It is rare that a national government is confident enough to set itself public targets, thereby forcing itself to be accountable. This brave task was launched in the UAE a year ago when His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, set a wide range of National Agenda targets that are designed to be achieved by 2021 by federal and local government entities, as well as private organisations. The targets range over a wide spectrum of specific and practical issues as well as some more subjective targets, which combine into an ambitious social programme that is open for all to read. This allows them to align their own efforts to what the country is seeking to achieve and so gain extra benefit from finding others travelling the same road.

For example, the National Agenda seeks that 95 per cent of all Emirati children should attend kindergarten schools by 2021. The figure is currently at 85 per cent, which needs action from educational authorities to ensure that enough future places are available as the population continues to grow and also from parents who need to be convinced that this is a worthwhile objective for their children. The outcome will be a better-educated national population, which will be an essential national asset. Other targets include topics like happiness, innovation, entrepreneurship, air quality, safety, networking and connectivity. The combination of such targets helps define how to make and keep the UAE a leading 21st century society.