Cabinet approves water strategy
dubai — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has chaired the first Cabinet session of the new year, discussing Vat revenues.
The Cabinet reviewed the developments in the implementation of the value added tax (VAT) in the UAE and reviewed the plan to distribute the Vat revenues to local governments, to ensure that it is used to support development projects for the community.
“We have decided to distribute value added tax revenues in the UAE so that local governments will receive 70 per cent of these revenues to achieve better local services, greater community development, and wider support for our citizens,” Sheikh Mohammed continued.
“The government will be transparent about the nature of these projects and firm in controlling the markets to prevent price hikes, and will continue to consult with citizens to serve their interests in the first place,” he affirmed.
The Cabinet also adopted the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which aims to ensure the availability and safety of water in accordance with international standards, during normal and emergency situations. The strategy includes a list of measures for enhanced water supply including, alternative water sources, emergency water production and distribution, storage mechanisms and water networking across the UAE and a number of legislative items.
The Cabinet also adopted the ‘Manual on Measuring Productivity in the Federal Government’, detailing the performance and productivity mechanisms and directives for all ministries and government entities.
The Cabinet also approved the Judicial Coordination Council’s restructuring to achieve coordination among all judicial entities in the UAE, and to ensure the exchange of knowledge in the areas of judicial and legal affairs. The Cabinet also approved the estimated budget of the General Authority for Pensions and Social Insurance for the fiscal year 2018.
It also adopted and ratified a number of international conventions, including the Convention on Cultural Cooperation with Ukraine; an agreement with Switzerland on the exemption of a short-stay visa for holders of ordinary passports; and an agreement on reciprocal protection of investments with Moldova; as well as two conventions on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with regard to income taxes with both Moldova and Croatia.
The Cabinet also discussed a number of issues related to the development of government services and government work in a number of ministries and federal entities, as well as other topics on its agenda.
Sheikh Mohammed also highlighted 2018’s importance as the Year of Zayed at the cabinet session. He affirmed that “the achievements of the UAE today are the fruits of the vision of our father and the leader, the founder of the UAE”. He added that “the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s directives to dedicate this year to our Founding Father is an opportunity for us to translate the values that have been instilled in us into further achievements that serve our people and our country.”—