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29 March 2024

UAE will benefit most from global transformations in 2015: Mohammed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. (Supplied)

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By Wam

Transformations and changes the world will witness in 2015 will produce positive outcomes for the UAE, given its diversified and vibrant economic base which benefits from international trade, strong confidence in the stability of the State and rich accumulated experiences in handling various events and changes, said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said.

Sheikh Mohammed made his remarks while attending the Arab Strategy Forum (ASF 2014) in Dubai on Sunday, which explored possible political and economic prospects in the region in 2015.

Commenting on the sessions, Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE had earlier prepared itself to face many world economic scenarios and had devised its domestic and foreign policies so that they might respond and adapt to all social and technological changes, and even political changes, through diversification of its economy away from relying upon oil exports.

The UAE, he continued, had also built balanced relations with other world economic powerhouses, far from narrowed alliances, and established a transparent foreign policy that is based upon active cooperation with all countries to pursue its interests.

Sheikh Mohammed said he remains optimistic that positive political indices would emerge in our region in 2015, despite the formidable challenges the region is currently facing, noting that Egypt had strongly begun to regain its economic and political stability, the impact of which will be seen next year. There are also many positive signals regarding Iran's nuclear file, whose the start of its closure could be in 2015.

He added that a strong international alliance to counter terrorism indicates that a state such as Iraq could witness more stability.

On the economic plane, Sheikh Mohammed predicted that many Arab economies that import oil could benefit from low oil prices next year, positively impacting on the development, stability and market movement. He also expected several development projects in the Gulf countries would be launched and strong economic partnerships with some countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, would be forged.

Concluding his outlook for 2015, Sheikh Mohammed said, ''Despite the many challenges we are living through every day, and those we are going to live through in the future, we must always look at the positive aspects in our region, work to develop and take the best of them, avoid exaggerated media analyses which paint a bleak future for the region, because good is always on the side of the optimistic, who work for it and vice versa.

In attendance were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs;  Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, and an elite of media persons, along with others.