The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), the first research and teaching institution focusing on governance and public policy in the Arab world, has launched a book titled “Public Policies in the United Arab Emirates”, which sheds light on the UAE’s pioneering experience in public policy.

The launch took place in a ceremony held at MBRSG and attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi; His Excellency Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, MBRSG’s Executive President; H.E. Dr Rafia Obaid Ghabash, Founder and Director of the Women’s Museum in Dubai; and several faculty members, academics, experts, and media representatives.

The book is a significant addition to the extensive research series by the Academy of International Business – MENA Chapter, which is being developed in collaboration with MBRSG. It constitutes a rich addition to public policy curricula across the region – and the UAE, in particular – helping decision makers and academics to understand the UAE’s policies and its global developmental role.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri said: “The UAE is the country of the future; its public policies seek to establish the principles of sustainability, development, and the happiness of the community” H.E. Al Marri asserted, noting that the country’s wise leadership strives, through Government policies, to empower individuals across all sectors.

“Over the course of the past four years, we have been working to document and develop public policies. We have great aspirations and plans for the future of this vital sector and look forward to using its applications inside and outside the UAE as a key element of MBRSG’s journey. With that in mind, we launched several programmes to support government officials and employees and provide them with the necessary tools, expertise and know-how to enhance the performance of their respective entities,” H.E. Al Marri said.

“The initiatives and events launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government presented interactive platforms bringing together experts, decision makers, policymakers and enthusiasts,” H.E. continued, citing the UAE Public Policy Forum and the Policy Councils, in addition to academic research papers and publications such as Dubai policy review. “The new book is a significant step towards documenting the UAE’s pioneering experience in public policies, and presenting it from an academic and scientific standpoint,” H.E. concluded.

“Public Policies in the United Arab Emirates” was written by Amal Anwar Al Sisi, Lama Zaqzaq, Reese Roland Jones, and Mohammed Issa Al Ansari, associate researchers at MBRSG, and in collaboration with Prof Raed Awamleh, Dean of MBRSG; Dr Immanuel Azaad Moonesar and Dr Melodena Stephens Balakrishnan, Associate Professors at MBRSG.

The book is divided into six sections: Government Leadership, National Competitiveness, Sustainable Social Development, Developing National Human Capital, Entrepreneurship, and Government Systems. It offers an overview of the innovative ideas behind the region’s top companies and projects; it explores topics, such as government leadership, national competitiveness, social development, sustainability, national human resources development, entrepreneurship and government systems. Furthermore, the book offers insight into thought leaders’ views on the topics of tolerance, the country’s reputation, the space sector, health policies, social welfare, education, technology, and the tax system, presenting the differing views of its various authors.

The event included a panel discussion by Fadi Salem, Director of Research and Advisory at MBRSG; Samira Al Rayes, Director of Policies and Strategies for Sustainable Development at the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council; and Shama Lootah, Director of Awareness and Capacity Building at DEWA’s Corporate Excellence Department; in addition to Lama Zaqzaq, Associate Researcher at MBRSG, Associate Editor for the book’s Arabic edition.

Participants at the session shed light on the policymaking process in Dubai, which takes place along several stages before, during and after the policy setting, launch and adoption. The process begins with identifying the challenge that requires a solution, before moving on to the policy setting phase, and concluding with the policy evaluation phase, which includes setting indexes to evaluate it later.