Page 21 - MBRF PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2025

9/30/25, 1:12 PM Arab Knowledge Leaders Stress Role of Monitoring Indices in Accelerating the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda - Dubai Week
Arab States at UNDP; and Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the UAE to
the UN. In their keynote remarks, the speakers underscored the urgency of adopting
innovative frameworks and developing next-generation indices to equip future-ready skills
and promote inclusive, sustainable development. They also called for deeper collaboration
at regional and international levels to ensure that no community is left behind.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb stated: “There is a pressing need to exchange knowledge
and expertise across countries and institutions. This will certainly empower the Arab region
to address its growing challenges and seize the immense opportunities for innovation and
growth presented by today’s technological revolution.”

H.E. added: “Our work at MBRF, in close collaboration with our strategic partner, UNDP,
shows that investing in precise knowledge indices and standards, including the Global

Knowledge Index (GKI) and future foresight reports, is key to helping governments and
policy-makers craft impactful strategies for knowledge-based economies. The success of the
‘Future Skills Academy’ initiative is a testament to this approach, having equipped thousands
of young Arabs with the essential skills through thousands of educational programs. The
initiative not only fosters a culture of lifelong learning but also enhances the readiness of
upcoming generations for a fast-evolving job market. Our partnership with UNDP
underscores our shared commitment to transforming knowledge into a practical pillar of
development, empowering our societies to achieve sustainable competitiveness globally.”

Dr Abdullah Al Dardari said: “With just five years remaining until the deadline of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Arab region must urgently intensify its efforts to

meet the goals. We hope this event will help align our collective efforts towards
transforming data, skills, and innovation into actionable solutions for building inclusive,
sustainable, and resilient societies. We are proud to collaborate with our partners to ensure
that the perspectives and voices of youth, women, and local communities, who are often
overlooked, play a central role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future, not only for
the Arab region, but globally.”

Mohamed Abushahab commented: “The UAE’s experience shows that investing in people,
skills, and knowledge is the key to lasting progress and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. Strong global partnerships are essential to this effort, which is
why we, like UNDP and MBRF, work to help countries close knowledge gaps, empower
youth, and design data-driven and innovative policies that turn today’s challenges into
opportunities for future generations.”

The discussions centred on three priority areas: advancing knowledge policies; building
capacity and strengthening future skills frameworks to speed up delivery of the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs); and improving data-based monitoring systems, developmental
indicators, measurement tools, and reporting mechanisms. Participants also reviewed the
progress of the Future Skills Academy, which in its first phase has supported 10,000 Arab
citizens in enhancing their skills through more than 15,000 educational programmes,

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