Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah chairs the first meeting of the Executive Council for the year 2025

Prepared/Managed by Alkhaleej Daily News

 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah and Chairman of the Executive Council, chaired today, Wednesday, the Executive Council's first regular performance review meeting for the year 2025, which discussed a number of topics that support the cloud system, digital transformation, strategic interest, development and pioneering projects, and active massage in the private liquid.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah

The Council approved a set of legislative proposals to regulate various aspects of government work in a manner that keeps

pace with developments and best practices, as the following were approved:

• Legislation on the competencies of the Geographic Information Systems Center.

• Legislation to reorganize the Department of Economic Development.

• Draft law on the human resources system for local civilians working in the Ras Al Khaimah Police.

• Legislation on regulating the practice of the contracting profession.

• Legislation on tax on branches of foreign banks in the emirate.

• Legislation to regulate surveying work in terms of fees and fines.

The Council also approved the executive regulations for regulating surveying work and the decision on the addressing and spatial guidance system.

During its meeting, the Council discussed the Economic Committee’s report and the topics it included. The Council was informed of the latest developments in the Department of Economic Development’s participation in the Industrial Development Council’s work, and the Council’s efforts to develop and support the national industrial sector and enhance its global competitiveness by discussing several issues, most notably the performance of the industrial sector for the year 2023 and its contribution to GDP growth, the “Made in the Emirates” Forum to promote national industries, the progress of the industrial census project and the data linkage project to provide important and accurate data that supports the future planning process, as well as initiatives to support industrial inputs to raise their competitiveness. The Council stressed the importance of supporting the industrial sector and enhancing its pivotal role in economic development, raising the gross domestic product, and supporting national products in light of the desired strategic visions. The Council also reviewed the plan to review and update economic legislation in the emirate to keep pace with changes in the economic environment, and establish the foundations of a proactive and flexible legislative structure that is in line with the requirements of advancing the performance of the business sector according to the highest international standards in organization and providing facilities and services. It directed the rapid completion of this plan to respond to the challenges of economic development and consolidate The emirate's economic position, and enhancing the attraction of foreign investments, within a framework of studied benchmarking, and taking into account the total cost of establishing and operating businesses.

The Council discussed the report submitted by the Digital Transformation Committee, on the digital transformation projects plan for 2025 to advance government work and develop the level of digital services provided, as this plan includes the project to design and develop the digital customer journey for the services of the Public Prosecution, the Knowledge Department, the Municipality and the Courts, the project to complete the digital transformation of all services of the Environment Protection Authority, the project to redesign the websites of some government agencies according to the latest technical specifications, the project to implement the unified electronic payment gateway for all government agencies, the project to complete the electronic link with relevant agencies to improve the services of issuing building completion certificates, and the project to develop and link performance indicators and data dashboards.

The Council reviewed the report on the achievements of strategic indicators for government agencies for 2024 in light of the emirate's vision 2030 and strategic institutional priorities, where the level of achievement achieved compared to the targets was discussed, and the most important challenges facing the implementation of some strategic initiatives, and ways to overcome them to reach the targets. 

The Council commended the efforts of government agencies in achieving the desired outcomes and results, and directed to intensify efforts to accelerate the completion of incomplete initiatives to improve the level of overall strategic performance to keep pace with changes in the government work environment, raise the competitiveness of the emirate, improve the quality of life in it, and raise the rates of economic and social development. It also directed to quickly complete the strategic documents for the period 2025-2027 in light of the requirements to enhance opportunities to achieve the emirate's vision, anticipate the future, and keep pace with development entitlements.

The Council also reviewed the infrastructure projects plan approved by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, which covers the areas of land leveling, expanding and maintaining the internal road network, sewage projects, waste management infrastructure, ornamental plantings, and rainwater drainage network, in a way that supports the achievement of the emirate's vision 2030 and contributes to enhancing economic competitiveness, social development, and making the future.

The Council commended His Highness's keenness to provide the enablers of development success and create the necessary opportunities to consolidate the emirate's position locally and globally. It also commended the efforts of the Infrastructure Committee in studying and formulating development projects, and directed all relevant government agencies to combine efforts and coordinate joint work to accelerate the completion of these projects according to the highest levels of efficiency and quality.

The Council reviewed the report of the Municipality Department regarding the provision of housing grants to citizens to meet their housing needs, as the number of grants provided during the year 2024 amounted to (1072) residential plots covering all areas of the emirate. The Council praised the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in this regard, which was represented in taking into account the housing dimension in the urban planning process, settling areas, and accelerating the granting of plots. The Council also reviewed the plan to provide residential plots for the year 2025 in light of the established standards and population distributions.

The Council stressed the government's keenness to keep pace with the state's strategies and the wise leadership's directives towards providing the elements for building the Emirati family, achieving family and social stability, enhancing the role of the family in building future generations, and affirming its pivotal role in social and cultural sustainability, in line with the social welfare system. 

The Council also discussed the report submitted by the Human Resources Department on integrating citizens seeking work in the private sector and providing opportunities for their success and professional growth, as the number of workers from the emirate in the private sector until December 2024 reached about 11,131 citizens, which represents a qualitative shift in changing the work culture and enhancing citizens' participation in the national economy.

In this context, the Council praised the insightful vision of the wise leadership and its keenness to diversify employment and empowerment solutions for job seekers, raise their competitiveness and capabilities, and provide factors for their professional success, as demonstrated by the launch of the Nafis program and the incentives and benefits it provides, as well as opportunities for qualification and development and support for subscriptions to pension and social insurance programs. It also praised the major role played by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in supporting the Emiratisation process, building the appropriate regulatory framework for it, implementing policies related to providing jobs in the private sector, and ensuring the real contribution of citizens to the success and growth of the companies they work for, which contributed to achieving record levels in the growth of the number of citizens working in the private sector, and penetrating sectors and professions that were not within the scope of citizens’ focus. The Council stressed the need to focus on building the capabilities and skills of students and job seekers in the English language in partnership with the Ministry of Education, according to highly effective programs, and using the latest educational technologies. It also directed to provide the necessary support and facilities, and build partnerships with all parties involved in the process of integrating citizens into the labor market, to achieve the goals of localization and expand job opportunities available to graduates, and raise their level of readiness and competitiveness to enhance their career path and sustainable professional growth.

The Council reviewed the report submitted by the Department of Economic Development on pioneering youth projects in the emirate, given the importance of these projects in enhancing economic development, raising the local product, stimulating innovation, providing job opportunities for youth, creating exceptional acquisition opportunities, and expanding the base of national products, as the number of youth projects that obtained licenses during the period from 2008 to 2024 reached (2106) projects.

The Council also reviewed the support and facilities provided to entrepreneurial projects at all stages in terms of providing facilities and exemptions from commercial license fees, providing business centers, training programs, economic consultations, and providing opportunities to participate in local and international exhibitions. The Council stressed the importance of opening the way to benefit from the expertise of non-citizens and providing the opportunity to partner with them in establishing entrepreneurial businesses, taking the necessary measures to create a stimulating and supportive work environment, overcoming the difficulties that prevent the success of these projects and keeping pace with the best global practices in building a distinguished entrepreneurial work system, and focusing on modern economic sectors, especially in the field of digital technologies, technology and sustainability, in light of a forward-looking vision for the future. The Council also directed the creation of systems and databases to monitor the financial performance of companies in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to identify inspiring success stories to enhance them and encourage emulation, and provide opportunities to learn from their pioneering experience.