Abu Dhabi: The Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation hosted the third edition of the UAE Government's Digital Readiness Retreat, bringing together 1,000 leaders and senior officials from federal and local ministries, government entities, and leading national and international companies. The event addressed the latest trends in digital governance, discussed integrated solutions for community-focused technologies, and explored how to strengthen government readiness in the new digital era.
According to Emirates News Agency, during the retreat, the second edition of the UAE Government Digital Transformation Report was launched, highlighting achievements across key sectors such as economy, finance, human resources, health, education, society, culture, youth, citizenship, residency, foreign affairs, security, justice, infrastructure, energy, logistics, and the environment.
The retreat also featured the launch of the Digital Transformation Leadership Programme by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the signing of MoUs to promote inter-sectoral cooperation, and a high-level meeting of the UAE's digital leaders. The event aimed to promote digital integration across federal and local entities, the private sector, and tech providers, showcasing pioneering UAE government digital solutions and introducing new concepts for impactful digital governance.
Held in strategic partnership with the TDRA and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, the retreat was supported by key partners including e and Presight. It served as a platform for knowledge exchange and best practices to enhance the UAE's digital competitiveness. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, emphasized the importance of innovation and rapid tech adoption in today's global leadership.
Majed Al Mesmar, Director-General of TEDRA, discussed the retreat's role as an accelerator for a human-centric, innovation-led digital government, highlighting milestones such as full federal integration and the national digital identity's growth. Lt. Gen. Suhail Al Khaili, from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security, described the retreat as a vital platform for exchanging best practices, noting the UAE's rapid shift towards smart government.
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, emphasized cybersecurity as a fundamental pillar of sustainable digital transformation, underscoring the need for strategic partnerships to develop innovative digital solutions. Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO of e and UAE, highlighted the retreat's embodiment of a holistic vision for digital complexity, while Khalid Murshed, CEO of e and enterprise, stressed the importance of integrated, AI-ready digital infrastructure.
Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight, described the retreat as a national call to action for building an AI-native government. The event included the launch of the Digital Transformation Leadership Programme, targeting executive-level leaders, and featured interactive sessions, workshops, and expert panels with global thought leaders.
Keynote addresses and panels explored themes such as digital empowerment, cybersecurity, leadership in digital transformation, and user-centric government services. The retreat concluded with sessions on reimagining government systems for the future and cross-sector inspiration for future-ready government services, emphasizing the role of technology in enhancing operational efficiency and delivering personalized customer experiences.