The UAE marked Eid Al Etihad with significant advances across diplomacy, economic performance, global competitiveness, humanitarian action and technological leadership.
Across 2025, the United Arab Emirates sustained a highly active foreign policy and a central role in supporting global stability. Its diplomatic efforts included attempts to stop the war in Gaza, condemnation of the civil war in Sudan and backing for a civilian-led solution.
UAE Eid al Etihad
The UAE also worked to ease tensions between India and Pakistan, supported de-escalation between Israel and Iran and contributed to building international opposition to the Israeli attack on Qatar.
The UAE served as a platform for dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and continued its mediation between Russia and Ukraine, completing 17 rounds that enabled the exchange of 4,641 prisoners.
It remained a focal point for world leader visits and maintained a strong presence at international summits including G20, BRICS 2025 and COP30.
Economic momentum remained strong, with the UAE emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies globally. According to the International Monetary Fund, growth is expected to reach 4.8 per cent. Non-oil foreign trade totalled AED1.7tn ($462.96bn) in the first half, up 24.5 per cent.
UAE budget
The UAE endorsed its largest federal budget to date for 2026 at AED92.4bn ($25.16bn) and introduced the National Investment Strategy 2031.
By the end of September, banking assets had risen to AED5.199tn ($1.415tn), while credit expanded to AED2.478tn ($674.72bn).
The UAE also launched the “UAE Global Centre of Trade” programme to attract 1,000 international companies.
The tourism sector continued to grow, contributing AED257.3bn ($70.06bn), or 13 per cent, to GDP. Hotels recorded more than 16.1 million guests in the first half of 2025.
A notable milestone was the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Major new developments were announced across the country, including Al Tay Hills in Sharjah, Disney Abu Dhabi and Therme Dubai.
Cultural initiatives advanced with the opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and the ARTE Museum Dubai.
UAE laws
Legislative modernisation progressed with new decrees and laws, including the formation of the National Anti-Narcotics Authority, the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defence and a new Personal Status Law. The UAE also endorsed a smart legislative system supported by artificial intelligence.
Long-term national strategies moved forward in cyber security, talent attraction, zero bureaucracy, national volunteering and the Family Growth Agenda 2031.
Humanitarian leadership remained a defining feature, with the UAE among the world’s largest aid donors at $1.46bn.
The country provided more than AED9.4bn ($2.56bn) in support to Gaza since the start of the crisis until November, transporting over 100,000 tonnes of supplies and evacuating 3,000 injured individuals.
It allocated AED3bn ($816.86m) to Sudan over two years, continued supporting stability in Yemen and extended aid to dozens of crisis-affected nations.
The UAE advanced further in global competitiveness, placing among the world’s top five in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking. It topped the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for the fourth consecutive year and ranked tenth globally in the Global Soft Power Index 2025.
UAE environmental support
Environmental leadership remained a national priority. The UAE launched its first deep-sea exploration mission, advanced plans to expand Abu Dhabi’s nature reserves to 20 per cent and progressed solar, hydrogen and wind energy projects domestically and internationally.
In 2025, the UAE achieved notable progress in artificial intelligence and the digital economy. AI tool usage reached 97 per cent, and the number of programmers surpassed 450,000.
The year saw major developments including the inauguration of the UAE-US AI Campus with a capacity of 5 gigawatts, a UAE-France cooperation framework, the launch of a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence with Google and a $1bn global initiative to support AI projects in Africa.
Infrastructure and urban development also accelerated, driven by projects such as the high-speed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the AED170bn ($46.31bn) national road plan and major upgrades in transport, water and energy. Housing expansions continued across multiple regions.
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