buttressing the Emirati identity of the UAE.

A Vision for 2031

Further to this, HH Sheikh Mohammed has also recently announced a new initiative entitled, ‘We The UAE 2031’, a vision that aims to double the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from AED1.49 trillion to AED 3 trillion. The UAE also outlined its aim to double the number of tourists to 40 million over the next decade, contributing AED 450 billion to GDP.

The ‘We The UAE 2031’ vision also aims to boost industrial sector to AED 300 billion and will include an advanced industry sector worth AED 70 billion. Additionally, the Emirates aims to generate AED 800 billion in non-oil exports over the next 10 years, ranking it as one of the top 10 countries in the world in the scientific innovation index, and also in attracting international talent. The UAE also aims to be one among the top 10 nations in hydrogen energy production, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 18%.

Vision 2031 aims

Double UAE GDP from AED1.49 trillion to AED 3 trillion

Double the number of tourists from 20 million to 40 million

Add AED450 million in extra tourist income

Boost industrial sector by AED 300 billion

Reduce greenhouse gases by 18%