From Emiratisation drive to COP28 summit, exploring UAE’s accomplishments in 2023 and plan for 2024

During its first meeting of the year on Friday, the Cabinet approved the UAE’s 2024 plan that gives sustainability the front seat. Taking to X, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said 2024 is set to bring in “greater developmental achievements.”

In addition, he said the Cabinet reviewed and commended the country’s accomplishments in 2023, shining the light on the successful Emiratisation drive, Zayed Housing Programme, economic diversification and trade exchange between the UAE and the GCC countries.

2023 – a successful year for Emirates

Under the Emiratisation drive – the Nafis Programme – 92,000 Emiratis have joined the private sector since the launch of the scheme in September in 2021. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the Emirates’ commitment to continue to improve the efficiency of the labour market.

Furthermore, he said more than 4,300 housing decisions have been issued – representing a total value of Dh3.2 billion – from the Zayed Housing Programme, a prominent funding scheme aimed at improving the quality of life of UAE citizens.

“The citizens’ ownership rate of homes across all housing programmes in the country reached 90%, making it the second-highest home ownership rate globally,” the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai mentioned during the meeting.

He also highlighted the UAE’s non-oil Gross domestic product (GDP) had reached a growth rate of 5.9% in the first nine months of last year. The GCC country secured the top spot globally in over 215 developmental, economic and human indicators in international reports.

Sheikh Mohammed also acknowledged the success the hospitality sector has achieved lately as it grew by 11.6%, owing to the staggering number of visitors to tourist destinations as international events hosted by the country.

2023 – the most legislatively active year in UAE’s history

Sheikh Mohammed praised President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for his leadership and called 2023 a successful year for the UAE. The year marked the annual COP28 climate conference in Dubai and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre’s successful space mission.

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Moreover, he noted that “the year 2023 marked the most legislatively active year in the history of the country,” in addition to underscoring the commendable value of trade exchange between the UAE and the GCC country. The figure has reached Dh287 billion.