Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai chaired a UAE Cabinet meeting attended by senior members of government, during which a range of strategies, agreements and national frameworks received approval.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Cabinet approved the National Space Strategy 2031, which positions the UAE as a hub for innovation and investment in the space sector, in line with the UAE Centennial 2071 and We the UAE 2031 visions.
Sheikh Mohammed chairs UAE Cabinet meeting: Space, health and 120 international agreements approved
“I chaired today the Cabinet’s meeting during which we praised the heroic defence spirit of our Armed Forces, the robust national spirit demonstrated by both citizens and residents of the UAE, and the outstanding sense of responsibility proven by all work teams across the UAE. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed… our institutions continue to operate with high efficiency… our Armed Forces with full professionalism … and our private sector is rising to the responsibility… We remain committed to what the President of the UAE has promised the world … that the UAE will safeguard its achievements … and that we will emerge stronger,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in a statement.
“Today, we approved the UAE Space Strategy for the next five years … a sector valued at over AED 44 billion … with more than 170 national, scientific, and economic entities… We have developed and launched 30 satellites … we have an Emirati astronauts programme … a scientific mission to Mars … and a new mission to Venus and the asteroid belt … And we will continue, God willing, to be among the top 10 countries globally in this field within the next five years,” he explained further.
The strategy is built on three objectives: enhancing investment attractiveness, achieving global leadership in partnerships and market access, and developing space infrastructure.
Targets include doubling space economy revenues, ranking among the top 10 global space economies by 2031, doubling national space companies, doubling export markets, doubling infrastructure investments, and doubling UAE-based space startups.
“We also approved today more than 120 international agreements and MoUs across energy, investment, economic, diplomatic, and humanitarian fields… Our global partnerships continue to grow … our international presence expands every day… And our network of international relations, built over decades, remains strong,” he said.
Among those approved were Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Nigeria, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Gabon, as well as investment agreements with Canada, Palau, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Cabinet approved the National Integrative Medicine Strategy, aiming to position the UAE as a reference in healthcare by integrating modern, traditional and complementary medicine, supported by evidence-based practices, research, innovation, talent development and international collaboration.
“Today, we also approved the UAE Integrative Medicine Strategy … to build a comprehensive healthcare system that balances traditional and modern medicine… We approved multiple new international partnerships in advanced technology and innovation,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The strategy is built on seven pillars: governance, service integration, insurance coverage, education and capacity building, research and innovation, growth and collaboration, and community awareness.
It includes 16 initiatives, among them establishing a governance framework, updating legislation, adopting national clinical guidelines, expanding insurance coverage, and establishing a professional association for integrative medicine.
The Cabinet approved the National Healthy Nutrition Strategy 2031, aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles, strengthening preventive nutrition and enhancing regulatory frameworks. The strategy includes 16 initiatives, including a ban on partially hydrogenated oils, regulation of marketing for unhealthy food and beverages, a digital nutrition guide and a national nutrition monitoring system.
It aims to reduce diabetes and obesity rates among adults, limit obesity among school-age children and adolescents, and reduce overweight rates among children under five.
The Cabinet approved the reconstitution of the Emirates Genome Council, to be chaired by H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The Council will oversee governance of the UAE’s genome sector, develop national policies, legislation and regulatory and ethical frameworks, advance genomics and precision medicine, and build national capabilities whilst attracting global expertise.
UAE Labour Market: Record growth in workforce, female participation
The Cabinet reviewed labour market developments for 2025, with the UAE recording a 99 per cent enrolment rate in the Wage Protection System, 83 per cent coverage under unemployment insurance, and 99 per cent compliance with heat stress policies.
Between 2021 and 2025, the UAE recorded 45.76 per cent growth in companies, 101.76 per cent growth in workforce, 49.92 per cent growth in skilled workforce, and 101.92 per cent growth in female participation, ranking first globally in employment growth, specialised talent availability and workforce expansion.
In Emiratisation, 1,130 UAE nationals were employed in banking, 670 in insurance, 562 in exchange and 284 in insurance-related professions during 2025.
The Cabinet reviewed achievements of the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme for the first quarter of 2026. A total of 759 housing approvals were issued, exceeding AED 616 million in value. These comprised 129 housing grants valued at AED 102.9 million, 583 housing loans and financing solutions worth AED 460.5 million, and 47 loans for governmental housing within housing complexes valued at AED 53.2 million.
Since 1999, the programme has issued more than 73,000 housing support decisions exceeding AED 50 billion.
The Cabinet reconstituted the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, the Emirates Food Security Council and the National Committee for Civil Aviation Security and Facilitation. It also reviewed the National Framework for Sustainable Fisheries, under which 19,458 artificial reefs were deployed, 66,173 climate-resilient coral units were installed, and more than 52 million mangrove trees were planted by 2024.
The Community Empowerment Sector’s 2025 achievements were also reviewed, including the launch of an AED 100 million Public Non-Profit Organisations Empowerment Fund, more than 800 public benefit organisations with over 160,000 members, the employment of more than 3,800 beneficiaries beyond social support, the incubation of over 1,000 national projects, and more than AED 100 million in returns generated by home-based Emirati family businesses.
The Cabinet also reviewed the UAE Strategy for Islamic Finance and Halal Industry 2025, including the launch of Fractional Sukuk, regulation of Sharia-compliant digital assets and a blockchain platform for Islamic financial instruments.
“The success of the UAE is built on constants that have not changed … and will not change… Advanced infrastructure… a strong legislative framework … one of the best quality of life standards globally … and a government committed to comprehensive development for its people and all residents on its land… Our foundations remain firm … our journey continues … and we will return stronger, after these exceptional circumstances,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
