A high-level occasion held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations Normal Meeting (UNGA 80) emphasised the vital position of information instruments and monitoring indices in accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Growth.
Organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Data Basis (MBRF), the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP), and the Everlasting Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, the occasion introduced collectively authorities representatives, information leaders, and strategic companions for a dialogue on the alternatives and challenges going through the Arab world within the context of financial transformation, technological shifts, local weather change, and a quickly increasing youth inhabitants.
The occasion was inaugurated by Their Excellencies Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-Normal and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP; and Mohamed Abushahab, Everlasting Consultant of the UAE to the UN. Of their opening remarks, the audio system emphasised the necessity for revolutionary frameworks and next-generation indices to develop future-ready abilities and advance inclusive and sustainable growth. In addition they urged larger collaboration on the regional and worldwide ranges to make sure nobody is left behind.
His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb acknowledged: “There’s a urgent must change information and experience throughout international locations and establishments. This can definitely empower the Arab area to deal with its rising challenges and seize the immense alternatives for innovation and progress introduced by right now’s technological revolution.”
H.E. added: “Our work at MBRF, in shut collaboration with our strategic companion, UNDP, exhibits that investing in exact information indices and requirements, together with the International Data Index (GKI) and future foresight stories, is essential to serving to governments and policy-makers craft impactful methods for knowledge-based economies. The success of the ‘Future Expertise Academy’ initiative is a testomony to this method, having geared up hundreds of younger Arabs with the important abilities by way of hundreds of academic applications. The initiative not solely fosters a tradition of lifelong studying but additionally enhances the readiness of upcoming generations for a fast-evolving job market. Our partnership with UNDP underscores our shared dedication to remodeling information right into a sensible pillar of growth, empowering our societies to attain sustainable competitiveness globally.”
Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari mentioned: “With simply 5 years remaining till the deadline of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Growth, the Arab area should urgently intensify its efforts to fulfill the targets. We hope this occasion will assist align our collective efforts in direction of reworking information, abilities, and innovation into actionable options for constructing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies. We’re proud to collaborate with our companions to make sure that the views and voices of youth, ladies, and native communities, who are sometimes missed, play a central position in shaping a extra inclusive and equitable future, not just for the Arab area, however globally.”
Mohamed Abushahab commented: “The UAE’s expertise exhibits that investing in individuals, abilities, and information is the important thing to lasting progress and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Growth. Robust international partnerships are important to this effort, which is why we, like UNDP and MBRF, work to assist international locations shut information gaps, empower youth, and design data-driven and revolutionary insurance policies that flip right now’s challenges into alternatives for future generations.”
The occasion targeted on three key themes: highlighting information coverage; capacity-building and future abilities frameworks to speed up the achievement of the Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs); and data-based monitoring programs, developmental indicators, measurement instruments, and reporting. It additionally reviewed the outcomes of the primary section of the Future Expertise Academy, which supported 10,000 Arab residents in enhancing their abilities by way of over 15,000 academic applications, totaling greater than 114,000 hours of studying. As well as, over 13,000 learners throughout the Arab area are presently engaged in creating future-ready abilities, getting ready for an ever-changing job market more and more formed by aggressive abilities somewhat than educational credentials.
The occasion concluded by underscoring the importance of regional possession, highlighting the necessity for information instruments and capacity-building methods to be aligned with native priorities. It known as for larger cross-sectoral integration to foster a extra sustainable and inclusive future for the Arab area and past. As a part of this framework, it was introduced that the tenth version of the ‘Data Summit’ can be held in Dubai on 19-20 November 2025, below the theme ‘Data Markets: Creating Sustainable Communities.’ Marking a decade since its inception, this yr’s Summit reinforces its position as a worldwide platform for dialogue and information change, exploring the significance of information in driving policymaking, shaping the way forward for sustainable growth, and empowering people and communities.