The UAE has announced its official strategy for the future.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

It has been described as “a comprehensive roadmap aimed at taking the nation to the next era of development”.

State news agency WAM said the long-term strategy will steer the nation’s growth by identifying the needs and challenges of the future.

Sectors including healthcare, education, social development and the environment will be developed under the new plans. These will form the basis for governmental policymaking.

“As a nation, we have always been forward-looking and planning for the future, which has been a key driver of our success,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“The UAE Strategy for the Future is our new approach to planning for the future by predicting, analysing and implementing highly effective action plans that accelerate development.

“The citizens of the UAE are our most important resource in building our future. To nurture their skills, we will strengthen education and training initiatives.”

In the new strategy, planning for the future will also become a mandatory part of the operations of government departments.

Future scenario reports on key sectors will also be published, which will serve as a benchmark for developing the government’s plans and policies.

A number of initiatives will be rolled out as part of the new strategy which will be implemented in three phases – short, medium and long-term – each with clear benchmarks and performance indicators.

Every government department will have a Director of the UAE Strategy for the Future, who is in charge of driving future planning.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, which will be responsible for sanctioning the new initiative, said: “The short-term is the future we’re living today as part of the UAE Vision 2021 and the course of the next five years.

“The medium-term strategy will focus on planning for the period between 2021 and 2026.

“The long-term strategy goes beyond 2026, and we will commence work now to both foresee and build the future of the nation.”

original article from 7days.ae