Profile

Having declared its independence from the UK in 1971 as part of the federation of the UAE, the emirate of Abu Dhabi has significantly raised its political and economic profile in the intervening years, both regionally and internationally. While the emirate is home to the world’s sixth-largest proven oil reserves, financial buffers have helped it diversify and yield steady non-oil revenue. Centred on the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, an economic development strategy launched in 2008 to reduce dependence on oil and gas and foster a knowledge-based economy, the emirate has made important strides towards securing its growth plans amid global and regional risk. This chapter contains viewpoints from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; and an interview with Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO, Alliances for Global Sustainability.