United Nations in UAE: Global Actions for a Sustainable Future

In December 2021, as the United Arab Emirates celebrated fifty years since the federation was established, we paused to reflect on the UN-UAE partnership, its evolution over the past five decades, and how the UN system is working closely with the UAE in building the future the UAE envisions. The UN-UAE partnership contributes to the shared global causes of peace, development, and prosperity all around the world, leaving no one behind.

On behalf of Dr Dena Assaf, UN Resident Coordinator for the UAE: Reflections on Expo2020 and Beyond

“I had the unique opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity, to lead the United Nations in a historic World Exposition focused on the SDGs and creating a better planet, as UN Resident Coordinator for the UAE and Deputy Commissioner General for the UN at Expo2020. The UAE government had the foresight to imagine using the World Exposition as a platform to bring awareness to the SDGs and the importance of global collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. What they didn’t know, as no one could have foreseen the pandemic and the subsequent global shutdown, was that Expo2020 would become a beacon of hope that we can come back together again, as it was the first global in-person gathering since the pandemic global wide closures.

What I as RC did not realize again, as I am not a fortune teller either, is that I would have a more prominent role and a once in a lifetime opportunity at Expo2020, also due to the pandemic. The pandemic forced us as the United Nations to change our strategy and approach to Expo2020, as we could no longer mobilize resources and dedicate additional capacities for a unified exhibit at a UN Pavilion at Expo2020, as had been originally envisioned.  Addressing the pandemic was the top priority for all countries, as well as for the United Nations.

Having a RC in the UAE, allowed us as the United Nations to build strong relationships with the different parts of the UAE government and with partners actualizing the first ever World Expo to host all countries of the world with their own dedicated pavilion, if they chose to participate (and all did with a few exceptions). As RC, I focused on building these relationships, and ensuring that the United Nations was central to the dialogue and considered a trusted partner. 

I offered to mobilize the UN Country Team of the UAE, with the Resident Coordinator’s Office, and create a space at Expo2020, where the UN could bring its expertise and engage with the public through multiple substantive dialogues, exhibitions, films, and activities over the 6 months period. The UAE government was generous to offer us a space and equipment to activate the space. The Development Coordination Office (DCO) and UN Volunteers provided us with some additional much needed capacity to expand the team, and UN agency staff also volunteered to help. The UN Hub was created and became a dynamic space with changing engagements with the public daily and weekly, thereby ensuring a greater presence for the United Nations at Expo2020 and greater outreach to a variety of partners in all sectors from women’s empowerment, to agriculture and fisheries, climate action, youth leadership, humanitarian impact, and much more. We ensured engagement with children, people with disabilities (named people of determination in the UAE), women, youth, Emiratis and non-Emiratis in the UAE, artists and movie directors, international and local media, and nationalities from all over the world both young and old.

The experience was beyond rewarding. We estimate a minimum of 100,000 people from around the globe visited and interacted with the UN at the UN Hub during Expo2020, and due to the pandemic we were the most visited physical site in the world for the UN during the Expo period and for 2021 as a whole. The UN was able to reach and amplify its messages on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also showcased the role of international cooperation and joint actions to overcome global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. And I got to make that happen along with my team, working closely with the UN Department of Global Communications, led by Maher Nasser being the Commissioner-General for the UN at Expo2020.

As I reflect on Expo2020, I am filled with pride and accomplishment for a job well done. The experience my RCO team and I have gained from Expo2020, will go a long way in helping us ensure that the United Nations has a stellar presence and substantive engagement with our UAE counterparts and partners. The positioning of the UN Resident Coordinator in such leadership roles has proven already to be impactful for the UN system, and will continue to be so in the future as new opportunities emerge.

We need to be visible where the world comes together, so we can ensure we are present where it matters most and can bring the strength of the United Nations to what the world cares about most. I am proud to be a UN Resident Coordinator and to lead that charge. 

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From UAE to the world, the UN RCO and UN Country Team for the UAE will sustain the same energy and commitment in the coming period, shedding light on various issues and exploring opportunities for a better tomorrow. The deep commitment to development and humanitarian assistance of the UAE is seen through significant contributions to relief and development projects around the world and the UAE's dedication to the SDGs is core to the work at home and abroad, noting that an increasing number of UN entities are looking at the UAE as a promising hub to advance their work in the region and beyond. At this time, there are 31 UN agencies in the UN UAE Country Team, with over 370 staff spread over 15 office locations across the Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah Emirates.