Year of preparation for the Next 50

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced 2020 to be the year of preparation for the next 50 years. Themed “2020: Towards the next 50”, the year will witness the launch of the largest national strategy to prepare the UAE for the next 50 years and its Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021. Federal and local government will coordinate, along with individuals from all segments of the society, to participate in shaping life in the UAE over the next 50 years. Their Highnesses also announced the formation of two committees to achieve the goals of “2020: Towards the next 50”. The first committee, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs as his deputy, is tasked with developing a comprehensive development plan for the next 50 years.

The second committee, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as his deputy, will oversee preparations for the Golden Jubilee. The 50-year Development Plan Committee is charged with preparing a comprehensive plan for development in the UAE, developing the government administrative system to make the UAE the fastest and most flexible and adaptable government to future changes, and engaging all segments of the society in shaping life in the UAE over the next 50 years. The Committee’s tasks also include drawing a new economic map for the UAE and developing projects and policies to make giant leaps in the national economy. It will also work on cementing the soft power of the UAE and establishing media systems to share the UAE story with the world, bringing economic and social returns that enhance opportunities in the new economy. It shall further review the federal local coordination system and set new mechanisms and systems to achieve integration in all sectors. Among the Committee’s responsibilities is developing vital sectors including health, education, housing, transport and food security across the UAE to increase future readiness. It will also develop a comprehensive vision for the UAE society over the next 50 years that adapts demographics, family life and cultural identity to a rapidly-changing world.

It will set a new system to consolidate the UAE’s global impact, especially in the humanitarian and environmental fields, enhance cooperation efforts with international organizations, and foster the values of productivity and passion for progress to prepare the new generation for the aspirations of the country in the next 50 years. The launch of "2020: Towards the next 50" comes at a turning point in the UAE history, as it prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its union in December 2021. The UAE’s Golden Jubilee marks a major milestone that calls for revamping the country’s development model. Institutional efforts across the UAE will be coordinated, and innovative expertise, talents and capabilities will be harnessed to design new systems for the next 50 years. A social vision will be developed to ensure engaging the whole society in shaping the future of the UAE to become the most advanced country that embraces the best wellbeing strategies worldwide. 

The year of preparation for the next fifty requires community collaboration to advance our development drive and its sustainability, and fulfill our aspirations to a better future for our UAE.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces

We want to develop our plans, our projects, our way of thinking. Fifty years ago, UAE founders designed our lives today… Today, we want to design the next fifty years for the new generations.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced 2020 to be the year of preparations for the next 50 years. The announcement marks the formulation of the largest national strategy of its kind to prepare for the next 50 years on both federal and local levels. It also marks the preparations for the UAE Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021, where citizens and residents, government and private sector entities, to take part in formulating life in the UAE in the next 50 years.