His Highness chairs Cabinet meeting, reviews UAE's results in Global Competitiveness Report 2025. Mohammed bin Rashid: UAE ranks fifth globally alongside top four nations in economic competitiveness, government efficiency, legislative strength, and business environment favorability.

UAE first regionally for ninth consecutive year... and among the top ten globally in 113 indicators.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: I chaired today a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. We reviewed the country's results in the 2025 Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Competitiveness Center. The UAE ranks fifth globally alongside the top four nations in economic competitiveness, government efficiency, legislative strength, and business environment favorability.

• We established a competitiveness center 16 years ago, and unified the efforts of key entities in this file. Thanks to these efforts, the country moved from 28th globally in 2009 to the list of the top five countries in competitiveness. In the same report, the UAE ranked first globally in absence of bureaucracy, second globally in adaptability, and fourth globally in government efficiency... a well-deserved achievement resulting from continuous work. Our future is higher and stronger, God willing, under the vision of my brother Mohammed bin Zayed, may God protect him.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: During today's Cabinet meeting, we approved housing grants for more than 1,838 citizens in the first half of this year, totaling AED 1.2 billion. Support continues to secure decent housing and will remain ongoing to enhance family stability in the UAE.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: We also approved the results and work of the UAE Council for Balanced Development, chaired by Sheikh Dhiyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The council continues to implement projects and build national partnerships to develop the UAE's villages in tourism, development, and social aspects. Its efforts have contributed to providing quality opportunities for families, young talents, and small business owners. The council's message is that no part of the UAE, whether near or far, should be left without benefiting from the immense development momentum our country is witnessing.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: During the Cabinet meeting, we also reviewed the results of using digital identity in government transactions. The number of registered users in the digital identity system 'UAE PASS' has exceeded 11 million, and the national system has witnessed more than 600 million login operations. The shared digital platform for federal government services now connects over 130 government entities and several private sector institutions, enabling more than 2.6 billion digital transactions with efficiency, accuracy, and speed. Our thanks and appreciation to the team behind this successful national system.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: The Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Supreme Committee for Oversight of the National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The committee has achieved remarkable success in previous periods in strengthening strategies and procedures in the field of money laundering and combating terrorism financing at the state level. The committee will continue its work to keep the UAE a global leader in this field, an oasis of security and safety, and an ideal business environment to attract entrepreneurs and businesses across all sectors.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: The Cabinet also approved today a decision to establish the 'National Center for Maritime Navigation' under the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The new center will manage and operate the integrated national maritime system for the maritime surveillance of ship traffic, and oversee the management and operation of the unified national maritime window. It will contribute to enhancing the safety and security of the maritime sector, activating and developing mechanisms to prevent harmful practices, in addition to protecting the marine environment in the country, and developing the sector through important scientific research and maritime studies.

• Mohammed bin Rashid: We also approved today during the meeting the report of the Supreme Committee for Free Trade Negotiations for 2024. Key results include signing and concluding negotiations on 27 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with strategic economies around the world. Of these, 10 agreements have entered into force. We also reviewed ongoing efforts and negotiations to sign another set of agreements with a number of countries. The UAE's free trade negotiation team is a successful team, and its efforts have contributed to achieving record progress in the UAE's foreign trade in a short period.

On the agenda: • Review of the UAE's results in the 2025 Global Competitiveness Report. • Restructuring of the Supreme Committee for Oversight of the National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. • Restructuring of the UAE Council for Climate Action, chaired by Her Excellency the Minister of Climate Change and Environment. • Review of the achievements and work of the UAE Council for Balanced Development 2024. • Review of the achievements of the fourth edition of the 'Make it in the Emirates' platform. • Review of updates on the implementation of the National Framework for the Biodiversity Strategy 2031. • Review of the results of the unemployment insurance system in the country. • Review of the report of the Supreme Committee for Free Trade Negotiations for 2023 and 2024. • Establishment of the 'National Center for Maritime Navigation'. • Ratification of 13 international agreements and protocols, and negotiating and signing 36 international agreements and memoranda of understanding. • Hosting 13 international events, and approval to establish 4 new embassies for the country.

Abu Dhabi, June 17 / WAM / His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai (may God protect him), chaired the Cabinet meeting held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and President of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense; 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: 'I chaired today a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. We reviewed the country's results in the 2025 Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Competitiveness Center. The UAE ranks fifth globally alongside the top four nations in economic competitiveness, government efficiency, legislative strength, and business environment favorability. We established a competitiveness center 16 years ago and unified the efforts of key entities in this file. Thanks to these efforts, the country moved from 28th globally in 2009 to the list of the top five countries in competitiveness. In the same report, the UAE ranked first globally in absence of bureaucracy, second globally in adaptability, and fourth globally in government efficiency... a well-deserved achievement resulting from continuous work. Our future is higher and stronger, God willing, under the vision of my brother Mohammed bin Zayed, may God protect him.'