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EMIRATES BRINGING THE WORLD TOGETHER
AMBASSADOR’S WORDS
H.E. FATEMA KHAMIS ALMAZROUEI, AMBASSADOR OF UAE IN DENMARK Almost five years have passed by since I arrived in Copenhagen as the UAE’s first Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark. Back then in January, it was cold wintertime, and I was occupied by my dream of establishing my country’s first Embassy in the land of the Vikings to strengthen bilateral relations between two small countries with great ambitions. However, time seems to pass surprisingly quickly. It has been a joy to live and work in Denmark all these years surrounded by friendly Danes who are well known for being so helpful, straightforward, and honest. Last year was a difficult one for all of us. COVID-19’s outbreak and the fear of the unknown, loneliness, travel restrictions, and the death of more than 4 million people around the world shaded our lives. Nevertheless, I felt I was lucky enough to weather this pandemic by being in Denmark with its government’s wise and quick proactive measures to contain it. I was lucky as well that my family members were in good hands in the UAE, where all the needed measures were taken to preserve the safety of its people quickly and effectively. Despite of all the related difficulties and challenges, we learned a lot by adjusting our lives. We learned to hold together yet keep the distance, and we learned to overcome distance virtually. Values of human fraternity have thrived again as we have realized that we are all in the same boat, and that we should take good care of each other, pray for each other, and share what we have together to survive this pandemic. An illustrative example is the UAE’s decision to officially postpone Expo 2020 Dubai due to the pandemic with an official statement that explained: “We believe that now, more than ever, humanity needs to come together to remem-
ber what unites us. This is not a cancellation, but we must also play our part in keeping everybody involved healthy and well.” All that the UAE has done during the pandemic, and will continue to do for humanity whenever needed, reflects its core values of tolerance, equality, coexistence and peace – all based on the legacy of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May Allah have mercy upon him.
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THE UAE AT 50 REFLECTING ON THE HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE YOUNG COUNTRY
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One should be aware of the fact that the history of the United Arab Emirates precedes its formation on 2 December 1971. Archeological excavations carried out since 1958 have shed light on a civilization that existed since the end of the 4th Millennium BC. However, the union of the seven Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah) was the turning point in its history that gave it its rightful place in the international community as a modern state.
The late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, known as the Father of the Nation for his role in forming the United Arab Emirates, was its first President up to 2004. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was also called ‘the wise man of the Arabs’ due to his patience, wisdom, and vision that led to the UAE becoming the GCC’s secondbiggest economy after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the third-largest in the Middle East and, according to many prestigious international reports, the most important financial and economic center in the region.
CELEBRATING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE
The UAE is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary on 2 December 2021. The following fast facts highlight the success of ‘the first 50’ and the vision for ‘the next 50.’
THE UAE’S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
The launch of the Mars Hope probe on 20 July 2020 marked the Arab world’s first successful interplanetary mission. The Hope Probe entered the Martian orbit on 9 February 2021 to make the UAE the 5th country in the world to reach the Red Planet’s orbit. The Emirati team responsible for sending the Hope Probe 37 million miles to Mars are all under the age of 35. The mission is important to the country’s long-term economic development and supports the UAE’s commitment to economic diversification and the growth of the knowledge economy.
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AND CVE
The Abrahamic Family House will be an interfaith complex currently in development in Abu Dhabi that will feature a church, a mosque, and a synagogue on one shared site. Plans for the Abrahamic House of Fraternity were unveiled on 20 September 2019 in New York alongside the UN General Assembly. The Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – are united by the belief in one God and all three share in a history connected to the patriarch Abraham. This project aims to support global and regional stability, increase collaborative opportunities between faith groups, expand economic opportunity, strengthen international relations, counter violent extremism in all forms, and further cross-cultural education and peace. Currently in development, the project’s anticipated completion date has been set for the year 2022.
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COPENHAGEN POST
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE UAE
The UAE has a policy objective to become a leader in the responsible use of AI and its tools globally. HE Omar bin Sultan Al Olama is the UAE’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, the only position of this kind in the world. The minister’s responsibilities include enhancing UAE government performance by investing in the latest AI technologies and tools and applying them across various sectors. Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MZUAI) began classes in September 2020. Technological changes will render many job qualifications obsolete in the future. Education must match the future job market.
THE UAE’S COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND REGIONAL STABILITY
With the Abraham Accords, the UAE became the third Arab country, after Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), to formally normalize its relationship with Israel. The Accords provide an opportunity for stabilizing the region and a fresh approach to tackling the region’s challenges. The Accords also provide an opportunity to build a potent engine of economic and cultural exchange that generates understanding across the region. The Israel-United Arab Emirates normalization agreement, officially the ‘Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization Between the United Arab Emirates and Israel,’ was agreed to by Israel and the UAE on 13 August 2020. The agreement was signed at the White House on 15 September 2020.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
As one of the world’s leading hydrocarbon exporters, the UAE is aware of the importance of energy diversification – domestic as well as international. The UAE actively supports developing countries in their climate change mitigation efforts – especially through renewable energy, as well as humanitarian relief and prevention. The UAE has allocated nearly USD 1 billion for bilateral renewable energy generation projects in over 30 countries – notably in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. The UAE hosts the IRENA headquarters. It is a committed signatory to the Paris Agreement and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. The UAE’s commitment to sustainability aims to mitigate the effects of climate change through economic diversification, water and biodiversity protection, food security strategies, and renewable energy solutions.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AS A PILLAR OF UAE FOREIGN POLICY
Through its COVID-19 humanitarian assistance, the UAE is helping other countries to respond to the pandemic while taking aggressive action at home to fight the spread of COVID-19. To date, the UAE has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing over 2,250 metric tonnes of aid to 136 countries in need, supporting more than 2 million medical professionals in the process. The UAE donated $10 million worth of COVID-19 testing kits, enough for 500,000 people, to the World Health Organization (WHO). Dubai’s International Humanitarian City (IHC) houses the WHO Operations Supply and Logistics Hub, a facility that is instrumental in supplying countries with required medical supplies and protective equipment.
GOALS The UAE Centennial 2071 is a national agenda and strategy intended to make the UAE the best country in the world by 2071 based on the following four pillars: Future-focused government: Creating the world’s best government with long-term vision and inspirational leadership that anticipates and prepares for the future. Other objectives include achieving happiness in society and spreading positive messages internally and to the world while developing mechanisms for monitoring long-term variables in various sectors. Excellent education: With a focus on advanced science, technology, space science, engineering, innovation, and health sciences. Other educational measures include teaching students mechanisms for discovering their individual talents early. On the institutional level, educational institutions are encouraged to be incubators of entrepreneurship and innovation and to be international research centers. A diversified knowledge economy: The target of becoming one of the best economies in the world can be achieved by increasing productivity of the national economy, support for national companies, investment in scientific research and promising sectors, focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and advanced industries, and development of a national strategy to shape the future of the UAE’s economy and industry. A knowledge economy can also be achieved by a generation of UAE inventors and scientists by supporting them in technical sciences. A happy and cohesive society: Establishing a secure, tolerant, cohesive, and ethical society that embraces happiness and a positive lifestyle and high quality of life. This pillar also focuses on developing programs to prepare future generations to serve as the UAE’s goodwill ambassadors, as well as promoting women’s participation in all sectors, making the UAE one of the best places to live in the world.
The UAE, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched an international air bridge operation that has provided a lifeline of essential health and humanitarian supplies to nations grappling with the impact of COVID-19. Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium logistics hub will ensure the global distribution of billions of vaccines this year and in the future.
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THE UAE’S COMMITMENT TO GENDER EQUALITY
The Global Women’s Forum was held in February 2020 in the UAE. The expansion of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women Peace and Security Initiative for women from developing countries to train and serve as peacekeepers in UN missions took place in 2020. The introduction of new progressive laws on inheritance, divorce, and crimes against women were introduced in 2020, furthering women’s empowerment in the UAE. The UAE Constitution guarantees equal rights to all of its citizens. Women in the UAE have the same legal status, right to titles, access to education, right to practice professions, and right to inherit property as men do. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Report states that the UAE is one of the region’s best performing countries, having closed the overall gender gap by 66 percent. The report assesses women’s economic opportunity, education, health and political empowerment.
EXPO
Expo 2020 Dubai, delayed a year by the pandemic, opened its doors on 1 October 2021. It is the first World Expo hosted in the Middle East, with 191 countries participating. The first participation by the Emirates in a World Expo Fair was in 1970 in Osaka Japan (one year before the federation of the Emirates). The Emirati delegation exhibited a small model of Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi’s oldest stone building and original seat of government. The UAE has come a long way!
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ACHIEVEMENTS Health: Raising life expectancy from 59 years for men and 63 years for women in 1970 to 75 years for men and 80 years for women in 2020 Literacy: from 54 percent (men) and 31 percent (women) in 1975 to 95 percent (nearly equal for both genders) in 2020 Population: 235,499 in 1970 to 9.8 million in 2019 Economy: GDP was AED 11 billion in 1973 compared to AED 1.57 trillion in 2019 (the world’s 7th highest GDP per capita) Human Development Index: The UAE moved from 62nd place in 1971 to 34th place in 2018 on the index that assesses life expectancy, means and years of schooling, and income per capita Tourism: Visitor numbers jumped from 173,000 people in 1975 to 95.3 million people in 2017 (Dubai overtook Heathrow’s mantle for the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014, and 89 million passengers visited in 2019)
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT HOW THE ‘YEAR OF PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS’ HELPED TO SET UP THE UAE TO REACH FOR THE STARS AND SUCCEED
UAE: NEXT STEP AHEAD No country embraces years like the UAE. It’s currently in the ‘Year of the 50th’ while 2019 was the ‘Year of Tolerance’. And while most countries still refer to 2020 as the annus horribilis of all time, in the UAE it was the ‘Year of Preparations for the Next 50 Years.’ It’s an upbeat approach that explains how a country so young has achieved so much. Last year was groundbreaking despite the pandemic, and here’s a quick round-up of the many high points the country experienced.
TAKING ON THE VIRUS The UAE Government quickly took action, implementing an emergency response system that included setting up field hospitals and offering drive-through testing, whilst also quickly adopting digitalization where it was needed – for example, setting up smart learning platforms for its students. The latter worked well: by July 2021, it had carried out an impressive 6,058.94 tests per 1,000 people. Today, it heads the per capita rankings alongside Denmark, thus confirming its outstanding response mechanism and the efficiency of its health system. The nation was also a vaccination pioneer, and today 78 percent are fully vaccinated – well ahead of the worldwide average of 30 percent – leaving just 11 percent partially covered. Meanwhile, its own vaccine, Hayat-Vax – which is produced in Abu Dhabi’s KIZAD hub and will eventually have a yearly potential capacity of more than 200 million doses – has been endorsed by seven countries and counting.
REVERED FROM AFAR The UAE was also one of the first nations to support humanitarian initiatives. At the last count, it had donated 2,250 tonnes’ worth of medical aid, ventilators, testing kids and screening equipment. Additionally, it had set up field hospitals in six countries. The Vatican Foundation accordingly bestowed His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, with its ‘Man of Humanity’ Award in acknowledgement of the UAE’s international humanitarian relief efforts, as well as his approach of using communication to counteract conflict. International recognition also came in June 2021 when the UN Security Council elected the nation as a non- permanent member to serve a 20222023 term – its second following a stint from 1986-87. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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REACHING FOR THE STARS The world looked on in February 2021 as the Hope Probe, the UAE’s first interplanetary mission, successfully arrived in the orbit of Mars, seven months after its launch in July 2020. Since then, it has been collecting data on the Red Planet’s atmospheric and weather conditions, contributing major data to international findings on space. Closer to home, the UAE In September 2020 announced its intention to explore the Moon. Should it successfully land a mission in 2024, it would become the first nation from the Arab world to send a spacecraft onto the moon’s surface. Preparation work is ongoing on
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another satellite following the successful launch of KhalifaSat in 2018. Named in honor of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, MBZ Sat will be launched in 2024, taking the UAE’s total number up to eight. Finally, in what has been a momentous year in space for the country, it has been confirmed that Nora Al Matrooshi will become the first female Emirati astronaut ever – and the first in the Arab world. Together with her colleague Mohammed Al Mulla, the 28-year-old will join the prestigious Candidate Class for Astronauts hosted by NASA in the US.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE In August 2020, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant was successfully reopened. For the UAE’s carbon footprint, the resumption of operations is the equivalent of the country erasing 3.2 million cars off Emirati streets annually. The power plant will eventually produce up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity needs.
HISTORIC ACCORD WITH ISRAEL The signing of the Abraham Accords with Israel and Bahrain in September 2020 was a major step towards strengthening stability and cooperation in the Middle East. The signing makes the UAE just the third Arab country to normalize relations with Israel after Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994).
VERY MUCH OPEN FOR BUSINESS According to the World Competitiveness Report published by the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, the UAE is the leading nation in the Middle East/ North Africa region. The UAE ranked ninth overall in a report that assesses 334 criteria, as well as countless feedback from the global business community and economic literature.
WIDESPREAD CIVIL CHANGES In September 2020, the UAE took quite a leap towards gender equality by legally enforcing equal wages for male and female workers with a similar workload. Furthermore, personal freedoms such as alcohol restrictions and the cohabitation
of unmarried couples were broadened. For internationals, therefore, the UAE, already a popular tourist destination, is now emerging as an attractive place to live and work long-term. The UAE Government has also established a National Rights Authority. Publisher: CPH POST Editor: Hans Hermansen • Journalists: Lena Hunter • Layout: CPH POST • Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +45 2420 2411
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Expo 2020 Dubai is located in Dubai South, close to Al Maktoum International Airport and easily reached from Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s international airports and cruise terminals. Expo 2020 Dubai is accessible by public transport, including the Route 2020 Metro extension and Expo Rider – a dedicated complimentary public bus service. Find out more and book your visit at expo2020dubai.com
U NPRECEDENTED A WE-INSPIRING E MBRACING EXPO 2020 DUBAI UNDERLINES THE UAE’S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A CLEANER, SAFER, HEALTHIER FUTURE – AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS INVITED Expo 2020 Dubai, hosted in Dubai in the year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, is the first World Expo ever hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region.
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From October 1 2021 to March 31 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to attract 25 million visits. Some 70 percent of Expo’s visitors will come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international guests in the 168-year history of World Expos. Some 191 nations will be represented in the event series, which has been dubbed ‘Programme for People and Planet.’ For six months, Dubai is showcasing the best international ideas, projects, and models across a huge range of tangible and intangible infrastructure.
TEN THEME WEEKS Expo’s ‘Programme for People and Planet’ is structured according to ten themes, with each theme being designated its own focus week. The program’s stunning array of experiences range from large, public ‘Flagship Events’, which aim to raise awareness and inspire collective action around each Theme Week’s focus area, to TED-style talks covering a myriad of topics for special-interest audiences. The themes are: Climate and Biodiversity, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Tolerance and Inclusivity, Knowledge and Learning, Travel and Connectivity, Global Goals, Health and Wellness, Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods, and Water.
COVID-19 SAFETY RESTRICTIONS • Mandatory mask wearing • Capacity restrictions to ensure social distancing • Thermal cameras at all arrival points • Hand-sanitizing stations • Three world-class medical and COVID-19 testing facilities • Rapid response COVID testing • Employee vaccination program
LOOK THROUGH NEW LENSES
182-DAY FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Events during Expo’s Theme Weeks are organized under five ‘tracks,’ each of which explores the world’s most pressing challenges through a distinct lens – cultural, social, environmental and economic – with a fifth track closely entwined with issues of importance to the UAE’s vision for its future.
Up to 60 live events are taking place each day. There are live performances, national celebrations, cultural entertainment events, workshops, tours, 50-plus global cuisines, art, music, poetry, and more running throughout.
To mention a few: Under the Cultural track, the ‘World Majlis’ talk series is Expo 2020 Dubai’s signature platform for connecting minds. Some 53 World Majlis conversations, spanning the six months of the event, will spark exchanges on issues that impact us all as a global family. The ‘New Perspectives’ series, taking place at the Women’s Pavilion, invites visitors to recognize a basic principle: when women thrive, all of humanity prospers. ‘Seeds of Change’ events connect visitors with green projects across the world, while the series ‘Thematic Business Forums’ highlights off-piste business opportunities, new technology and UAE progress. An integrated program of youth-focused events will before provide a vital platform.
Expo 2020 Dubai aims to be one of the most sustainable World Expos ever – an example of innovation in action, from its cutting-edge sustainable architecture to sensors that monitor energy efficiency. A total of 30,000 Expo 2020 Dubai volunteers, a diverse and inclusive mix of UAE residents and expats from a range of nationalities and backgrounds, are the welcoming ‘face of Expo 2020 Dubai,’ reflecting the UAE’s inclusive and hospitable spirit.
LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY The UAE has shown what is possible through its remarkable transformation and progress. Expo 2020 Dubai, coinciding with the UAE’s 50th anniversary in 2021, is engaging people on this journey, inspiring
the next generation, and, together, sparking innovations that will kick-start another 50 years of purposeful progress, contributing to the nation’s continued prosperity and enabling growth in the region and beyond. More than 80 percent of Expo’s infrastructure will live on in the future city of District 2020 – a model global community for the future that will use state-of-the-art innovation, science and sustainability to create a cleaner, safer, healthier environment to live and work in.
SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT The health and safety of all visitors and workers is also a priority. Consulting with the world’s leading medical experts and guided by the latest science and data, the Expo 2020 Administration has implemented a range of measures and continues to monitor new developments to ensure a safe and exciting visitor experience at Expo 2020 Dubai. A launch pad for broadening horizons and exchanging ideas, Expo 2020 Dubai is all about innovation, collaboration and inspiration. This is the UAE’s commitment to building a cleaner, safer, healthier future, and the whole world is invited.
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DENMARK IN THE UAE: ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE
Denmark and the UAE share important trade relations. There are more than 100 Danish companies in the UAE, and most of them have their regional headquarters there. Emirates Airlines began operating daily passenger flights between Dubai and Copenhagen in August 2011. The UAE was Denmark’s 25th largest export market in 2020 with a total export revenue of 11.0 billion kroner. The largest export product group was medical and pharmaceutical products. The strong economic ties between Denmark and the UAE are affirmed by Denmark’s official participation in Expo2020 Dubai.
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UAE IN DENMARK: EMBASSY EFFORTS Since its opening in 2017, the UAE Embassy has dedicated tremendous efforts to ensuring official Danish participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, working in close collaboration with the Danish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the general consulate in Dubai, and the Danish Business Pavilion. The collective efforts finally paid off when official Danish participation came through and was announced on 12 May 2021. The Danish Pavilion in Expo presents some of the most important companies in Denmark, along with more than 200 SMEs. Danish history is represented by different bows from Viking ships, one of which was built by the Danish company LEGO. Danish cuisine is represented by Denmark’s northernmost restaurant, Restaurant De 2 Have (Restaurant the 2 Oceans).
Despite the pandemic, the world economy is slowly opening, and Danish companies are sharing their expertise and innovations with the world at the Danish Pavilion at Expo. Expo is proof of how we can meet global climate goals while creating social and economic opportunities.
CLIMATE & BIODIVERSITY (3-9 OCT 2021)
How do we work together to better manage climate change and protect biodiversity? Taking place two weeks after the huge annual civic movement World Cleanup Day, Expo’s Climate and Biodiversity Week was packed with events exploring similar collective actions we can take to protect our planet by caring for its vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
DON’T MISS THESE HIGHLIGHTS
Part of the Women’s Pavilion Programming, ‘Stories of Sustainability from the Muslim World,’ highlighted true stories and accounts of women leading the way in climate and biodiversity from different parts of the Arab and Islamic world. Meanwhile the ‘Opportunities in Climate & Biodiversity’ business forum explored the cuttingedge technologies and progress achieved by the UAE, participating countries, and Expo Partners relevant to climate and biodiversity protection. In a nod to the SDGs, ‘Reaching for the Stars: Sustainable and Climate Resilient Mountain Development’ brought together practitioners, policy-makers and workers to showcase best practices in enhancing the resilience of mountain communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems. The week was bookended by ‘OCEAN’ – an exciting live art and music performance by Tallinn Sinfonia addressing sustainability.
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS But the UAE is committed to fostering a sustainable future through more than just talks and performances. In total, the Expo project will divert 85 percent of its landfill into different waste streams during construction, operation, and decommissioning. In addition, the ‘Planet Over Plastic Pledge’ asks participants and commercial partners to commit to reducing single-use materials and to recycle on site. Not only that, but 50 percent of the landscape plants brought in for Expo 2020 Dubai, and 95 percent after the event, come from native and adaptive species. A key sustainability target is to ensure that 95 percent of the landscape area is managed without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
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SPACE (17-23 OCT 2021)
The much-anticipated Space Week program will probe how to safely and productively explore new frontiers. Beyond our orbit Incredible future opportunities ranging from space mining to off-world settlements bring with them questions like: how do we ensure that the benefits of space exploration reach everyone? Who would oversee such efforts, and with what agenda? Seeking the answers, ‘Powers Out of This World: Using Space for the Benefit of All Humanity’ will unpack the benefits, solutions, and challenges of exploring beyond our planet’s orbit in a lively conversation involving diverse thought leaders, visionaries, and changemakers. Space tech focus A full-day public event, ‘The People’s Mission: Citizens in Space Exploration and Space Tech for Inclusive Development’, will bring together academics, youth, and
innovators to highlight the role of citizens in accelerating space exploration for scientific knowledge, innovation, and market creation. Here, space technology is top of the agenda. The event will look at innovations such as satellite systems, remote sensing, and geolocation services that can help us to manage resources and develop proactive responses for poverty alleviation, climate and disaster risk management, food and water security, and biodiversity mapping. To boldly continue With the UAE’s successful launch of the Mars Hope probe in July 2020 – the Arab World’s first successful interplanetary mission – and plans to send an Emirati spacecraft to the Moon in 2024, the knowledge and conversations available during Space Week are at the forefront of off-world innovation. In the immortal words of Star Trek, this week will aim “to boldly go where no Expo has gone before.”
TOLERANCE & INCLUSIVITY WEEK (14-20 NOV 2021) Tolerance and Inclusivity Week will explore how to foster a greater common understanding to enable more tolerant and inclusive societies. Platform for diverse voices The week highlights multiculturalism, coexistence, interfaith understanding, accessibility, cultural relativism, and inclusive dialogue by providing a platform for diverse voices from all corners of the world. Events will reimagine how social spaces, physical environments, and modes of storytelling can be rendered more inclusive with the aim of fostering multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence.
URBAN & RURAL DEVELOPMENT (31 OCT-6 NOV 2021)
More than 70 percent of the world’s population are forecast to live in cities by 2050, and over one billion already live in informal setlements. Rethinking how we live More than ever, it’s important to build resilient and sustainable habi tats supported by networks of inclusive infrastructure and services. Urban and Rural Development Week will bring together experts, citizens, and governments to rethink the way in which habitats – urban and rural, formal and informal – are designed and managed. Don’t miss these highlights ‘Local Stories that Empower, Improve, and Transform’ will involve journalists, storytellers, communication experts and development practitioners discussing how communities across urban and rural areas challenge stereotypes, amplify local voices, explain nuances and
complexities, and build empathy rather than elicit sympathy. An ‘Expo Live Series’ over five days will look variously at ‘How Tech Digital Platforms are Bridging the Gap in the Housing Industry,’ ‘Making the Case for Sustainable Biowaste Management’, ‘A Greener Way to Move Things’ – how local and international logistics can go green – and more. There will also be an invite-only event spotlighting Expo’s own initiatives through the Pavilion design, programming, and operations. This talk, ‘At Home with Nature’, will examine sustainability standards and transferrable models of urban and rural development.
Let’s talk about art The talk ‘Art for Good: Using Art to Make our Planet a Better Place’ will leverage the notion of art as a powerful ally in promoting tolerance, understanding, and meaningful dialogue. Conversation will center on how art can create a smarter and more holistic society by foster- ing empathy and action. Co-curated with the Aga Khan Music Programme, ‘Music for Peace & Development’ will explore the role music plays in building tolerance and an understanding of people, culture, and history, as well as its potential as a tool for development. Melding many of Expo’s key themes, ’Designing for All’ will explore the impact on urban developments of ’inclusive design’ – a process-based, user-centric approach to creating environments that are usable, accessible and sustainable.
Leading by example
Female focus
For example, Terra – Expo’s sustainability pavilion designed by Grimshaw Architects – is made up of 4,912 solar panels forming a 130-metre wide canopy and 18 Energy Trees.
A major event will be ’Women in Peace and Security’. In light of the UAE having a seat on the board of the UN Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, the UAE will partner with UN Women to showcase the ‘Women in Peace and Security’ agenda.
This generates 4GWh of alternative energy per year – enough electricity to charge more than 900,000 mobile phones.
The event will be anchored by a major name, while a smaller session will be attended by various stakeholders as part of the overall Tolerance and Inclusivity Week
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KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING (12-18 DEC 2021)
health and travel, while championing digital connectivity as a human right for all.
During Knowledge and Learning Week, Expo will provide a platform to showcase and celebrate the knowledge, culture and heritage of participating nations, bringing them together under the UAE’s Golden Jubilee theme of ‘Human Solidarity’.
In ’Screen Time vs People Time: How Do We Connect?’, thoughtleaders will question what we might do with our time if we switched off our phones. What would we create, innovate or change if we got our time back?
For the young There’s something for the young attendees themselves too. During Expo, the ‘Expo School Program’ will offer students a bespoke learning experience via four curated school tours, thus helping them to gain hands-on skills and shape their future careers by connecting with peers, industry leaders and global experts.
TRAVEL & CONNECTIVITY (9-15 JAN 2022) Travel and Connectivity Week will consider both physical and digital connectivity and explore the ways in which technology is being harnessed for the betterment of humankind across sectors such as mobility, transport and logistics, governance,
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Analogue vs digital
On the flip side: ‘Age of Disruption: How Tech Innovation is Shaping our New Normal’ addresses the global pandemicfueled transition to a digital world. This talk will look at how technological innovation is transforming the way we live, move, work, and travel in a more sustainable manner. Automations and elevators Get hands-on by building your own robot or designing a spaceship. Watch demos of hoverboards and jetpacks. Attend workshops and see technology-inspired performances involving drones and robots. The Foster + Partners-designed Pavilion also features the world’s largest passenger lift. It is able to transport more than 160 people at a time.
GLOBAL GOALS (16-22 JAN 2022) The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are our global blueprint for a better world, and a statement of our collective ambition for equal opportunities for all. All eyes on the SDGs Global Goals Week will take stock of how far we have come, examine how groups and individuals have helped, and explore how we can act together to chart the way forward. The week’s flagship event will be ‘Global Goals for All,’ which aims to create awareness around the SDGs. The event will also mark the launch of the ‘People’s Compact’ – an initiative by Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE Government to mobilize civil society as SDG champions and promote public engagement with the 2030 Agenda. Education focus A public forum, ‘A Global Community Movement for Conservation’ will raise awareness concerning wild- life, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Looking to the next generation, ‘A School for My Children: Notes from the Teachers and Parents of Tomorrow’ focuses on the type of schools we want to build for our children. From spaces to subjects, what matters to future generations? And why?
HEALTH & WELLNESS (27 JAN-2 FEB 2022) The global pandemic has tested the interconnected welfare structures of the world. Tomorrow’s health system Expo presents an important opportunity for governments, subnational actors, and international organizations to come together to design an inclusive, crisis-proof global health system that is fit for the future.
‘Healthier World, Healthier People: Designing Spaces That Heal Our Planet Date,’ which is open to the public, will dissect crucial ideas on how architecture and design can help us to build resilient spaces to coexist with, which also support nature. Pandemic pragmatism What factors contribute to happiness and mental wellbeing? Will the solutions we seek come from technology too? Another World Ma-
FOOD, AGRICULTURE & LIVELIHOODS (17-23 FEB 2022) From farm to plate, the food chain provides income and livelihoods for billions. But the way in which we currently cultivate our food is a significant contributor to climate change through deforestation, land degradation, pollution, and waste. So, how do we sustainably grow food to meet future demand? Don’t miss these highlights A four-day ’Expo Live Series’ will look at topics such as ‘Innovations Bringing an End to Food Waste’, ‘Solving the Cash Flow Challenge for Smallhold Farmers’ and ‘Bringing Farmers and Growers the Right Data.’ Meanwhile, the business forum ‘Opportunities in Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods’ will provide a platform for Expo partners to have meaningful conversations that foster knowledge transfer and business opportunities. ’Good Food for All’ – the flagship youth advocates to raise awareness on the importance of food security for human progress.
jlis event – ‘The Chemistry of Happiness: Mental Health and the Science of Happiness Date – will question whether stress factors caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, alongside future global pandemics, will isolate us further from face-toface contact. It will explore the root causes of the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus and offer recommendations that can help the global community adapt to similar future challenges.
WATER (20-26 MAR 2022) The final week of Expo asks: How will we protect today’s most precious resources for tomorrow?
ecosystems, this event will deconstruct what we can learn from the past about the water crises and water conflicts we face today. Improving the odds
Expo will serve as a platform to remind us of the true value of water, as well as the progress and best practices in ensuring clean and adequate water for people, industry and the planet.
Answering its own questions, the Water Week program ends with ’Spotlighting Solutions Around Water Management’, which seeks to point to and celebrate global development solutions that have improved water management out- comes.
Co-curated with Peru, ’The Silencing of Water’ is part of the ‘Cultures in Conversation’ series. As much of the planet faces water scarcity and damage to marine
A talk on Expo’s own initiatives concerning sustainable models for water stewardship and governance will also take place.
Safeguarding water
Foods of the future During down-time there will be plenty of opportunity to explore the diverse dining offerings at Expo. Plant-based versions of favorites, from pizzas to kebabs, are available at the Sustainability Hub, while Talabat kitchen will offer a futuristic culinary experience showcasing more than 30 concepts in a state-of- the-art cloud kitchen with robots.
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MORE DOORS OPENING INTERNATIONALLY A HUGE SHIFT IN COMPANY OWNERSHIP AND VISA RULES HAS MADE IT MUCH EASIER FOR PROFESSIONALS TO WORK AND THRIVE IN THE UAE
For decades, foreign companies have had to establish themselves in the UAE’s Free Zones to operate in the country. But all that changed in November 2020, when a presidential decree issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan led to a significant, if not total, relaxation of the 2015 and 2018 federal laws regarding foreign ownership of commercial companies in the UAE. It followed the line of a government commitment to reach out to all nationalities from a financial perspective.
A PART OF VISION 2021 It allows the companies the same exemption from import and export taxes, corporate income tax and personal income tax. It is part of the Vision 2021 strategic plan promoted by the government to encourage FDI. The milestone heralds the financial blossoming of companies and their sustainability within Emirati borders. Nevertheless, there had been exemp-
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tions. Legislatures were already allowing a few internationally renowned foreign companies to obtain full foreign ownership, such as Apple, which opened its first shop in the territory six years ago.
A GAME-CHANGER Accordingly, companies can now be fully created and owned by non-Emiratis. “The liberalisation of foreign ownership laws surely breaks down the main barriers to the right of establishment. This reform is bound to be a game-changer,” noted renowned economist Nasser Saidi reacted. “The UAE’s growing interest in free trade will also lead to a recapitalization of joint ventures and encourage entrepreneurs to invest in existing as well as new companies. Above all, it encourages the retention of savings in the UAE.” Additionally, companies will now be able to list up to 70 percent of their shares on the stock market. The previous ceiling was 30 percent. It is believed the measure will revitalize local stock markets.
ATTRACTING THE ELITE Foreigners in general have also benefited from reforms. In 2019, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the UAE Ministry of Finance cabinet would introduce Golden Visas, a 10year renewable residency permit for certain types of foreigners. Among those eligible are highlyregarded elites, exceptional status people and those with highly prized skills or involved in major sectors that will guarantee the country’s development and influence.
graduated with a 3.8 + GPA. It is regarded as a win-win contract between supply and (potential) demand, particularly regarding investors, who can benefit from 100 percent ownership (concerns 22 economic activities in 13 different industrial sectors) of their business in UAE territory. The UAE allows them to settle on a long-term basis to ensure that they are anchored in the landscape, promising to ensure security and prosperity.
A WIN-WIN CONTRACT
It is hoped the Golden Visas, which were primarily introduced to recognize residents who have been here for the long-term and their contributions to their country’s development, will transform the UAE into a destination for investment and encouraging business development in the region.
The Golden Visa has already been offered to several thousand partial residents and dozens of bright graduated students with promising capabilities, as well as students who have
Furthermore, it is a signal that the UAE encourages migration from the outside a timely resolution to counteract the economic consequences caused by the pandemic.
The visas will allow eligible people to live and work in the UAE with their families.
REGIONAL RECORD BREAKER In just 40 years, its nominal GDP grew from USD 43.6 billion in 1980, according to World Bank figures, to USD 421.1 billion today, ranking it 30th in the world – an increase of 866 percent. The GDP per capita, meanwhile, is 43,100. Nevertheless, the country is breaking records. In just 40 years, its GDP grew from USD 75 billion in 1980 to USD 744 billion today, ranking it 29th in the world – an increase of 892 percent. GDP per capita is now set at around USD 35,000. Along with its success in the World Competitiveness Report (see page 13), it also ranked highly in the 2021 economic freedom index, scoring 76.9/100 as the 14th freest economy in the world and first among the 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a member of the World Trade Organization and OPEC, the UAE has also become the reference theater for the organization of several international events, conferences, and regional and international exhibitions, such as the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. It is forever supported by Dubai, the Gulf’s leading trading hub and strategic location where East meets West.
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A FRIENDSHIP FORMED ON STURDY DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
DENMARK AND THE UAE, TWO AMBITIOUS AND FORWARDLOOKING COUNTRIES, ENJOY ROBUST TIES
The history of diplomatic relations between our two countries goes back to the late 1970s. As the UAE’s economy started to grow, due to the rising demand on oil (which was then the country’s major financial income), the Western industrialized countries, including Denmark, started to pay more attention to the UAE and the
HAPPY RELATIONS The UAE from its side decided to establish an embassy in Copenhagen in January 2017 as a significant step towards developing the bilateral cooperation and relations that happily exist between our two ambitious and forwardlooking countries.
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rest of the oil-exporting countries in the region. In parallel to this development, the bilateral relations between the UAE and Denmark and cooperation on different levels witnessed progress, and Denmark decided to operate an embassy in Abu Dhabi and consular services in Dubai.
It is worth mentioning that the UAE and Denmark were part of the European-led Naval Mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH), in which both countries played major roles in monitoring shipping lines along this very vital strait for international trade.
DETERMINED INTENTIONS IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL THE UAE IS RESOLVED TO MAKE ITS MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL FOR THE TERM 2022-2023 REALLY COUNT The first time the UAE was nominated to the UNSC (1986-1987), the world, of course, looked very different. Since then, the world’s population has increased, new challenges have emerged and the competition for the earth’s resources has intensified. However, securing peace and security remains the priority for the Council. The UAE strongly believes that peace and security are better served when the international community stands together and multilateral institutions function well. Therefore, as a member of the Security Council, the UAE will be a constructive partner for promoting multilateral cooperation and strengthening international institutions in a rule-based world. Additionally, the UAE will work hard to advance the role of the UN in maintaining peace and stability and addressing security problems around the world. The UAE will be a strong voice for including all involved parties to solve the conflicts peacefully, and the nation wants to build bridges among the Council’s members. As a country situated in the Middle East – a region often characterized by political turmoil and competition on geopolitical influence – and as a medium-sized country strongly dependent on globalization and trade, the UAE will continue its endeavor to play a constructive role in defusing the political tensions and solving armed conflicts in the region peacefully. The foreign policy has been guided by embracing peaceful coexistence
through dialogue, tolerance and inclusion, and a rejection of terrorism and violence. The UAE remains committed to fostering tolerance and countering terrorism and extremism.
PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY AND INCLUSION The UAE is a highly heterogenous country with a very diverse population that is home to 200 nationalities, and all main religions. The nation has embraced inclusion as a cornerstone of our foreign policy, since it strongly believes that it creates a more stable political and economic model. Based on that, the UAE will be a constructive partner at the UNSC for enhancing gender equality and promoting a meaningful participation of women in international peace and security efforts. Young people will also be heavily involved in the decision-making process.
BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF NEW GLOBAL CHALLENGES The UAE will work hard to build consensus at the UNSC to address the threats of new rising challenges such as climate change, pandemics and cyber-attacks. It will increase its engagement with the states that are most immediately impacted by climate change. It will also intensify its efforts in tackling future health crises and pandemics and eradicating poverty and hunger in co-operation with other countries.
HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF INNOVATION FOR PEACE
The UAE is a forward-looking and dynamic country that has championed innovation and embraced technology for the advancement of mankind. The UAE will work at the UNSC to adopt a more forward-looking approach: to be better prepared for future challenges, and be more proactive rather than reactive. The nation believes there is vast untapped potential of technology to advance peace and security in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention.
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THE PROOF IS IN THE PHOTOS!
Her Excellency was one of several women ambassadors to mentor schoolgirls taking part in the ‘Ambassador for a Day 2021’ competition. On June 16, they all gathered in the garden of the British Embassy to share their thoughts on the ‘Think Global, Live Local’ theme
IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN A PANDEMIC TO STOP THE UAE EMBASSY FROM FULFILLING A FULL CULTURAL AGENDA
Judging by the activities of the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Denmark over the past 18 months, you wouldn’t know there’s been a global pandemic that has drastically reduced the activity of diplomats the world over. In yet another momentous year for the country, which continues to set new standards for other Middle Eastern countries to follow, the embassy and its ambassador HE Fatema Khamis Almazrouei have been flying the flag with gusto in Denmark.
A FULL CULTURAL AGENDA The Ambassador and her Embassy staff have fulfilled a full cultural agenda throughout 2020 and 2021 by adjusting to the new circumstances and adopting virtual solutions whenever needed. Here are just a few examples.
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Cheering the values of human fraternity and tolerance of other religions, the UAE Ambassador and embassy staff paid a visit to the Coptic Church in Copenhagen on the occasion of Christmas
The UAE Embassy in August celebrated the 6th anniversary of Emirati Women’s Day in honor of their historical achievements under the slogan ‘Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for Next 50 Years’
In April 2020, the UAE’s customs and traditions were reflected by HE’s initiative to pay a friendly visit to a home for the elderly to provide psychological support to those under lockdown during the pandemic
In August 2021, the UAE Embassy organized a second virtual meeting in co-operation with the Danish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health, hosting experts and specialists from the UAE and Denmark to exchange experiences and knowledge obtained during the fight against COVID-19 The UAE Embassy team were among the 79,000+ runners taking part in the Royal Run, which was held in the Danish cities of Copenhagen/Frederiksberg, Odense, Aalborg and Sønderjylland, and also Bornholm, on Saturday September 11
HE is no stranger to Danish newsrooms, often appearing as a guest to explain her country’s stance on a wide range of issues No distancing, no masks, no limit to the joy. This was a signal to the rest of the world that life can return to normal after corona.
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HERITAGE, CULTURE AND FUN THE UAE IS OVERFLOWING WITH CULTURAL AND LEISURE OPTIONS HUGE GOVERNMENTAL EFFORTS
The UAE Government puts continuous efforts into preserving the heritage and creating awareness about it. It holds festivals and events (e.g Qasr Al Hosn Festival, Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, Sultan bin Zayed Heritage Festival, and Sharjah Heritage Days) and forms clubs (e.g Emirates Heritage Club and Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, which conduct research on the heritage and organize activities to promote awareness about the heritage). It establishes heritage village structures that include traditional houses, schools, markets and public spaces as a replica of structures in the olden days. All Emirates have at least one heritage village. It establishes and maintains museums (e.g. museums that have opened in original structures that served as forts or palaces in the olden days reflect the heritage of the UAE in a unique way such as Dubai Museum, Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, and Saruq Al-Hadid Archeology Museum). Among most important new museums are Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi). It constructs and maintains mosques (e.g. Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah, the oldest mosque in the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, and Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai).
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BURJ KHALIFA
The Burj Khalifa is one of the UAE’s most famous buildings and the soaring sky-high landmark of Dubai. Not only is it the world’s tallest building (at 828 metres high), it also lays claim to the titles of tallest freestanding structure in the world, highest observation deck in the world, and elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. A trip up to the observation deck, with its panoramic views across Dubai, is on most visitor itineraries, both to marvel at this modern engineering and architectural feat, and to admire the dizzying views of Dubai laid out below you.
A VALIDATION OF HERITAGE AND CULTURE The UAE also provides museum lovers with a wide variety of different kinds. Some of the 10 unique UAE museums one has to check out are 3D World Dubai, the largest 3D museum in the world, Women Museum, Dubai Coffee Museum, Horse Museum, Camel Museum, Coin Museum, Emirates National Auto Museum, Al Ain Classical Cars Museum, and Sharjah Car Club & Museum. For cultural tourism, Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi provides a comprehensive tourism-cultural project for nature, as well as Emirati heritage and culture. It houses three world-class museums: Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Validation of the UAE’s heritage is
extremely important. For example, the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cultural sites include six oases and the archaeological sites of Bida bint Saud, Hafeet and Hili. One can read more about that the website of UNESCO World Heritage. Additionally, the Emirate of Sharjah has gained three prestigious titles for bearing the torch of the UAE’s culture and heritage. In 1998, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named it ‘The Cultural Capital of the Arab World’. In 2014, it was named the capital of Islamic culture for 2014 by the Organization of Islamic Countries, and it was named by UNESCO as the World Book Capital for 2019.
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DUBAI EYE WHEEL
The world’s largest and tallest observation wheel, located on Bluewaters Island, is set to open on 21 October 2021 near the Dubai Marina in Dubai. The Dubai Eye stands at over 250 metres high, making it 42.5 meters taller than the current world’s tallest observation wheel, the 167.6-meter High Roller in Las Vegas! The wheel will be able to carry up to 1,400 passengers in its 48 capsules and provide views of Dubai Marina and landmarks such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa. Its base will serve as an entertainment zone. An 80-metre LED screen will be mounted on the wheel creating an electronic platform for broadcasting, advertisements, and other information.
THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI
The most spectacular museum in the United Arab Emirates, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which was designed by prize winning architect Jean Nouvel, takes visitors on a journey through human history. The collection has been sourced from across the globe and through the ages, beginning from the earliest human settlements to works by the major names in today’s contemporary art scene, to demonstrate the links between cultures and civilizations that has threaded through humanity’s narrative.
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DEEP DIVE DUBAI
Located in Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba neighborhood, Deep Dive Dubai’s pool has been verified by Guinness World Records as the world’s deepest swimming pool for diving at an incredible depth of over 60 meters. It holds 14 million liters of water – the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools. Featuring the latest technology and unrivalled facilities, including what will be the region’s most advanced hyperbaric chamber, Deep Dive Dubai’s pool also features an astonishing sunken city that divers of all levels can explore, complete with an abandoned streetscape, featuring an apartment, garage and arcade. Freediving and scuba diving experiences and courses are offered to all ability levels by a team of international diving professionals. Among the features of the 60-metre pool are two underwater habitats with a dry chamber at depths of 6 and 21 meters, 56 underwater cameras covering all angles of the pool, and advanced sound and mood lighting systems. The pool’s fresh water is filtered and circulated every six hours through siliceous volcanic rock, using NASA-developed filter technology and UV radiation. It is one of the largest and fastest filter systems in the region. The 1,500 sqm facility is shaped like a giant oyster in a nod to the UAE’s pearl diving heritage.
SHARJAH CALLIGRAPHY MUSEUM
Embark on the journey into the world of creativity and the splendor at Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, located in the house of Hamad Al Midfa in the Heart of Sharjah. Here, you can discover the evolution of the Arabic calligraphy over time, as you enjoy artworks with stunning calligraphic texts, letters, and shapes.
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