The UAE at 50
As we look to the next 50 years, the UAE has embarked on the most important reforms in the country’s history.
By Xische Editorial, December 3, 2021
Source: Shutterstock
Sometimes it can be hard to look back when the future is so bright. As we mark the 50th birthday of the UAE’s founding, that’s the feeling one has. From humble beginnings, the UAE has transformed into a global powerhouse. With Abu Dhabi and Dubai at the forefront, the UAE is now a pillar of an entirely new global economy. What New York and London were to the Industrial Revolution, the UAE is to the knowledge revolution. As we look to the next 50 years, the UAE has embarked on the most important reforms in the country’s history and is about to embrace a new work week structure that will redefine work-life balance in the contemporary economy.
This incredible event comes at a difficult time for the international community. The global turbulence of the last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic has been nothing short of historic. Through it all, the UAE managed to react to the public health crisis and establish itself as a new beacon of activity in the post-pandemic landscape. It’s an encouraging transformation to consider in light of the golden jubilee that reveals how sage leadership and sustainable investments in infrastructure can produce a future society. While most of the world was in lockdown, the UAE carried out one of the world’s most efficient vaccination campaigns. At the same time, the Government was overhauling the visa system to attract a new class of digital nomads. The results are clear. More people than ever want to come to the UAE and be a part of its budding knowledge economy.
The introduction of a shorter workweek might seem like a change that has more to do with the economy than the long-term prospects of a budding nation. But that’s not the case. The UAE is showing the world how to learn from the events of the pandemic and embrace new models of work and life. As The National commented, “Champions of an even shorter working week in recent decades have long encountered similar obstacles. But the pandemic has been a significant wake-up call, pushing governments and companies alike to take a more practical, evidence-based look at how best to ensure not only economic but also psychological recovery.” When we look back on this change in 50 years, the foresight of the UAE’s leadership will be clear. Because of the bold decisions, the UAE will continue to innovate and evolve.
The Dubai Expo 2020 was another historic event in the long-term development of the county. On visiting the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, said that “it honors the early dreamers that built our nation and shines a light on the dreamers of today who are striving to ensure its future success.” As we celebrate the UAE’s golden jubilee, it’s vital to take Sheikh Mohamed’s words to heart and consider the truly remarkable people that make the UAE what it is today. With the hard work, determination, and vision of the Emirati people, the UAE would not be at the forefront of future technologies. For all the wise investments that have taken place over the last 50 years, the investment in the people of this nation has proven to be the most impactful. We can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will bring.
