The Economic Integration Committee convened its fourth meeting for the year 2025, chaired by Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari, the Minister of Economy. The meeting also included the presence of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, along with the directors general of the local economic development departments from across the Emirates. The committee reviewed the positive outcomes achieved by the national economy in 2024, highlighting its role in enhancing economic diversification and the competitiveness of the business and investment environment in the nation. Additionally, the committee discussed its report on the follow-up recommendations from its third meeting of this year.
Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari emphasized that, thanks to the visionary leadership’s foresight, the UAE economy continues to show exceptional growth across various sectors. The non-oil GDP has grown by 5%, reaching a value of 1.342 trillion dirhams, with the contributions of non-oil sectors to the nation’s GDP now at 75.5%. This underscores the success of the economic diversification policies implemented by the country and its adaptability to the rapid changes in the global economy.
He stated, “The efforts of the committee and the economic development departments across the seven Emirates have played a crucial role in achieving these outstanding results and in bolstering the country’s economic competitiveness both regionally and globally. We are committed to continuing our collaborative national efforts to develop additional economic regulations and legislation aimed at enhancing the business environment in the UAE, ensuring that we maintain our position as a leader globally in creating proactive laws for emerging economic sectors by the next decade, in line with the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.”
The meeting also discussed updates on collaborative plans between federal and local entities to develop several economic legislations and their importance in the nation’s vision for transitioning to a new economic model based on knowledge and innovation. This is aimed at achieving significant advancements in economic competitiveness and the attractiveness of the business environment.
Furthermore, the committee examined the progress of the mutual evaluation of the country regarding its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, recognized as a fundamental driver for enhancing the national economy’s reputation regionally and globally. This evaluation aims to identify risks, strengthen policies, ensure compliance with international standards, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency for the international community and local business entities. The operational plan for company registrars was also reviewed, showcasing the collaborative efforts between federal and local governmental bodies.