The UAE and its leadership are at their best when it comes to leading from the front. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, once again showed the way as he asked his more than 10 million followers on social media to pose questions to him directly on the eve of the upcoming World Government Summit.

"The questions could pertain to issues such as health, education, cities of the future and government services. This is good and responsible governance, and the intention is to broaden the scope of consensus as the leadership formulates and implements the policies for the future," said Khaleej Times in an editorial on Sunday.

"Our objective from the '#World_Government_Summit' is to prepare all government officials around the world for the future, which holds huge changes in all aspects for all of us," he tweeted.

"The Vice-President will be answering those questions on February 8th in Dubai. He will be joined by US President Barack Obama, who will give a televised address, and Rwandan President, Paul Kagame. The latter will recall his efforts in pulling a war-weary nation out of crisis and elevating it above the line of poverty.

"Sheikh Mohammed's communication strategy and his resolve to be in touch with the masses are universally acknowledged. He is an exception, and no one else in the world is so much concerned for what people think, and how they would like to respond to issues, than the Ruler of Dubai. His visionary policies have made the difference as Dubai, and the UAE, grew from strength to strength, and attained the status of a preferred hub in terms of trade and tourism in the world at large.

"His reliance and faith in social media has encouraged people to come up with suggestions and innovative ideas, to which the leadership is receptive. In a similar endeavour, the UAE wants to strengthen public institutions and draw in as many articulate people as possible, and for that very same reason, the country has broadened the scope of adult franchise.

"Empowering the Federal National Council and elections at the governmental grassroots level are a case in point. It is all about taking the people along, as the country and its human capital progresses," concluded the daily.
Source: WAM