Message from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to the UAE’s Scientific Community

Over the past few decades, the UAE has created an innovative model for development that has catapulted it to the ranks of the world’s leading countries. In the process, the country has acquired significant expertise in driving sustainable innovation-driven growth. 

To benefit from the unique experience gained in our development journey and to optimise our investment in talent, we have created a framework for drawing from our past successes to further raise excellence and ensure sustainable growth. 

This new framework is at the heart of the UAE Centennial 2071 plan, which was inspired by the vision of my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The plan has the aim of transforming the UAE into one of the world’s best countries by the 100th anniversary of its founding.

The UAE Centennial 2071 plan, which outlines national priorities across vital sectors, places special importance on the role advanced sciences can play in the next chapter of the nation’s growth. The pursuit of science and knowledge is one of the key pillars of any nation’s development. In fact, it is the very foundation of a civilization’s progress.

Our ancestors have left behind enduring marks of their resolve to build a civilization and the challenges they faced in coping with the region’s harsh living conditions. They overcame these challenges against great odds.

The UAE’s founding fathers also lived at a time when resources were scarce and access to modern healthcare and education was virtually non-existent. However, they knew, based on practical experience, that there can be no progress or prosperity without taking intelligent risks. They scoured the desert for sustenance and opportunity, and took on the perils of seafaring to secure better living conditions for their families and communities, overcoming one challenge after the other, until they succeeded in turning this region into a hospitable home for themselves and for generations to come.

Today, following in their footsteps, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, we are set to enter an era of even greater growth and prosperity. 

Since the establishment of our Union, our founding fathers have made human empowerment and development their highest goal. Aware of our nation’s human potential, our founding fathers focused on investing in people. From the early days, they gave great importance to education. Due to their wisdom and vision, scientists, researchers, doctors and engineers today play a major role in the development of the nation’s vital sectors. 

We expect the UAE’s scientific community to play a key role in supporting the government’s development efforts. To ensure sustainable development, our people’s happiness and a bright future for our children, we need to ensure our economy keeps pace with scientific and technical progress. We need to embrace the latest advancements across the globe and localise that knowledge. 

We call on you to explore initiatives that can help shape a new generation of UAE companies and create a great future for our industries. We look forward to new research-based development initiatives in the areas of food and water security, cybersecurity, and alternative energies that can contribute to greater security and sustainability. 

We believe you can play an instrumental role in further improving quality of life and productivity. Among other things, this can be achieved through science and research-based public-policy programmes that build on our successful experiences to enhance the people’s welfare. You also have a major role in forging networks of global cooperation through science-diplomacy initiatives that strengthen international ties and promote greater global understanding.

Aware as we are of the great responsibility on your shoulders, our trust in your potential remains even greater. We have strong faith in you and your capabilities. Your earnest efforts can add significant value both to the development of the nation and your respective scientific fields. 

We look forward to your ideas and initiatives to boost the UAE’s standing in the global scientific community. Achieving this requires continuous communication, consultation, and coordination between all UAE stakeholders so that we can set a clear agenda to support the UAE Centennial 2071 goals and a progress-oriented, knowledge-based economy.

May the Almighty guide you in your endeavours for the greater good of the UAE, its people, and humanity at large.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum