Theme 2020

2020 - Preparing for the next 50 years

Khaleej Times

Two Cabinet committees have been formed to chart out the future development plan of the UAE. While one committee will build a comprehensive 50-year development plan, the other will oversee the grand celebrations for the country’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

This came as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced 2020 to be the year of preparations for the next 50 years.

Called ‘2020: Towards the next 50’, next year will witness the biggest national strategy to prepare for the coming 50 years on the federal and local level as the country approaches its golden jubilee in 2021.

The first committee, chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is tasked with building a comprehensive development plan for the next 50 years. Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, will act as his deputy.

The second committee will be chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and his deputy will be Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Strides to success

Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said preparations for the country’s new journey will start in 2020. “We shall develop our plans and projects and reinvent new ideas. Fifty years ago, the founding fathers shaped our life today, and next year, we will shape the coming five decades for the future generations.

He said the country will work on making giants leaps in “our economy, education, infrastructure, health, and media” to share the UAE’s new story with the world”. “Together, we will build the Emirates of the future in 2020 with the winning spirit of the union, a spirit that strives for progress. Our development journey has no end.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the UAE is about to mark a major milestone in its “modern history” as it approaches the golden jubilee with “rising hopes and aspirations to strengthen its cultural position in the journey of humanity”.

“With the willpower and unity of our people, we will work tirelessly to achieve our goal in making the UAE among the best countries in the world by the UAE centennial in 2071.”

He said the country would coordinate efforts, deploy possible resources and strengths and deepen community partnerships to lay the foundations of a significant phase in the journey of development. “We will draft a new chapter in our economic, social and rapid development race.

“Citizens and residents who form our society are all active partners in building a developmental and cultural model of the Emirates of the future.”

He stressed that the achievements “we witnessed over the past five decades that gained widespread admiration across the world were the outcome of massive efforts, determination and dedication”.

“We need to double the effort over the next five decades to meet our rising ambitions in an era that poses tougher challenges, fiercer competitions and rapid global transformations.”

He affirmed that “such mission places a huge responsibility on every individual in the UAE and entails hard work and perseverance over the coming decades”.

Post-oil era

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the way towards making the UAE among the best countries in the world by 2071 requires special focus. This will entail preparing sectors across the country to the post-oil era and building a knowledge-based economy based on innovation, science and modern technologies.

“Top priority of the national work within the next 50 years will be placed on investing in talents and capabilities, strengthening our system of values based on tolerance, openness and coexistence and preserving our national heritage, customs and traditions. We will also dedicate our efforts to remain at the forefront of the global competition and lay strong foundations for the sustainable development of the coming generations.

“Given the significant role of 2020 in preparing for an unprecedented developmental leap, the UAE’s readiness for the next 50 years does not start today or next year. Rather, it goes back to the long-term developmental plans, visions and strategies established and implemented throughout different phases of the country’s history. Today, we continue preparing and foreseeing the future and building a strong foundation to meet our goals with full confidence and persistence in a rapidly-changing world.”

What 2020 means for the country

a turning point of the UAE history as the country prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its union in December 2021. The UAE’s golden jubilee marks a major milestone that calls for renewing the country’s development model.

Institutional efforts across the country will be coordinated and innovative expertise, talents and capabilities harnessed in designing new systems for the next 50 years. A social vision will be created to ensure the involvement of all society segments in shaping the country to be the most advanced land that embraces the highest quality of life across the world.

New theme a lesson in UAE history

Preparing resources to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial through ‘2020: Towards the next 50’ is reminiscent of the pre-announcement phase of the UAE’s union in 1971. In the run-up to the country’s first milestone, the founding fathers deployed the necessary measures to overcome numerous challenges.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, lived through and actively participated in the formation of the union. He attended the February 1968 meeting where both the then ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the then ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum first announced their intention to form a union, leading up to the country’s federation in December 1971 after a series of meetings and negotiations.

The union resulted in forming the UAE as a country of the future. The young country then embarked on an intensive journey of advancement and progress through implementing plans and strategies to meet people’s needs in the fields of education, health, economy, society and culture. In a few years, the region’s most comprehensive and advanced service sector, especially in education and health, was developed. The country also created the region’s most attractive and efficient business environment, formed an effective media system and provided incubators for innovation. The UAE also dedicated huge investments in technology to become a leading incubator for digital and smart technologies, exceeding expectations in its rapid speed of development.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “I lived through the formation of the union in 1970 and will oversee the formation of the next five decades in 2020. We want 2020, the year before our golden jubilee, to be reminiscent of 1970 when a new journey was being drafted for this nation.

“We will work together as citizens and residents across all sectors towards the next 50. United, we can make significant changes and raise our aspirations.

“We are united by team, united by spirit, united towards a promising future.”

Charting the next 50 years

>Chairperson: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs >Deputy: Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future

This committee will build a development plan for the next 50 years. It is tasked with preparing a comprehensive development plan across the UAE and developing the government administrative system to make the UAE the fastest and most flexible and adaptable government to future changes. Here are its responsibilities:

>Involving all segments of society in shaping life in the UAE for the next 50 years >Drawing a new economic map for the UAE and developing exceptional projects and policies to make giant leaps in the national economy >Cementing the soft power of the UAE and establishing media systems to share the country’s new story with the world, bringing economic and social returns that protect its gains and enhance opportunities in the new economy >Developing vital sectors including health, education, housing, transport and food security across the country to increase future readiness >Developing a comprehensive vision of the UAE society in the next 50 years that adapts demographics, family life and cultural identity to a rapidly-changing world. >Fostering the values of productivity and passion for progress to prepare the new generation for challenges and aspirations of the country in the next 50 years.

Ushering in the 50th year

Chairperson: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Deputy: Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

This committee will be tasked with organising the Emirates’ golden jubilee celebrations in 2021, developing a comprehensive preparation plan and forming teams to organise events and activities. Here are its responsibilities:

>Involving all segments of society in the preparations for the golden jubilee celebrations >Developing plans to strengthen the global outreach and impact of the celebrations >Involving the private sector in the preparation and execution of the festivities >Compiling a record of the country’s achievements since the federation and preserving these records for future generations >Involving embassies across the country in the preparations and executions of the celebrations to promote the UAE’s global image >Setting comprehensive mechanisms to coordinate events