The UAE participates in the 117th session of the Arab Economic and Social Council in Cairo
Cairo, February 5, 2017 – His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, headed the state delegation participating in the work of the 117th regular session of the Arab Economic and Social Council, which was held today at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo, in the presence of His Excellency Jumaa Mohammed Al Kait, Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Tourism, His Excellency Mohammed Saleh Shalwah Al Tunaiji, Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Tourism for League of Arab States Affairs, and a group of ministers and officials from Arab countries. Share.
The meeting discussed enhancing joint Arab cooperation in the economic and social fields, developing sustainable development plans, and coordinating efforts in priority files at the regional and international levels, in a way that supports Arab economic and social integration.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri stressed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, is keen to actively contribute to the formulation and implementation of economic and social initiatives that enhance the integration of Arab economies, noting that the meeting represents an important platform for exchanging dialogue and experiences, unifying efforts between Arab countries, and creating new initiatives and projects that promote sustainable economic and social development.
His Excellency noted that the topics on the Council’s agenda are in line with the region’s priorities in light of the regional and international economic and geopolitical changes, especially in the areas of developing small and medium enterprises, developing the business and investment environment, supporting digital transformation, and economically empowering youth and women.
His Excellency reviewed a number of pioneering Emirati initiatives that would support economic and social development paths at the Arab level, the most prominent of which is the “Arab Observatory for Women’s Economic Development,” which provides a unified platform to enhance women’s participation in the economy and develop their leadership and professional capabilities, in addition to the “Arab Reading Challenge” initiative, the “Arab Children’s Parliament” initiative, and the “Hope Makers” initiative.
His Excellency touched on a number of economic achievements achieved by the UAE, including reaching seventh place globally in terms of economic strength and stability within the Global Soft Power Index for the year 2025, and the UAE markets receiving approximately 250,000 new companies during the past year, and the non-oil gross domestic product achieved a growth of 5.7% during the first half of the year 2025.
His Excellency pointed out the importance of focusing on artificial intelligence in the Council’s upcoming work as one of the priority sectors, highlighting the pioneering UAE experience in this vital field after the percentage of use of artificial intelligence tools in the country reached about 97%, which is one of the highest percentages in the world.
In detail, the Council discussed the joint Arab economic action program for the next stage, which includes removing customs barriers, completing the requirements of the Arab Customs Union, activating the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, in addition to developing transportation networks and logistical connectivity between Arab countries.
The program also included enhancing intra-investment, supporting small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship activities, and implementing joint initiatives to promote digital transformation and economic innovation.
On the social level, the Council reviewed a number of initiatives aimed at supporting public health, expanding the scope of education and developing future skills, and enhancing cultural and media cooperation between member states.
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