His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has affirmed that the past 17 years have witnessed many changes and achievements to strengthen the national economy and developing advanced services.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who took charge of the Cabinet and the Federal Government in 2006, said that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will continue its steadfast developmental journey to improve people’s life further.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said, “Seventeen years have passed quickly and beautifully and were full of work and achievements. We introduced essential changes to the UAE government’s performance and developed services.”
He added, “Ten thousand decisions in 440 meetings. Over 4,200 legislation in all sectors. We shifted from a traditional government to a new government providing over 1,500 smart services.
“We fought administrative and financial slowness, increased the government budget by more than 140 percent, and became the most effective government in public spending in the world.
“We launched 330 government policies and initiatives to develop the economic environment and signed about 600 international agreements. Our foreign trade jumped from AED415 billion to AED2,200 billion, and the GDP doubled to reach AED1,800 billion in the same period, the UAE is the first in the region to attract investments with a value of AED734 billion.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said that the UAE ranked first in more than 186 global indices and over 430 regional indices, in addition to its highest sovereign rating in the region and its leading position as the first in the region in the ease of doing business and attracting investments.
He said, “In the past 17 years, we have made many ministerial reshuffles involving more than 66 ministers and pushed the youth to take part in shouldering responsibility. The government is currently the most financially efficient and capable of keeping pace with global changes. We succeeded in establishing an integrated space sector with total investments of AED36 billion and space missions to Mars, the Moon and the interplanetary mission, in addition to a national space agency and satellite manufacturing in just ten years.”
“Today, with the endless support of my brother, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and with the spirit of union and the ambitions of youth, the UAE will continue its march of prosperity and development,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said in conclusion.
