UAE to Launch 50-Year Development Strategy Based on Knowledge Economy

A view of Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Getty Images)
A view of Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Getty Images)
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UAE to Launch 50-Year Development Strategy Based on Knowledge Economy

A view of Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Getty Images)
A view of Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Getty Images)

The United Arab Emirates declared that 2020 will be the launchpad of preparations for the next 50 years, ahead of its milestone Golden Jubilee in 2021. The country is targeting the post-oil stage via a knowledge economy.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, announced that next year will be used to deliver a roadmap for the future and make preparations for grand celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the nation.

They ordered forming two UAE cabinet committees.

One committee, to be headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, with Mohammed al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, serving as his deputy, will lay out a comprehensive development plan for the next 50 years. Its responsibilities will include developing vital sectors including health, education, housing, transport and food security across the country.

The committee will be tasked with mapping out the Emirates’ Golden Jubilee celebrations.

“The UAE approaches its Golden Jubilee in 2021, a new milestone that celebrates 50 years of our young country and begins the journey to the next 50 years. Preparations for our new journey start next year 2020. Together, we welcome 2020: Towards the next 50,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on Saturday.

He added: “Today, we announce 2020: Towards the next 50. We shall develop our plans and projects and reinvent new ideas. 50 years ago, the founding fathers shaped our life today, and next year, we will shape the coming five decades for the future generations.”

“In 2020, we will work on making giants leaps in our economy, education, infrastructure, health and media to share the UAE’s new story with the world. Together, we will build the Emirates of the future in 2020 with the winning spirit of the union. Our development journey has no end,” he continued.

“We will work together as citizens and residents across all sectors towards the next 50. United, we can make significant changes and raise our aspirations. We want 2020, the year before our Golden Jubilee, to be similar to 1970 when a new journey was being drafted for this nation.”

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince stated: “With the willpower and unity of our people, we will work tirelessly to achieve our goal in making the UAE among the best countries in the world by the UAE centennial in 2071.”

“Given the significant role of 2020 in preparing for an unprecedented developmental leap, the UAE's readiness for the next 50 years does not start today or next year. Rather, it goes back to the long-term developmental plans, visions and strategies established and implemented throughout different phases of the country's history,” he stressed.

“Today, we continue preparing and foreseeing the future and building a strong foundation to meet our goals with full confidence and persistence in a rapidly-changing world.”



US Election Weighs on Markets

US Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration picture taken June 14, 2022. (Reuters)
US Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration picture taken June 14, 2022. (Reuters)
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US Election Weighs on Markets

US Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration picture taken June 14, 2022. (Reuters)
US Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration picture taken June 14, 2022. (Reuters)

The dollar softened and stocks fell on Monday as investors treaded carefully hours before the US presidential election, with a US Federal Reserve interest-rate cut also expected later in the week.

In the US presidential race, Democratic Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump remain virtually tied in opinion polls ahead of Tuesday's vote. It might not be clear who won for days after voting ends.

“Tuesday will shape the direction of the world economy and geopolitics for the next four years,” Deutsche Bank analysts wrote.

They cautioned that “there remains a large degree of uncertainty around both the result, including the very tight House (of Representatives) race, and when we will know it.”

Trump's policies on immigration, tax cuts and tariffs may put upward pressure on inflation, bond yields and the dollar, analysts say, while Harris is seen as the continuity candidate.

Uncertainty over the outcome is one reason markets assume the Federal Reserve will choose to cut rates by a standard 25 basis points on Thursday, rather than repeat its outsized half-point easing.

The Bank of England also meets Thursday and is expected to cut by 25 basis points, while the Riksbank is seen easing by 50 basis points and the Norges Bank is expected to stay on hold.

The Reserve Bank of Australia holds its meeting on Tuesday and again is expected to hold rates steady.

“Based on current data, we see no reason for (the Federal Open Market Committee) to rush through rate cuts,” said analysts at ANZ. “The election and uncertainty over the future fiscal path also support arguments for caution in recalibrating monetary policy.”

The euro extended an early climb to be up 0.5% at $1.0891 and looked set to test resistance around $1.0905. The dollar fell 0.6% on the yen to 152.60. The dollar index eased 0.1% to 103.80.

Dealers said the dip in the dollar might be linked to a poll that showed Harris taking a surprise 3-point lead in Iowa, thanks largely to her popularity with female voters.

“Markets are seemingly scaling back some Trump trades, and we suspect the next two days can see some abnormal swings in USD crosses due to tighter volatility conditions ahead of a closely contested and highly binary US election,” ING FX strategist Francesco Pesole said.

European stocks were flat, while oil prices climbed nearly 3% on Monday on OPEC+'s decision for a month's delay in plans to increase output, while investors also focused on the US presidential election.

British stocks outperformed continental indexes to add 0.5%, helped by the energy sector.

Earlier, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.7%, recovering from its fall to a five-week low on Friday.

Chinese blue-chip stocks gained 1.4%, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 1.2%.

Wall Street also notched slim gains ahead of Tuesday's US election. Futures had the S&P 500 up 0.2% ahead of Monday’s opening bell, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones were seen 0.1% higher respectively.

Bonds have rallied on Monday as a result of the latest swing in the polls, with yields on 10-year US treasuries down 10 basis points at 4.28%.