Dubai: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) today organised the ‘Digital Participation in Government Decision-Making Forum: Partnership, Interaction, Impact’ at Etihad Museum in Dubai, in partnership with several government and international entities.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum aimed to highlight digital participation as a strategic tool for policymaking and improving government services, while strengthening integration between decision-makers and the community through innovative digital platforms. The event was held as part of the ministry’s commitment to reinforcing government-community partnership concepts and developing interactive channels that enable society to directly contribute to shaping public decisions and policies. It also aligns with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision and the objectives of UAE Centennial 2071.
The forum was attended by Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA); along with a number of government leaders. Also present were a number of government and private sector entities, international organisations, and representatives of the local community, including youth, senior citizens, and people of determination.
In his opening remarks, Younis AlKhoori emphasized the UAE’s vision of engaging society in government decision-making as fundamental to both policy development and shaping the future of government services. He highlighted the strategic priority of digital transformation in the UAE, which aims to redefine the relationship between government and society. AlKhoori noted that digital participation is a pivotal tool for decision-making, enabling individuals to express their views and aspirations, while allowing the government to harness these inputs in developing more impactful and responsive public policies.
AlKhoori concluded that international experience has shown that the most successful governments are those that make community participation an integral part of decision-making. In the UAE, these concepts are not only being adopted but also aspired to be led globally, offering a pioneering Emirati model that places digital participation at the core of governance.
Aisha Ahmed Yousuf, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Empowerment, also addressed the forum, underscoring its significance in establishing a culture of innovation and transforming digital knowledge into a pillar of development. She stressed the importance of empowering individuals and communities to participate actively and create impact.
Majed Sultan Al Mesmar highlighted that digital participation is a deeply rooted national culture and an integrated process. He pointed out national initiatives such as the ‘Share.UAE’ platform and Hackathon UAE, which have provided numerous opportunities for digital participation and have directly contributed to policy formulation and the development of government services.
Khalid Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, affirmed that digital participation empowers youth as active partners in decision-making. He noted that digital tools and platforms provide vital spaces for youth to present ideas and visions, aligning government policies with their aspirations.
The forum comprised three main sessions focusing on digital participation, from concept to empowerment, positive interaction to policymaking impact, and inclusive digital partnership for seniors and youth. These sessions highlighted the role of digital participation in government transformation, policy-making, and ensuring that all segments of society are engaged in decision-making.