VP launches UAE Soft Power Council

Dubai / WAM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched on Saturday the UAE Soft Power Council, which will define a comprehensive strategy to reinforce the country’s position and consolidate its values of respect and appreciation with governments and citizens across the world.
The UAE Soft Power Council will report directly to the UAE Cabinet, and will introduce an integrated national strategy that consolidates the roles of both the public and private sectors in achieving soft power and conveying the nation’s history in a new way. It will also develop a soft power strategy for the state, including the science, culture, technology, humanitarian and economic sectors, in order to establish relationships at the grassroots level with partners both in the Arab region and globally.
The Council will review all legislation and policies that affect the UAE’s status and reputation, and will develop a strategy to reinforce the country’s reputation between the grassroots in all the strategic countries, for the UAE Cabinet to review in the coming months.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stressed that the UAE has military and economic power and will now develop its soft power in order to solidify its reputation, and serve the interests of its people in the long term, establishing relationships across various sectors including the economic, tourism and investment sectors.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has succeeded in establishing a strong and unprecedented position for the UAE on a regional and global scale. We must build strong diplomatic relationships and systems in order to pursue his vision of making the UAE a global example of prestige and excellence,” he added.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid continued, “The UAE holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people around the world; we want to build on that and elevate it. We have the economic, cultural components to achieve this swiftly.”
“We have been celebrating milestones such as national days and co-operating on development initiatives with our brothers and sisters in the Gulf and Arab World; now we want to develop a different strategy to introduce our culture and values to all people across the world. We want to utilise new tools and methods in order to reach more people, and share our knowledge, culture and history with the world. The UAE Soft Power Council is a stepping stone to achieving this vision, and promoting our country through successful public diplomacy
to many people from various backgrounds,” he said.
The Council will develop a general soft power strategy for the UAE to reinforce its reputation and status regionally and globally, instigate cooperation between public and private sector entities within the country through soft power initiatives and projects, and submit reports periodically to the UAE Cabinet on the all progress and
implementation of the strategy.

Mohammed Abdullah Al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, was named the Chairman of the UAE Soft Power Council. The Council’s members include Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State; Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority; Khalifa bin Salem Al Mansouri, Acting Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Sami Ahmad Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director-General of the Department of Economic Development; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Saeed Mohammad Al Eter, Director-General of the Public Diplomacy Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future.
The Council will develop a general soft power strategy for the UAE to reinforce its reputation and status regionally and globally, instigate cooperation between public and private sector entities within the country through soft power initiatives and projects, and submit reports periodically to the UAE Cabinet on the all progress and implementation of the strategy.
The UAE Soft Power Council will be an authoritative body, providing counsel and reference on soft power initiatives, and protecting and highlighting the country’s achievements and the UAE’s ambition and accomplishments contribute to science, culture, arts, tourism, trade, humanitarianism and other sectors both in the region and across the world. The Council will develop new tools to tell story, share uniqueness of the vision of the leadership for the UAE to be the best country in the world.
The Public Diplomacy Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future will prepare the soft power strategy, in coordination with the concerned authorities to provide technical and administrative support to the UAE Soft Power Council.

We must double our
efforts to maintain image
of UAE, says Mohamed

Abu Dhabi / WAM

Thanks to the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE has taken giant strides towards excellence and pioneering, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces stated.
In a statement following the announcement of the establishment of the UAE Soft Power Council, Sheikh Mohamed described the council as a “profound vision for capitalising on our achievements while reaching out to the nations of the world.”
“We are all ambassadors for the UAE, and we must double our efforts to maintain the image of our country and to promote our unique approach, values and
aspirations, “he added.
Last week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launched the UAE Soft Power Council, which will define a comprehensive strategy to reinforce the country’s position and consolidate its values of respect and appreciation with governments and citizens across the world.
The council reports directly to the UAE Cabinet and will introduce an integrated national strategy that consolidates the roles of both the public and private sectors in achieving soft power, and conveying the nation’s history in a new way. The council will also develop a soft power strategy for the state, including in the science, culture, technology, humanitarian and economic sectors, to establish relationships at the grassroots level with partners both in the Arab region and the world.