Coinciding with the UAE's National Day, the 2nd of December marks the celebration of World Futures Day, which is adopted last year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in an initiative that reflects the global recognition of the UAE as a role model in shaping the future and the leading position it has achieved over the past 50 years.
The World Futures Day aims to raise awareness on the importance of futuristic mindsets adopted by countries to prepare for future opportunities and challenges.
It further seeks to enhance global cooperation in shaping a better tomorrow for future generations.
The UAE is pursuing a journey towards the future, guided by the clear and confident vision of its leadership, embodied in the statement of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who said that
"The UAE is striding towards the future, determined to excel in many fields and to create a bright future,"
and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to develop future readiness in government work and turning it into a catalyst for developing proactive solutions and inventing the necessary tools to make sure the future start today.
The launch of the "We the UAE 2031" vision during the UAE Government Annual Meetings further pinpoints these directions, shaping the progress of the UAE towards a more accomplished future, in which all government entities and institutions cooperate within a unified ecosystem.
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and The Future, stated that under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and the vision and directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the UAE managed to transform the approach of design and making the future to an established culture and integrated work ecosystem centred around the theme “the future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it”.
She added that the World Futures Day, which coincides with the UAE's celebration of its National Day, embodies the UAE's belief that shaping the future is a global mission that relies on the integrated efforts to shape a better future and create opportunities for the current and future generations.
Al Roumi highlighted that the UAE has transformed the vision of shaping the future into a set of opportunities and daily lifestyle in which everyone participates and enjoys the positive outcomes in all fields.
She stressed that this approach has secured the UAE’s position as a leading model in readiness and proactivity, and a major contributor to making a better future.
The UAE vision "We the UAE 2031" is a national-integrated programme for shaping the future of the UAE within the next decade and over the next 50, towards the UAE Centennial 2071.
It focuses on four main pillars that cover all sectors and fields, including the economy, society, ecosystem and diplomacy, seeking to enhance the position of the UAE as a global partner and an attractive and influential economic hub.
Furthermore, it aims to highlight the successful economic model of the UAE and the opportunities it provides to all global partners.
UNESCO's Adoption of 2nd December as the World Futures Day aims to improve long-term resilience through futures and anticipatory approaches, including strategic foresight, promoting future readiness and proactive policymaking to achieve sustainable development for future generations.
The adoption of the World Futures Day came unanimously within the outcomes of the 41st session of the UNESCO, which was held in November 2021 in Paris. It reflects the UNESCO’s efforts to promote countries’ readiness for the future, develop new tools to enhance the global efforts aiming to raise awareness on the importance of future readiness, and enable countries to leverage these tools to shape the future and develop new solutions that drive development and promote international efforts to embrace innovation.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
