The UAE has a clear vision for the future. Through its 2021 Vision, the country aims at developing its soft power and international standing. In 2021, the UAE wants to be among the top 10 countries in terms of competitiveness in the fields of institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomics, healthcare, basic education, labor market efficiency, innovation and sustainable development; among the top 30 in the Healthcare Quality Index, an indicator that measures the quality of basic and preventive health care; and among the top 10 providers of equal opportunities for citizens and residents to access utmost health and treatment services with a focus on raising awareness about health risks and prevention, by 2021. Also, the UAE is committed to providing a very favorable quality of life in a tolerant context with a rich culture and excellent government services.
The UAE is confident in achieving these ambitious goals while being aware that the challenges are high. However, since the establishment of the Federal State by the late founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the level of progress that the country reached proves nothing is impossible with true will, determination and collaboration between the leaders and the people. The UAE is pursuing a vision with precise steps and objectives. The economic strategy aims to make the country a scientifically advanced, knowledge-based economy that relies on industrialization, scientific research and growth for non-oil sectors. There is even a plan to celebrate the export of the last barrel of oil.
The UAE Council of Scientists was established as a knowledge platform for the promotion of and the conversation around all State-launched initiatives. The purpose is to spur innovation, creativity and scientific research and to build a generation of local scientists.
On a political level, the State has established a specialized national council, the UAE Soft Power Council, to reinforce the country’s strong resources in fields like politics, economy and security.
To promote tolerance, a ministry, the first of its kind in the world, was created with the aim of promoting values of co-existence, dialogue and openness to all cultures of the world. Home to more than 200 nationalities, the UAE scored high in the indicators of cohesion and social stability, according to the 2015 World Bank report.
Hence, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum set to open on November 11 is relevant here. It is not only a tourist-oriented setting, but combines tourism, culture and arts. Sure, this huge achievement will make Abu Dhabi an even more attractive regional tourist destination, but it also has a global cultural dimension. The world-renowned historical museum would constitute a cultural bridge and a channel for communication between the East and the West.
The UAE pioneered in intercultural dialogue. With people of more than 200 nationalities working and living in it, it has succeeded in building a great model of co-existence and became a universal symbol of human tolerance. The country continues to encourage human rapprochement while rejecting the culture of violence, conflict and war making through a strategy to offer alternative solutions that get in the way of organizations of destruction, preventing them from reaching their objectives.
The human model, admired by peace-loving people from all around the world, is in the UAE, the Eastern ‘light capital’ that is also the global center of humanitarianism.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be a landmark not only in relations between the United Arab Emirates and France but between East and West. The timing of the opening is important. The region is about to close the page of terrorism, after the defeat of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and the world needs enormous efforts at cultural and awareness-raising levels to spread high human and civilized values and counter radical and violent ideology that brings about conflict and wars of cultures and of religions.
Culture and education are understandably impenetrable barriers against extremism, terrorism, and violence. In this regard, the UAE is working on parallel tracks. It is taking great part in the military efforts to combat terrorism and eradicate its roots in various areas. At the same time, it promotes cultural, educational and such initiatives.
Louvre Abu Dhabi will add a historical touch to the UAE’s soft power and will have a significant impact on its cultural and global standing, aside from promoting Abu Dhabi as the capital of light, culture, dialogue and coexistence of the East.
