The United Arab Emirates is actively reshaping its economic landscape, placing the New Economy at the forefront of its sustainable growth strategy. This shift relies heavily on innovation, advanced technologies, and a knowledge-based approach, aiming to diversify the nation’s economic foundations and elevate its competitiveness across various sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, the green economy, and advanced industries. This ambition isn’t merely aspirational; it’s a carefully constructed roadmap for the future.
الإمارات تتجه نحو اقتصاد المستقبل: رؤية “نحن الإمارات 2031”
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, recently affirmed that the UAE is transitioning from a knowledge and innovation-based economy to a fully-fledged New Economy. He emphasized that this evolution is central to the “We the UAE 2031” vision, designed to position the country as a global hub for the New Economy by the next decade. The vision isn’t just about technological advancement, it’s about a holistic overhaul of the economic model to foster resilience and long-term prosperity. This strategic move recognizes the limitations of traditional economic models and the immense potential of emerging sectors.
تمكين قطاعات الاقتصاد الجديد: مبادرات وحوافز مستمرة
The Ministry’s initiatives, partnerships, and projects are instrumental in empowering and nurturing the sectors comprising the New Economy. These areas encompass a broad spectrum, including advanced technology, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, e-commerce, renewable energy, the circular economy, green technologies, digital media and arts, financial technology, and smart transportation. Consequently, the number of companies and commercial licenses operating within these sectors reached a noteworthy 56,000 by the first half of 2025, demonstrating the tangible impact of these efforts. The growth signals a thriving ecosystem capable of attracting investment and driving innovation.
تشريعات وسياسات داعمة للتحول الاقتصادي
To accelerate this transformation, the UAE has proactively developed and implemented a comprehensive set of legislative and policy frameworks in collaboration with both public and private sector partners. A total of 10 policies and laws have been issued or updated, with key examples including the law governing e-commerce, the law for regulating and protecting industrial property rights, the copyright law, and the Commercial Transactions Law. These legal adjustments create a more favorable business environment for companies operating within the New Economy and provide clarity on emerging challenges. This focus on regulatory agility is a critical component in maintaining the UAE’s competitive edge.
التجمعات الاقتصادية: محرك للنمو المستدام
The national policy for economic clusters is a major driver in boosting the contribution of the New Economy to the UAE’s GDP. Currently, the Ministry is collaborating with stakeholders to develop a food economic cluster, integrating agricultural production, food industries, and modern agricultural technologies into a cohesive system based on cooperation and integration. This cluster approach, mirroring successful models globally, aims to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and foster innovation within the food sector.
This integrated system intends to amplify the sector’s contribution to national GDP and bolster the competitiveness and empowerment of private sector businesses operating within it. The number of national and international brands registered and active in this field reached 40,486 by the first half of 2025, a testament to growing investor confidence.
نحو اقتصاد دائري: سياسات ومبادرات رائدة
The UAE’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the ongoing work of the Emirates Council for the Circular Economy. They are currently finalizing the second package of policies to bolster the nation’s shift towards a circular economic model. These policies focus on establishing a national roadmap for green infrastructure, promoting circular water management in industries, developing national guidelines for designing multi-material products, improving logistics and reverse supply chains, and supporting impactful projects that reduce waste generation. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the circular economy, aligning with the objectives of the “UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031”.
Furthermore, 22 circular economy policies have already been adopted and implemented across various domains, focusing on optimized waste management and enhanced recycling infrastructure. This includes measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the development of source separation systems for households, commercial entities, and institutions, and the creation of a national database for materials and waste. Efforts also extend to regulating resource flows between Emirates to support investments in recycling facilities and prevent plastic leakage.
رؤية الإمارات الطموحة للاقتصاد الجديد وريادتها العالمية
The New Economy embodies the UAE’s national vision of building a resilient, diversified economy driven by innovation and reliant on national competencies while attracting quality investments. This is supported by a suite of government policies, initiatives, flexible legislation, and advanced infrastructure. This holistic ecosystem solidifies the UAE’s position as a global center for business and innovation, bolstering its readiness for the evolving global economic landscape and the demands of the future – furthering concepts like sustainable development and economic diversification.
Policies also address reducing food loss and waste, promoting sustainable agricultural resource management, increasing the use of recycled content in consumer goods, regulating end-of-life tires and biodiesel, developing infrastructure for electric vehicles, unifying charging systems, supporting sustainable aviation fuel, and improving operational leasing regulations and waste oil management.
In conclusion, the UAE’s commitment to the New Economy isn’t just a strategic shift – it’s a fundamental transformation. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and enacting progressive policies, the nation is positioning itself for sustained economic growth, global leadership, and a more sustainable future. Stay informed about the latest developments in the UAE’s economic transformation by following official channels and exploring opportunities within these dynamic sectors. This will allow stakeholders to fully participate in and benefit from the exciting new chapter in the UAE’s economic story.
