Under the headline ‘SDGs: Excellence in Implementation’, the first nation-wide forum on Sustainable Developmental Goals was held today in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Organised by the National Committee on Sustainable Developmental Goals and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, FCSA, the event was attended by over 200 officials and experts from UAE federal and local government entities, private sector, academia, global organisations and civic society, who discussed and presented a number of strategic topics related to the government’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Chairwoman of the National Committee on Sustainable Developmental Goals, opened the event with a keynote that addressed and acknowledged the cooperation of different government bodies across the country.

"We consider the work of the National Committee on SDGs as a natural extension to our nation’s developmental roadmap paved by our founding fathers since the establishment of the union. The wise leadership’s social and economic plan is of national context and objectives, and UAE’s centennial vision 2071 is an embodiment of our leader’s vision for UAE’s future. Thus, there has to be a strong link between the SDGs and UAE’s national vision," the minister said.

"We will not deny the many challenges that we will face in attempting to reach the 169 targets of the ambitious 2030 agenda. Many of these challenges revolve around the collection and coordination of data. This is why we invited a group of some of the world’s most renowned data and statistics experts."

In her speech, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office Mona Al Marri affirmed that the concepts of sustainable development were embedded in UAE culture even before the term became known worldwide. She noted that the UAE, since its establishment by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, followed a sustainable approach in promoting development. This approach eventually culminated in the development of UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE National Agenda.

Al Marri said that sustainable development is a strategic choice that the UAE made, which has resulted in quality projects and initiatives that have attracted the world’s attention and enabled the UAE to gain a leading global position. She also affirmed that the vision of the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has led to a clear roadmap for the future and made the UAE a model for innovation and creativity.

"Sustainable development requires participation from everyone and is not limited to the public sector and government. It includes all sectors of the community and the private sector," she further said.

The agenda of the SDG forum included three main themes. The first was 'Governance and Global Partnership'; the second was 'Communication, Engagement and Outreach,'; and the third 'Policy and Data'. The forum aims to identify the best national and global practices to implement sustainable development goals. Additionally, it was an opportunity to review the current programmes on the implementation of SDGs in the UAE. The programme also included a presentation of specialised studies highlighting the implementation of SDGs in in the UAE.