The key facts
- Al Gergawi: if the UAE were set back by one year, the country would move 20 years ahead
- Projects worth more than 4 trillion dirhams (about $1.09 trillion) are underway in the emirates
- 500 senior officials are assessing priorities under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
A course toward acceleration
The UAE will respond to any attempt to slow down its development: if the country were set back by one year, it would work harder and move 20 years ahead, said Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi at the opening of the annual government meetings (UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026) in Dubai on Monday, reports The National. According to him, projects worth more than 4 trillion dirhams — about $1.09 trillion — are currently underway in the emirates.
What the meetings are discussing
The annual meetings, chaired by Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, bring together 500 senior government officials to assess progress, national priorities and plan for the future. Al Gergawi noted that the government has received a clear mandate from President Sheikh Mohamed: to build a stronger society and a sustainable economy, speed up decision-making and improve government services.
Trust and cohesion
The minister stressed the importance of public trust, social cohesion and shared responsibility for the country's achievements, calling them the factors that set the UAE apart. According to him, the leadership's ultimate ambition is to make the UAE the best country in the world, and responsibility for this is shared by both government institutions and society. He also cited economic resilience and the ability to make decisions quickly as the foundation of the country's ambitions.
Context of the week
The statements came a few days after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid revealed the UAE government service ratings: one of the centres — the traffic centre in Fujairah — received the highest seven-star rating, as the same outlet previously reported. This shows that the quality of government services, which Al Gergawi spoke about, is already being measured by concrete ratings rather than remaining a mere declaration.
