Follow live coverage of the Dubai Government Summit from Gulf News reporters at Madinat Jumeirah. Updates will appear below...
Dubai: Terrorist ideology and falling oil prices are two main challenges facing the UAE, Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, told the Government Summit in Dubai on Monday.
He said the “new” form of ideological terrorism was a greater threat than the “old” form of weapons.
“The new terrorism is targeting the households, children and the youth… It increased the number of victims to thousands and even more. And today it reaches every home.
"It’s more devastating than weapons. It’s a greater danger to produce an intellectually-confused generation,” Shaikh Saif said. Several people were sentenced last year for attempting to destabilise the security of the UAE, planning attacks and belonging to extremist groups.
Shaikh Saif said using the intellect to judge extremist views against reality can mitigate their spread. He also called on citizens to uphold the tennets of “progressive patriotism”.
“Patriotism is not only about boasting loyalty and devotion, but about practising them for the favour of the country… The spirit of progressive patriotism terminates and amputates terrorism.”
Tackling terror
He added that laws need to be developed to combat terrorism, which has evolved rapidly over the years. Shaikh Saif said authorities need to look beyond the attacker and focus on the financier and planner.
He drew the analogy of the drug addict, trafficker and manufacturer to illustrate his point, which met with resounding applause from the audience.
“We call upon the international community to develop frameworks and concepts that do not solely rely on criminal law and procedure… Media should have a progressive patriotism spirit and the receiving audience must arbitrate reasoning and adhere to logic,” Shaikh Saif said.
He added: “Laws should not constrain us, they should accompany our development… They say the addict is a sick person. This is why specific instructions should be created to rehabilitate this person. But the law will still punish the dealer… Users and addicts are given a chance to go back to families and the community.”
Evil ideology
Shaikh Saif said the orchestrators of attacks or authors of “evil” ideology should be tried for genocide or war crimes.
He said exemplifying the UAE leaders and taking them as role models was one effective way to keep such ideologies at bay.
The leadership has also said the real wealth of the UAE is its people, and not oil, Shaikh Saif reminded the audience.
He downplayed the impact of low oil prices, saying the UAE GDP is only based 30 per cent on oil — compared with 90 per cent in the 1970s.
In fact, there is a plan to reduce this dependency to only five per cent in six or seven years.
“In the UAE, declining oil prices are a challenge, and not a crisis. Everywhere we go, people say you are an oil country. But is oil really a wealth?”
He explained that one in the top 10 countries is an oil firm — the rest are mostly telecom or high-tech companies.
“You are rich if you use your intellect and invest in the minds of your children.”
Shaikh Saif said education, a diversified economy based on human capital, and a strong sense of patriotism and work ethics will carry the UAE over any challenges.
He added that the decline in prices will have no impact on government services to its people.
15.30pm: Queen Rania addresses Government Summit
Jordan’s Queen Rania addresses Government Summit through a recorded video message. Our country is mourning the death of our son Muath Al Kasasbaeh. It is our responsibility to leave behind a safe Muslim, Arab world for our children, she said.
Jordan’s Queen Rania
Excerpts from Jordan’s Queen Rania’s recorded speech at the Government Summit:
You have come here to discuss the future role of governments and there has never been a more pressing time for such a summit.
We need to act and we are in a race against time to adopt policies and address the priorities which confront us today.
To eliminate the ideology of hatred and terrorism. Not just militarily but ideologically as well.
We need to change education policies in the Arab world to ones that ensure quality learning for our children and that install in them the true values for religion, patriotism, coexistence, and hard work.
We need policies that can guarantee enough job opportunities for our youth to absorb new entrants to the labour market.
We need to adopt policies that foster talent and innovation policies that ensure the fair participation of all members of society, especially women from the ethnic and religious groups, so that we can capitalise on the full potential of our countries.
The insights, expertise, and innovations offered by this summit represent an opportunity to design policies and paths for the Arab world that can take us to a new reality.
And there is no better inspiration for changing realities than the UAE. A country that has not only raised towers to the cloud but has elevated the ambitions and determination of its people.
A country that has been transformed by the vision of its leadership and the diligence of its citizens into an internationally competitive oasis of growth and development.
We need to move together and fast to reach a new secure future, one that is founded on coexistence and respect and whose goal is a decent life for every citizen.
Let us shield future generations and arm them with values of religion, patriotism, and knowledge.
What is happening around us today is the greatest evidence that extremism be it under religious, social, or political guise is alien to our values.
It has no place among us nor in the future do we aspire for, which is in your hands today.
#GovSummit: "It is our responsibility to leave behind a safe Muslim, Arab world for our children," Queen Rania— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
"A dark cloud of sadness and grief has kept us from joining you because our hearts in Jordan are heavy with pain and anger," she said.
"The most trying times often bring us to face our responsibilities and Islam is our responsibility.
"We are in confrontation with those who have hijacked our religion, those who malign Islam with their violence, bloodshed and slaughter," Rania added.
14.30pm ‘Proud of our sons and daughters: Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, hailed the services of the UAE Armed Forces in securing the country on Monday.
Speaking on day one of the Government Summit, he said: “Our daughters and our sons make us proud and they are the real wealth of our country. It is very important to be very proud of our national belonging and unity.”
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed
He thanked the thousands of young men and women who have enlisted in the service of the nation calling them “the pride of the nation".
#GovSummit: Our daughters & sons make us proud, it is very important to be very proud of our national belonging & unity, Mohammad Bin Zayed— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
Highlighting the focus of the UAE leadership under the stewardship of President HIs Highness Shaikh Khalifa, he said: "Shaikh Khalifa is guiding us on developing human resources. Education is his priority and we need to invest and put all our resources in education.”
He added: “Fifty years from now, we may not have the resources of oil and gas and that is when we will realise how important the investment on education was.”
Marching ahead and basking in the glory of progress, he said: “Our young generation should know the struggles of our founding fathers and what they went through to unite the people and build a nation. Building the nation is not the duty of the government alone, it the obligation of every citizen and resident of this country.”
#GovSummit: "Role of women in UAE is very important; women are skilful & represent 50% of the total population," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed.— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
He made a point in appreciating the role of women in the progress of the UAE saying, “Women are not only the 50 per cent of our population but they are skillful and equal participants of our success story.”
#GovSummit: "Emirati women represent 83 per cent of the work force in this plant," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed.— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
Turning his focus on the economy he said: “Our economy is strong and diverse and that is why low oil prices won’t have a negative impact on our economy. Oil prices were even lower before, but our ship kept moving and will continue to do so.”
Acknowledging the turbulent times the region is going through, Shaikh Mohammad said: “Our region is going through a tough time, but with the help of God and with the determination of our men and women we are overcoming all the obstacles.”
#GovSummit: "Our economy is strong & diverse and that is why low oil prices won't impact on our economy," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed.— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
#GovSummit: "Oil prices were even lower before but the ship kept moving forward," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
1.30pm: Mohammad Bin Zayed quotes...
"A distinguished government is the one that makes sure every citizen is a national wealth."
"Role of women in UAE is very important; women are skilful & represent 50% of the total population."
"Our economy is strong and diverse and that is why low oil prices won't impact on our economy."
12.58pm: Ban Ki Moon calls for stability in time of turmoil
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said he has repeatedly condemned the heinous behaviour of those committing atrocious acts against civilians, pointing out that it’s a time of international turmoil.
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General
Referring to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, which continues to take a terrible toll undermining long term peace, he highlighted the instability in Libya and Yemen, and that caused by Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
Governments are facing many challenges around the world, and the UN is forging a global response to these challenges, he said.
“We need to address the marginalisation and exclusion that drives extremism.”
Leaders that place themselves above the law and their people, put their governments at risk, he said.
#GovSummit : "UAE has shown dynamism in modernising government while preserving rich traditions" - Ban Ki-moon
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
Leaders must listen to the voices of people, what their visions, aspirations are, particularly voices of women who have fought too long for equality, he added.
He pointed out three main events that will take place this year – one being the sustainable development global partnership forum in Addis Ababa, Ethipoia, the second being the climate change agreement in Paris in December, and the third being the special summit meeting for UN General Assembly.
"We are the first generation that can end poverty, and we may be the last generation to avert climate change," said Ban.
12.02pm: Pay to read an email?
Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired Magazine discussed the inevitable effects of the web and the transformation of future services. He predicts that people will be charged to read emails in the future as an individual's attention is valuable.
#GovSummit: "Money has become a type of communication. You can share... track, broadcast, annotate, and identify it on the web." Kevin Kelly— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
"Advertising will move to a model where individuals and audiences will be paid to directly view an ad."
#GovSummit: "Advertising will move to a model where individuals and audiences will be paid to directly view an ad." - Kevin Kelly, Wired— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
Kelly referred to the shift from the hierarchal system to the network system pointing out that the transformation will further continue into the future. The hierarchal system followed the command and control method, which worked securely and effectively 30 years ago when there was very little information.
Now, the network system, which the world functions on is chaotic, loose, but very fast, he said.
He highlighted the common use of crowd funding to create projects and its use for market research.
Money has become a type of communication. You can share, collaborate, track, broadcast annotate, and identify it on the web, he said.
#GovSummit: "Five years from now, most of us will have self driving cars," Dr. Erin, Brynjolfsson, #MIT— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 9, 2015
Summit kicks off
The Dubai Government Summit kicked off at Madinat Jumeirah with a session by professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
Commending the UAE and its leadership, Schwab highlighted the UAE’s position in being the 12th most competitive country in the world, according to the world competitive report.
"I can’t imagine a topic more important than relationship between government and innovation," he said.
Referring to the collapse of trust seen between different nations and regions, Schwab emphasised the need for honesty, morality, and responsible leadership.
He discussed the change that comes along with the technological revolution, pointing out that governments have an obligation to prepare their people for a new system.
“We should look at innovation as an ecosystem, and governments are the catalysts of that ecosystem,” he said.
He further discussed the inter-relation of innovation, educational and social development and the need for government cooperation.
Looking to the future and further technological change, he called for a change in education systems, the need for engagement, and emphasised the empowerment of women. "No country can afford to leave out half of its population in terms of its creative efforts."
Schwab predicts that by the 20th government summit, people will be calling 'uber' taxi service not for a car with a driver but for a self automated car.
