His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” presided over the cabinet meeting, which was held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Today I chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, during which we decided to form a “Drug Control Council” headed by my brother Saif bin Zayed. To contribute with the security institutions in combating this scourge, to provide means of early detection and to strengthen the medical, psychological and rehabilitative treatment mechanisms for the recovered, and to integrate them into society.
His Highness also said, “Drugs are the scourge of this era, the cancer of societies, and an epidemic targeting our dearest possessions, targeting youth. Fighting it is a national duty for every guardian.. and every government and security official.. The solidarity of government and educational agencies, security institutions, and families as one hand is the impenetrable dam in front of whoever wants to.” Evil is upon us and our children.”
His Highness added, “We also approved today, in the Council of Ministers, the National Strategy for Sports 2031, which aims to increase the practice of sports in society to reach 71% of the population, develop the performance of the professional sports elite, discover talented athletes in schools, update the methodology of school physical education, develop sports federations and develop a law.” Sport.. Sport is the best alternative for our youth, and it is the shield for the health of our society, and it is the way to raise the flag of our country in many international forums.”
As His Highness said, “Today, in the Council, we reviewed a set of initiatives to adopt and encourage companies and individuals to use clean energy and green technology and support improving air quality. A working group was assigned to complete a study of regulating carbon emissions in the country before it is practically approved by the Cabinet. Preserving the environment is everyone’s responsibility…and we want economic development that takes into account preserving our environment for future generations.”
Formation of the Anti-Narcotics Council.
In detail, the Council of Ministers approved the formation of the Anti-Narcotics Council, headed by Lieutenant General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, and the membership of a number of agencies. The council will, within its competence, develop an integrated national strategy for drug control, including drug prevention, awareness of its harms, and promotion of early detection of drug abuse. Providing medical treatment and psychological rehabilitation services from addiction, strengthening the mechanisms of social and functional integration for those recovering from it, achieving federal and local institutional integration to combat illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, confronting money laundering crimes, and strengthening the role of ministries and federal and local government agencies concerned with drug control on the principle of responsibility. common.
The Council is also responsible for following up the implementation of plans to combat the importation and smuggling of drugs through the official ports of the country, its land borders and its sea coasts, studying and launching strategic initiatives and innovative projects, in accordance with international best practices, strengthening international cooperation and communication with international agencies and institutions concerned with combating narcotic substances and psychotropic substances, and working to encourage institutions Civil non-governmental community contribution to support anti-drug efforts.
The National Sports Strategy 2031
The Council of Ministers also approved during its meeting the National Strategy for Sports 2031, which is considered the first comprehensive national strategy that organizes frameworks for the development of Emirati sports at the state level in general, which will contribute to increasing the base for practicing community sports in the country, and the base for practicing competitive sports and developing the performance of elite athletes. And work to achieve a balance between sports on the one hand, and culture and education on the other hand, and encourage and support the dissemination of sports ethics and good governance in sports, and contribute to the early discovery of talented school students with high preparations for sports performance and predict what these preparations will lead to in the future.
The strategy aims to adopt an active lifestyle for more than 71% of the population, qualify more than 30 athletes for the Olympic Games, and the contribution of the sports sector to 0.5% of the non-oil GDP, through 17 initiatives that will be implemented in the coming years, with the aim of creating A transformation in the sports system and its governance, and leading a new sports era for the country. The most important initiatives include: the updated school sports education methodology, the framework of collective participation programs, sports competition games in the education sector, discovering sports talents, financing talented athletes, elite athletes, and developing the professional life of athletes. Developing elite and high-level sports, developing the transformation of sports federations, developing the workforce in the sports sector, harmonizing the sector through the Sports Coordinating Council, and developing sports law and rules of conduct for governance.
Energy service company market regulation policy.
On the other hand, during its meeting, the Council approved the policy of regulating the market for energy service companies in the country, which aims to unify work mechanisms, financing mechanisms, and partnership with the private sector. The policy clarifies the contractual framework between all parties and the various mechanisms for contracting. Government projects, with the aim of reducing energy and water consumption in government buildings, contributing to clean energy by 5%, enhancing the sustainability of buildings by approximately 5-10%, and reducing energy demand in the buildings sector by 51% until 2050.
During its session, the Council discussed a number of proposals and initiatives aimed at encouraging companies and individuals to reduce carbon emissions, encourage green technology, stimulate the transition to renewable energy, improve air quality, mitigate the effects of climate change, improve public health, push companies to improve environmental performance, and promote sustainability. economic.
During its meeting, the Council also reviewed the results of a study of activating the federal law regarding the axle weights of vehicles that use paved roads in the country, and determining the maximum total weight of heavy vehicles that use paved roads in the country, and approved the formation of a technical committee to evaluate the effects of application and come up with final recommendations for the weights and dimensions of trucks on the roads. Paved by the state, and the enforcement mechanism in coordination with local authorities.
Enhancing the quality of products and industrial systems in the country.
In the framework of enhancing the quality of products and systems applied in the country, the Council approved during its session a number of technical regulations related to several articles, including the mandatory requirements for non-automatic scales aimed at raising the accuracy of measurements, enhancing their quality and raising consumer confidence, as well as tools for adjusting air quality measurements used in meteorological monitoring and recording mechanisms Environmental monitoring laboratories and networks with the aim of reducing pollution and raising air quality, which will reflect on public health and environmental protection.
The council also approved the technical regulations for legal measurement units with the aim of applying and keeping abreast of best practices and developments in the field of metrology in the industrial sector, trade exchange, scientific research and academic fields, in a way that contributes to raising the competitiveness of national industries.
Approving the name “Emirates Customs”.
And the Council of Ministers approved a decision to adopt the name “UAE Customs / Customs of the United Arab Emirates”, in international participations, whether at the Gulf, regional or global levels, in a way that enhances the customs role of the state in various files such as intellectual property rights, files of laws, legislation and customs procedures and any issues related to work. customs.
Organization of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-33).
As part of the country’s successes in hosting international events and conferences, the Council reviewed developments in organizing the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC- 33), which the country will host from November 20 to December 15, 2023, under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the State. Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. More than 4,000 participants representing delegations from more than 193 countries will participate in the event.
The country has achieved many global achievements in the telecommunications sector, as it ranked first in the world in the mobile phone download speed test index, according to the results of 2022, and the first in the world in the indicators of Internet and telephone competitiveness, the ratio of mobile phone subscriptions per hundred of the population, the rate of Internet use, and the first in the world. In the wireless broadband index and in the Internet usage index, the country also advanced to the 13th place in the world and the first in the Arab world in the digital government development index.
Establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank office in the country.
In international affairs, the Council agreed to ratify an agreement between the government of the country and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank regarding the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank office in the country, as the bank is a multilateral development institution that aims to provide the necessary financial resources to finance infrastructure projects through integration. And cooperation with other institutions, headquartered in the Chinese capital, Beijing, the bank focuses on four main priority axes in financing operations: green infrastructure, connectivity and regional cooperation, technology and enabling infrastructure, and mobilizing private capital.
The Council also agreed to sign an agreement between the Government of the State and the Government of the Solomon Islands regarding air services between and beyond their territories.
Achievements of the Emirates Council for Infrastructure and Housing.
The Council reviewed a number of the achievements of the federal authorities for the year 2022, including a report on the achievements and work of the Emirates Council for Infrastructure and Housing, the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications and Digital Government Sector, the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, and the report of the Emirates Investment Authority. The Council also discussed the recommendations of the Federal National Council regarding Topic: “Government policy regarding the sustainability of electricity and water services”.
