Held Under the Slogan “Innovation and Happiness Strategies towards 2021”

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Monday, May 18th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and President Emeritus of the Emirates Strategic Planning Association, attended on Monday the Third Annual Conference hosted by the Emirates Strategic Planning Association under the slogan “Innovation and Happiness Strategies towards 2021”.

The Conference, which was held at the Federal National Council Hall in Abu Dhabi, was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Federal National Council Speaker; Eng. Abdullah Belheef Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works; Major General Dr. Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs; Major General Khalil Dawood Badran, Director General of Finance and Services at Abu Dhabi Police; Major General Salem Mubarak Al Shamesi,  Director General of Finance and Support Services at the Ministry of Interior; in addition to a number of officials from the ministries and local departments in the UAE, and a number of high ranking police officers. The conference was also attended by a number of members from the UAE Deaf Association, the category that receives full support and care from the higher leadership.

In his speech during the conference’s opening ceremony, Major General Dr. Abdul Quddous Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, Chairman of the Emirates Strategic Planning Association indicated that the higher leadership has provided a determined and disciplined approach to helping leaders boost and maintain the UAE’s prestigious position among world countries.

He said: “The key pillar to building a modern country is to foster happiness of citizens. To this end, the leadership has strived, since the inception of the Union, to maintain the happiness and welfare of its people. The secret to the UAE’s good reputation lies in the leadership’s efforts to secure a decent, well-rounded and fulfilling life for citizens and the highest living standards. This in turn, would increase people’s sense of loyalty and encourage them to exert additional efforts and dedication; in pursuance of the country’s leaders, the wise forefathers, who toiled diligently to transform the UAE into a prosperous nation, and positioned it on the forefront of developed countries in a very short span of time.”

He also noted that the UAE Government has launched the “Happiness Meter” initiative to measure the happiness and satisfaction of the public and cater to their needs.  Another approach adopted by the government was adding a new category to the ‘fourth generation of the government excellence system’, to measure employees’ happiness, out of its firm belief that happy workers are more productive and would do their jobs better, with the aim of promoting productivity and positive thinking, to allow the UAE to compete with top performing countries.   Adding further, Major General Dr. Al Obaidly said: “We live in the era of innovation and creativity, which represent an existential question for nations that strive to upgrade their services and provide a nurturing and attractive environment for institutions and companies, and for creative minds and experts, with the aim of boosting further material and moral progress.” Moreover, he noted: “In this spirit, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, and Prime Minister has launched the innovation strategy, which seeks to implement innovation practices to provide various services in a bid to enhance the standards of living and ensure economic development, and achieve the ultimate goal of establishing the UAE as one of the best countries worldwide in terms of innovation. To achieve this vision, a strategy was devised and works along several parallel tracks, that will anchor a stimulating environment for innovation; develop government innovation; encourage private sector innovation; and qualifying individuals with highly innovative skills in this area, to be completed within the next three years.”

Furthermore, Major General Dr. Al Obaidly pointed out that the Emirates Strategic Planning Association has called for this conference, out of national duty and in support of the leadership’s vision. “The conference, which is held under the slogan ‘Innovation and Happiness Strategies towards 2021’, features the participation of an elite group of national figures concerned with supervising the implementation of innovation and happiness applications in the UAE. The conference will shed the light on these applications, with the aim of disseminating this culture, which promotes the scientific and practical concepts and channels efforts to achieve harmony between the various ministries and departments as they seek to achieve the 2021 agenda,” he continued.

After that, the activities of the conference began, and tackled four main topics, namely; happiness according to the vision of the UAE President, presented by Ahmed Jumaa Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs. Al Zaabi gave an overview of the different development, housing and health-related projects and initiatives implemented at the countrywide level, as well as the humanitarian aid provided by the Association to the needy around the world, in addition to the projects underway at the countrywide level.

The second topic discussed innovation, and was presented by Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Police and General Security, Chairman of the Emirates Talent Association. Lt. General Tamim said: “The UAE Government has announced a new National Innovation Strategy with the aim of becoming among the most innovative nations in the world within a 5-year period.”

The third topic discussed the happiness of people with special needs under the theme “A leadership vision, the outcomes of care,” and was presented by Mohamed Mohamed Fadel Al Hameli, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs. Al Hameli emphasized that bringing happiness to people with disabilities is a top priority for the higher leadership, because happiness is the proper approach to achieve the psychological and social stability of this segment of society.

He referred to the generous initiative by the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and adopted by HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, to establish the Ministry of Interior’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Employment; in addition to the mass weddings initiative for this segment, which has managed to bring an immense joy to their hearts.

The fourth topic tackled the invention of the first Emirati space probe and was presented by Engineer Omran Anwar Sharaf, Director of Space Image Processing and Analysis Department at the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology (EIAST). Sharaf gave an overview of the UAE’s research project to explore Mars, and the role of innovation in achieving this particular vision and overall happiness of the people. He also mentioned that the probe is one of the key tracks to promote skills and build highly innovative individuals.

In conclusion, Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, accompanied Major General Dr. Abdul Quddous Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly honored Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Federal National Council Speaker, in addition to the speakers at the conference and the sponsors.

…Receives a commemorative gift from Emirati Artist Sumaya Al Zarouni

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, received a commemorative gift from Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Al Obaidly, Chairman of the Emirates Strategic Planning Association, which was designed by Emirati artist Sumaya Al Zarouni.

His Highness expressed his admiration for the artist’s expressive and creative style. He hailed her determination and persistence to succeed despite of the difficulties, and reiterated that being disabled is not an obstacle to creativity.

Sumaya Al Zarouni chose fine arts and painting as a way to express herself and has inherited her father’s love of art. She followed online learning and her paintings achieved top positions in childhood festivals and drawing competitions that she entered with her peers at the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) during her childhood.

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… His Highness attends the signing of MoU between Emirates Strategic Planning Association and the Emirates Volunteer Association

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior the signing of an MOU between Emirates Strategic Planning Association and the Emirates Volunteer Association. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Emirates Strategic Planning Association’s third annual conference, with the aim of strengthening mutual action between both parties and instilling strategic planning and volunteer work as a culture and practice in the UAE’s institutions.

The MOU was signed by Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Al Obaidly, Chairman of the Emirates Strategic Planning Association and Sahar Ahmed Al Obad, Chairperson of the Emirates Volunteer Association.

Under the MoU, both parties would work on strengthening mutual partnership and cooperation in the field of CSR, spreading the culture of social development, and achieving the mutual goals.

The MoU also aims to anchor a relationship of cooperation, coordination and development to achieve optimal benefit from the human and material resources between both parties, as well as promoting partnership to achieve the mutual goals.

The MoU will consolidate further cooperation between both parties in various fields, including providing volunteers to take part in the activities organized by parties; providing strategic planning guidance and consultation; as well as active partnership in the mutual cultural activities.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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