When more than 500 senior officials from federal and local entities convened in Abu Dhabi for the 2025 UAE Government Annual Meetings, the event represented far more than administrative co-ordination. It reflected a philosophy of governance rooted in unity of vision, precision of execution and accountability of outcomes.

Watching the sessions firsthand, what stood out was not the announcements but the process itself. Ministers compared data, questioned assumptions and adjusted goals in real time. Many governments convene to commemorate past achievements; the UAE convenes to design the next chapter of its story.

Indeed, few nations bring their entire government architecture together in one forum each year to evaluate progress, set priorities and reinforce a shared sense of national purpose. This practice sets the UAE apart, reflecting a model of governance that is both unified, accountable and forward-looking.

Governance in the UAE has never been confined to drafting policies or launching programmes. It is a continuous exercise in alignment between institutions and citizens, between ambition and delivery. For the international community, the UAE’s governance model offers valuable lessons.

At its core lies a unique system of national co-ordination that is institutionalised rather than improvised. Held from November 4 to 6, the seventh edition of the Annual Meeting created a high-level mechanism for dialogue and accountability across government – a space where ministers, directors and leaders aligned objectives and reviewed performance.

One of the most revealing moments was the international press conference in which officials faced questions on subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to regional politics. Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama described the launch of the AI Readiness Index for federal entities, a framework designed to measure each institution’s preparedness for emerging technologies.

Inside the UAE’s SME strategy 17:24

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, outlined the progress of Operation 300bn, the long-term plan to raise the industrial sector’s GDP