Emiratisation is a “priority of the new season” according to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, following the creation of a committee by the UAE Cabinet to take forward his directives.
Statistics show that last year, just 0.5 percent of the private sector workforce were Emiratis, and 60 percent of the public sector.
The Cabinet has agreed to organise another meeting to discuss the issue of Emiratisation.
The newly formed committee will also submit a 100-day plan to Sheikh Mohammed for improving the performance of government and private institutions in the UAE, to reinforce the country’s economic and community performance, and ensure that its citizens are happy.
HH Sheikh Mohammed said: “Our dreams are in the skies, but our feet are on the ground. We are aware of the real challenges facing our key sectors and government to achieve prosperity and dignified lives for our citizens. That is what the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan taught us. I have trust in you, as you are capable of assuming this responsibility. We are monitoring the performance reports of officials, and everyone will be held accountable.”
Social media
The UAE Cabinet has directed the National Media Council (NMC) to “control social media sites” and establish strict standards “to defend the UAE and enhance its stature regionally and internationally”.
It also directed the Government Communication Office of General Secretariat of the Cabinet to monitor live news and social media feeds, and ensure that all federal authorities respond to enquiries and grievances of citizens.
The committee was formed during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday at Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and H.H Sheikh Mansour.
The meeting approved a range of federal decisions and laws related to the health sector to support public health and provide world-class healthcare services.
Promote public health
As part of the meeting’s agenda, the cabinet also adopted a policy related to nutritional value labels on products, which aims to promote public health and encourage people to choose healthy foods. As a result, information on sugar, salt and fat contents, as well as calories, must be included on food labels.
Food products will be categorised as one of three colours, red, yellow and green, to clearly distinguish their nutritional values. However, this system will exclude fresh produce, such as fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, as well as soft drinks and energy drinks.
The cabinet then adopted the ‘National Policy for Communicable Disease Control’ that aims to assist sick people and promote community health, to create a healthy environment without communicable diseases. The policy will also support the country’s efforts to keep pace with the latest developments in combatting communicable diseases through an integrated health approach that involves many sectors.
Regarding international relations, the Cabinet approved a number of agreements, which included one between the UAE Government and Mali and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on economic and technical cooperation.
It also approved a protocol to amend an agreement between the UAE Government and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion on income and real estate.
A similar agreement was approved with South Sudan on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion on income and another agreement on investment.
An agreement with Brazil on cooperation and facilitation of investment was also approved.
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