Emiratis our top priority: Vp
Cabinet pledges to boost Emiratisation and social assistance to low-income groups
abu dhabi — Emiratisation of jobs increased by 200 per cent in 2018, with plans to double the efforts this year. Taking to Twitter after chairing 2019’s first Cabinet meeting in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, vowed that Emiratis would be the government’s “first, second and third priority” this year and the years to come.
The meeting on Tuesday reviewed the achievements of the UAE Government in 2018.
The Cabinet began last year with the allocation of Dh11 billion in social assistance to all groups of low income Emiratis for the next three years. “The government will stand with them in 2019 and will never leave anyone behind. Last year, we had launched policies for women, children, senior citizens and the youth. I am optimistic about my country, my people and my work team in 2019,” the UAE VicePresident tweeted.
“In the new year, which is the ‘Year of Tolerance’, we will present to the world the model of Emirati people who are dedicated at work, love their country, and tolerant with all people,” he added.
Throughout the year, the Cabinet rolled out major policies for community development. The National Policy for Senior Emiratis was considered the most important of them.
abu dhabi — For its first meeting of the year, the UAE Cabinet has reviewed the government’s achievements in 2018, including major decisions and policies that were implemented in line with UAE Vision 2021 and Centennial Strategy 2071.
The meeting, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was attended by Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The Cabinet adopted a total of 669 resolutions in its 21 meetings last year.
“I am confident that my team will achieve our goals for the new year which will lead us to the achievement of UAE Vision 2021,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“In the new year, which is the ‘Year of Tolerance’, we will present to the world the model of Emirati people who are dedicated at work, love their country, and tolerant with all people,” he added.
Last year, the Cabinet approved the largest federal budget of the country, amounting to Dh180 billion for the next three years. A budget of Dh60.3 billion was earmarked for 2019.
It also allocated Dh11 billion in social assistance to all groups of low-income Emiratis for the next three years, while Dh7 billion was set aside for a plan to build 7,270 housing units for citizens across the country.
Throughout the year, the Cabinet rolled out major policies for community development and the National Policy for Senior Emiratis was considered the most important of them. Not only did this programme replace the term “elderly” with “senior citizens”, it also put an integrated care system in place to ensure they would be able to live a decent, comfortable and socially active life. In education, the Cabinet adopted the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030 with the aim of graduating generations of Emirati professionals and ensuring that the country’s universities will be among the world’s top 1,000.
Seeking to raise the quality of healthcare in the country, it introduced a draft federal law on public health, a law on pharmaceutical professions and another on reproductive medical assistance, while a national standard for hospitals was implemented.
Emiratisation and women empowerment also figured in the Cabinet’s 2018 programmes. A number of resolutions were passed to raise the percentage of Emiratis in the workforce and the first legislation of its kind for gender pay equality was adopted.
In business and talent acquisition, a new foreign investment law was approved, allowing foreigners to own 100 per cent of UAE-based businesses, and a new visa scheme for investors and professionals could now provide them with residency of up to 10 years.
Covering the environment and food security sectors, the Cabinet mapped out Water Security Strategy 2036 to ensure sustainable access to water in the country and the National Strategy for Food Security 2051 to reduce food waste and enable sustainable food production.
In the new year, we will present to the world the model of Emirati people who are dedicated at work, love their country, and tolerant with all people.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum