Country Profile
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2013
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Over the past 40 years, Abu Dhabi has grown into a major economic power in the Middle East. A series of ambitious long-term development policies have transformed the emirate, turning it into a regional economic, political and cultural heavyweight. The country profile includes information about Abu Dhabi’s geography, climate, population and political system. This chapter features an interview with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Vice-Chairman, Abu Dhabi Executive Council; and an interview with Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Republic of Korea. There are also viewpoints with David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister; and Janet Napolitano, US Secretary of Homeland Security.
Articles from this Chapter
A time of change: Hydrocarbons revenues and long-term planning support development in a number of key areas
Eye on the long term: Development plans move forward at home, while trade helps to forge links with leading economies abroadOBGplus
With a substantial percentage of the world’s oil reserves and a reputation for careful economic and political oversight, Abu Dhabi has become a major regional player in recent years. In 2011 and 2012, despite ongoing political instability in the Middle East and concerns about long-term financial volatility in many Western markets, the emirate’s status continued to grow. This is largely the result of a series of ambitious development initiatives put in place since 1958, when oil was first…
OBG talks to Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Vice-Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive CouncilOBGplus
Interview: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan How has economic policy been changed as a result of the global financial crisis? Have the targets of Economic Vision 2030 been revised? SHEIKH HAZZA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN: Since 2008 the global economy has been under severe pressure, and this has been compounded by unsettled geopolitical events across the Middle East. The banking crisis has evolved into a sovereign debt crisis which caused widespread damage to the global financial system. Political actors…
Government gone green: The emirate’s environmental policies have had a positive impactOBGplus
At a panel discussion on the occasion of World Environment Day (WED) in June 2012, Richard Perry, the executive director of environmental information, science and outreach at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), spoke of the emirate’s ambitious environmental development plans. “Due to the demands of an ever-increasing population, resource availability is diminishing,” he said. “We need to become more careful in our use of resources. But do we have sufficient time to make these…
Striking a balance: Preserving local traditions and history while developing new cultural and educational resourcesOBGplus
Like most of the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s population is largely made up of expatriate employees and foreign workers. As of 2011, the most recent year for which full statistics are available, non-nationals accounted for 80% of the emirate’s total population, according to the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD). While this number has grown slightly since the UAE achieved independence in 1971 – from around 74% in 1975, for example, to 76% in 1995 – in general it has remained fairly consistent,…
OBG talks to Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of KoreaOBGplus
Interview: Kim Sung-hwan Where do you anticipate greater bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the UAE? KIM SUNG-HWAN: Having established diplomatic relations in 1980, in 2009 South Korea and the UAE upgraded our relations to a strategic partnership, which has allowed both nations to forge stronger bonds of cooperation. In 2011, bilateral trade volume totalled $22bn, making the UAE our 11th-largest trading partner. Furthermore, bilateral investment has more than doubled from $116m in 2010…
OBG talks to Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of KoreaOBGplus
Interview: Kim Sung-hwan Where do you anticipate greater bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the UAE? KIM SUNG-HWAN: Having established diplomatic relations in 1980, in 2009 South Korea and the UAE upgraded our relations to a strategic partnership, which has allowed both nations to forge stronger bonds of cooperation. In 2011, bilateral trade volume totalled $22bn, making the UAE our 11th-largest trading partner. Furthermore, bilateral investment has more than doubled from $116m in 2010…
Janet Napolitano, US Secretary of Homeland Security, on partnering to promote growthOBGplus
The US and UAE enjoy a close relationship built on a shared commitment to security and continued economic growth between and within our countries. As a central aspect of this relationship, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – together with our other US federal partners – work closely on matters of mutual concern with Abu Dhabi and the UAE government, and with multilateral and non-governmental organisations and private sector partners. The US and the UAE have strong commercial links, with…
Joining the nuclear family: Plans to develop a civilian programme are well under wayOBGplus
As the home of the federal seat and the location of the great majority of the UAE’s oil reserves, Abu Dhabi has played a key role in developing the country’s reputation as a major political and economic player. While trade and other economic ties have been central to the UAE’s foreign policy for years, over the past decade energy policy, in particular, has become a cornerstone of the government’s diplomatic efforts. In 2008 the government published a policy for the evaluation and…
Patents pending: A new initiative aims to encourage innovationOBGplus
In late January 2012 the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) launched a new initiative with the goal of stoking innovation and knowledge-based economic development. Known as Takamul – which means “integration” in Arabic – the programme offers financial support and legal guidance to local start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other technology-based research and development (R&D) organisations. The first phase, which is currently under way, is meant to boost the number of…
