UAE Celebrates 53rd Eid Al Etihad with Key Achievements and Future Vision

UAE Marks 53rd National Day with Milestones in Governance, Sustainability, and Innovation

UAE Celebrates 53rd National Day: A Year of Progress and Achievements
ABU DHABI, 2nd December 2024 – The UAE also declared February 28th to be UAE Education Day in an attempt to promote innovation in education.

Cultural Empowerment and Gender
In 2024, the UAE continued to strengthen its efforts in the fields of woman empowerment and culture. With 50% of seats in the Federal National Council and a ranking of first regionally and sixth globally in the UNDP Gender Inequality Index, women have achieved tremendous progress in education, employment, and government representation.

Governance and Legislative Achievements
The UAE reshaped its leadership landscape in 2024, appointing H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed assumed the dual roles of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. New ministerial positions, including Minister of Sports and Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, were created to address emerging national priorities.

Legislative milestones include the establishment of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, the updating of road safety regulations, and the introduction of measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Laws on infectious diseases and labor relations were also amended.

Infrastructure and housing development
Key infrastructure projects include the completion of all four reactors at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and the opening of a new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, designed to handle 260 million passengers annually. Notable water initiatives included Sharjah’s desalination collaboration with ACWA Power and Umm Al Qaiwain’s reverse osmosis desalination plant, one of the largest globally.

Housing developments reached new heights, with Emirati homeownership climbing to 91%. Federal housing programmes benefited 90,000 citizens since 1999, with AED60 billion invested.In Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, substantial housing facilities were provided to cater to the welfare of the people.

Innovations in Space and Education
The UAE sent its first Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit and joined NASA’s Lunar Gateway Station, marking important advances in space exploration. The country’s leadership in space was further demonstrated by the creation of the Supreme Space Council, the launch of the SatGate project and the production of MBZ-SAT.

Education saw substantial reforms, including the establishment of Dubai National University and Al Dhaid University in Sharjah, with AED4.5 billion allocated to fostering future-focused excellence. In an effort to encourage innovation in education, the UAE also proclaimed February 28th as UAE Education Day.

Gender and Cultural Empowerment
The UAE continued to improve its cultural and gender empowerment areas in 2024. Women made significant strides in education, employment and government representation, holding 50% of Federal National Council seats and ranking sixth globally and first regionally in the UNDP Gender Inequality Index.

Cultural activities flourished, and the country’s rich history was revealed through the “Light and Peace” Museum and archaeological discoveries in Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain.

COP28 Leadership and Sustainability
Through programs like the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative, collaborations with IRENA, and the establishment of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate Strategy 2031, the UAE gained international attention during the “Year of Sustainability.”

At COP29 in Baku, the UAE introduced groundbreaking sustainability projects, including the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance and an AI tool for agriculture.

The UAE also launched the world’s first clean-energy-powered Vertiport and reached 58% progress on sustainable development goals, far exceeding the global average of 17%.

Health and Sports Achievements
The UAE allocated AED5.745 billion for healthcare services and introduced a health insurance system for private sector employees and domestic workers. Programs for genetic testing as part of mandatory pre-marital screenings will begin in January 2025.

In sports, the UAE jiu-jitsu team won international competitions and Al Ain FC won the AFC Champions League 2023-2024 title, highlighting the country’s superiority on the international stage.