The UAE not only just celebrated its 47th National Day this December, but also the announcement that its passport holds the number 1 spot as the world’s most powerful, offering visa free access to UAE passport holders to 167 travel destinations around the world.
Over the last 10 years, the UAE has become the epicenter of innovation and development within the Arab region and to prolong National Day celebrations, AboutHer.com highlights just 5 of the UAE’s greatest achievements from the past decade.
Dubai Wins the Bid To Host Expo 2020
At the 154th Bureau International des Expositions in 2013, Dubai was announced the winner to host Expo 2020. Defeating rival bids from Turkey's Izmir, Brazil's Sao Paolo and Russia's Yekaterinburg following three rounds of closed voting, the Emirate will become the first Arab and Middle Eastern city to host the Expo in 2020.
The global event is a 100-year-old platform where many of the world’s most important inventions were unveiled and launched.
The Launch of the UAE Space Agency
The UAE established its first Space Agency in 2014, with an objective to launch a probe to Mars. Announcing the exciting project, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai tweeted that the UAE hopes to send the first Arab spaceship to Mars by 2021, signing a deal with NASA in 2016, the country will work together with them to achieve their goals to reach Mars.
Being Proclaimed the Most Generous Country in the World
Having been named the most generous country in the world for 2 years running, the UAE contributed 1.26% of its gross national income to development aid, according to data from the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Arab country was closely followed by Sweden at 1.09 percent and Luxembourg at 1.06 percent.
Appointing a (Female) Minister Of Happiness
Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi
Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi was appointed the UAE’s first ever Minister of Happiness in 2016, and has the responsibility to use her powerful position to promote and sustain happiness and positivity throughout the Arab state.
Launching an Artificial Intelligence Strategy
Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, announced the launch of the UAE’s first ever Artificial Intelligence Strategy in 2017 with the notion to be the first of it’s kind in the world to make the UAE the first in the field of AI investments in various sectors including transport, health, space, renewable energy, water, technology, education, environment, and traffic.
This particular strategy is set to be established under the UAE’s Centennial 2071 plan. Following the launch of this plan, 27-year-old Sultan Al Olama was appointed the world’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence.
