At the beginning of September, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, pleasantly surprised the residents of Dubai with “The Letter of the New Season”, on his twitter page.
In that message he outlined six main objectives for the coming period, among which he mentioned that the right place for government officials, ministers and leaders is the “field”. He stressed their need to be among students and teachers and in the markets, among traders and investors. He also mentioned foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and any attempt to tarnish the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE’s founding father, would not be tolerated.
The letter highlighted that Emiratization was a top priority, and so was the growth of the UAE’s economy, and one of the ways that could be done was for real estate projects to “adjust their pace” and provide added value to society. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided, Sheikh Mohammad said and he promised that the future would only be bigger and better.
Positive Sentiment
This hugely motivational letter was not just a welcome back message to a Dubai getting ready to face a busy season after a long and slow summer. It clearly brought in some positive sentiment. To me, it was also a wakeup call for every member of society to do his or her bit to take the country forward into the next year, when the country hosts Expo 2020 Dubai. How can we be ready to showcase new innovations, celebrate diversity and tolerance, or make headlines as a young forward thinking country, if we don’t take our responsibilities seriously?
Sheikh Mohammad’s letter is a roadmap articulating the journey of the next few years. Dubai is a city of over 190 nationalities and the emirate is setting benchmarks through continuous innovation, making the happiness of its residents an integral part of its success. To empower this vision further, we need the courage to face facts, review strategies and move ahead with confidence.
First Steps
Soon after the letter, I came across the formation of a committee headed by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, which will draft a framework to implement the changes described by Sheikh Mohammed in his letter. I applaud this as only a good team can help translate vision into visible change.
The committee will submit a 100-day plan to Sheikh Mohammed for improving the performance of government and private institutions, reinforce the country’s economic and community performance, and ensure that its citizens are happy.
The first steps have already been taken as the cabinet has directed the National Media Council to control social media sites and establish strict standards to defend the UAE and enhance its stature regionally and internationally. In my opinion, every resident of the UAE has a responsibility to protect the image of the country. Hate speech and discrimination should be replaced by raising awareness about this wonderful country and spreading knowledge and credible information.
Emiratization Drive
I also feel there should be an equally strong strategy dedicated to Emiratization and how efforts can be directed to that end. Should there be more schools that have a focus on STEM and technology so that UAE’s future generations can get into fields such as AI, Virtual reality and coding? Should it be mandatory for organizations to train the new generation of Emirati workforce with new skill sets?
“We have noticed growing complaints with regard to Emiratization and we do hear it… providing jobs for Emiratis was and will remain a top priority… we will hold accountable those negligent — and there will be new decisions as well,” Sheikh Mohammed said in his letter.
Over the years, we have seen the local population contribute immensely across various sectors. In banking, they have received training that makes them more employable. Inclusion is the key to success for this strategy, and for UAE’s local population to be empowered.
Customer is King
A crucial way to enhance the happiness of Dubai’s residents is the need to listen to customer complaints more willingly and meet their frustrations and worries with respect. If authorities have the willingness to solve people centric issues, businesses and institutions too need to augment that approach with a willingness to create more positive customer experiences. Addressing the basic elements that translate into making a society more progressive, livable, optimistic and happy is not a matter of legislation and government initiatives, it requires the active participation of residents, businesses and the institutions that provide social leadership.
Real Estate and Sustainability
My final thoughts, in response to Sheikh Mohammed’s call for action, relate to his mention of Dubai’s real estate industry. In order to bolster the country’s economy over the long term, I strongly feel that there needs to be sustainability in this sector. Real Estate is one of UAE’s key pillars of growth and in the last couple of years it has suffered from softening prices and oversupply. I am hopeful that the higher committee can regulate and achieve an improved balance of supply and demand in real estate.
The government now needs a medium to long-term master plan with an objective of making the city economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Such a policy document will give developers and investors certainty on the future, and create a transparent roadmap to guide the market.
