Abu Dhabi: The UAE Cabinet’s meeting, which was chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was convened at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; and Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, were present at the meeting.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that, “I chaired at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, the UAE Cabinet’s first meeting of the year 2024. We reviewed the work we accomplished during the year 2023. We also approved the Cabinet’s work plan for 2024, which will focus on implementing the national priorities announced by my brother President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Union Day. We gave our directives to all federal government entities to implement governmental plans, initiatives and projects that serve the national priorities announced by His Highness.”
The cabinet reviewed achievements in various national sectors during 2023, mainly regarding the country’s top priority sectors, including UAE nationals’ housing and the Emiratisation of employment.
“In the housing sector, more than 4,300 decisions were issued regarding UAE nationals’ housing support, with a total worth of AED3.2 billion. The Emiratis’ home-ownership rate, including all national housing programs, grew to 90 percent, which is the second highest home-ownership rate in the world,” the Ruler added.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum continued saying that, “In the Emiratisation sector, Nafis program, thanks to the follow up of my brother Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, successfully increased the total number of the UAE nationals working in the private sector to approximatively 92,000. And yet, these two sectors will remain at the centre of our continuous follow up.”
The PM observed that, “In the economy sector, our non-oil GDP witnessed a significant growth scoring a rate of 5.9 percent during the first nine months of the year only. The UAE was ranked first globally in more than 215 indexes related to development, economy and human capital, according to international reports.”
The Ruler said that, “during the Cabinet’s meeting, we reviewed the accomplishments of the legislative plan of 2023. A total of 73 federal laws were issued in 2023, including 10 laws issued for the first time in the country as part of the legislative system, with the participation of 1,500 specialists along with 50 governmental teams. Additionally, the Cabinet approved 60 national policies and strategies and 62 international agreements. Therefore, the year 2023 was, in terms of the legislative achievements, the most active year in the country’s history.”
“The year 2023 was exceptional, under the leadership of my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, along with his deputies and brothers. It was a year during which the UAE witnessed unprecedented economic growth, massive global political presence, scientific advancement, new educational and healthcare developments. The year 2024 will be a new opportunity to achieve further development achievements with greater momentum in all sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum concluded.
During the meeting, the Cabinet reviewed a report on the outcome of its work during the year 2023, featuring the main strategies, policies, legislation, and resolutions issued by the Cabinet during the last 12 months.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid assured that the Federal Government’s priorities for the year 2024 will remain consistent with the general directions of the Union declared by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the 52nd Union Day.’