The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the National Policy for Economic Clusters, aimed at developing clusters of industries, services, and institutions with shared characteristics across the UAE, while leveraging the unique strengths of each emirate.
During the UAE cabinet meeting held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also approved the agenda for the UAE Government’s Annual Meetings, which will be held on November in Abu Dhabi.
Economic Clusters Policy
The UAE Cabinet’s first decision was the approval of the National Policy for Economic Clusters, a framework to create interconnected industries, services, and institutions across the UAE. The policy is expected to add more than $8.16 billion (AED 30 billion) annually to the national GDP and strengthen access to global markets, positioning the UAE as a competitive hub for innovation and advanced sectors.
The clusters will focus on financial services, tourism, hospitality, space, communications, food industries, and data analytics, harnessing the comparative strengths of each emirate. The initiative is also projected to boost foreign trade by $4.08 billion (AED 15 billion) within seven years.
National agenda for annual meetings
The UAE Cabinet also approved the agenda for the UAE Government Annual Meetings, to be held in Abu Dhabi on November 4–6, 2025, with the participation of over 500 government officials. The discussions will focus on education, healthcare, economy, family and national identity, and artificial intelligence.
Genomics and healthcare development
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed confirmed that, “The Cabinet reviewed the progress report of the UAE Genomics Council, which has successfully launched the premarital medical screening program. The Council now has more than 8,500 trainees and over 750,000 participants in the National Genome Program. Its work is central to advancing the healthcare system and protecting future generations from preventable diseases.”
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The UAE Cabinet further reviewed the 2024 Annual Report of the Emirates Genome Council, which highlighted milestones including the launch of the Genetic Testing Program as part of premarital screenings, the ‘100,000 Genomes for Humanity’ initiative, and the completion of the UAE Reference Genome study.
Environment and sustainability
The Cabinet gave nod for the updated National Plan for Reducing Aviation Sector Emissions, in line with the UAE’s global climate commitments. It also reviewed the outcomes of the National Environmental Policy, with a strong focus on biodiversity and sustainability. Further assessments covered the National Green Agenda updated in 2023, the National Sustainable Agriculture Program, the ‘Plant the Emirates‘ campaign, and the National Air Quality Agenda 2031.
These initiatives collectively aim to improve air quality, reduce emissions, and strengthen collaboration between federal agencies, local governments and the private sector.
Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure
A comprehensive national framework for cybersecurity was approved by the UAE Cabinet, strengthening the UAE’s digital infrastructure with measures for improved risk management, workforce readiness, system resilience, and advanced mechanisms for monitoring and rapid response. These policies align with international practices and reflect the UAE’s aim to secure its technological systems against evolving cyber threats.
National reports and education
The UAE Cabinet reviewed several key national reports, including the performance results of the Emirates Investment Authority for the first quarter of 2025, the Federal Government Financial Statistics for 2024, and the semi-annual Emiratization report in banking, finance and insurance. In addition, the Annual Government Digital Transformation Report 2024 was discussed, highlighting progress in digital service delivery.
The UAE Cabinet also noted the readiness of public schools for the 2025–2026 academic year, with 283,920 students now enrolled. Reports also covered national initiatives such as the Traditional Crafts Pavilion at the ‘Make it in the Emirates Forum 2025‘, the Ramadan Market initiative, and the Comprehensive Smart Healthcare Initiative 2024.
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Reconstituted councils and boards
HH Sheikh Mohammed stated that, “The Cabinet further approved the reconstitution of the Board of Trustees of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, the UAE Council for Digital Economy, and the UAE Entrepreneurship Council. It ratified 85 international agreements across multiple sectors and approved the hosting of 12 specialized international events supported by the UAE Government.”
The Board of Trustees of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy was reconstituted for a new three-year mandate under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The UAE Cabinet also approved restructuring of other bodies, including the UAE Digital Economy Council, chaired by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, chaired by Abdullah Sultan Al Nuaimi, and the Industry Development Council, chaired by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber.
Legislative Affairs
The Cabinet approved the Regulatory Framework for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, executive regulations for Consumer Protection Law No. 15 of 2020, safety standards for industrial gas facilities, VAT reverse-charge on scrap metal, and enhanced tax information exchange. Amendments were also passed to regulate services of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, and the Federal Youth Authority.
International agreements and events
The UAE Cabinet approved the ratification and signing of 76 international agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering investment, trade, aviation, digital cooperation, food security, financial services, and AI applications. In addition, the UAE will host 12 major international and regional events, including the World Maritime Day 2025 Parallel Event and the International Conference on AI in Sports.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid concluded his words at the UAE cabinet meeting by affirming that all national teams are moving forward with their plans as envisioned, noting that performance indicators reflect the success of their efforts. He emphasized that every sector of the UAE’s economy is advancing in alignment with the vision set by the President of the UAE.
Also in attendance were His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; HH Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; and HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
