Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, has affirmed that the UAE is confidently advancing towards solidifying its status as one of the most diverse and trusted economies globally. This progress is built upon a visionary leadership approach that balances economic openness, strategic alliances, and the establishment of collaborative bridges with various international powers.
During his address at the session titled “Economies Amid Geostrategic Transformations” at the 2025 World Future Councils meetings in Dubai, he highlighted that trust has become the new currency in today’s global economy. He noted that the UAE has effectively made this value a cornerstone of its international relations, engaging with nations such as the United States, China, the BRICS group, and other global partners.
He elaborated that the UAE aims to create a network of partnerships based on mutual benefits and sustainable development. The nation’s wise leadership has embarked on a path that turns visions into actionable projects in fields such as energy, artificial intelligence, data management, and innovation, ensuring sustained growth for decades to come.
The Minister emphasized that trust is crucial for building future economies and emphasized the UAE’s enhanced presence in the Global South, where it has become one of the largest investors in the African continent, following the United States, China, and Europe. He pointed out that UAE companies like DP World play a vital role in connecting ports and logistics centers across Africa and Asia, with future plans to extend these connections to Latin America, in line with a comprehensive vision to establish an economic bridge stretching from Asia to Africa and then to South America.
He noted that this strategy is not a new initiative for the UAE but rather an extension of its historical approach of building bridges rather than erecting barriers, underlining the belief that cooperation is the quickest route to global development and stability.
Commenting on the performance of regional economies, he explained that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are now positioned advantageously on the global stage concerning growth rates, achieving an average of approximately 5% annual growth over the past five years, compared to growth rates ranging from 1 to 2% in European economies.
This robust growth reflects the success of economic diversification strategies in the region, particularly in the UAE, which has transformed into a major hub for trade, tourism, clean energy, financial services, and innovation. He added that this performance enhances the status of the Gulf as an influential region in shaping the future global economy, especially in connecting Southern economies with emerging markets.
He concluded that the upcoming phase demands a shift in economic thinking from policy levels to project levels, stating that the UAE is spearheading this transition through innovative initiatives and projects that merge technology with sustainable economics, supporting entrepreneurs and startups both regionally and globally.