February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

UAE Centennial 2071 is the long-term strategic vision launched in 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It establishes the country’s aspirational direction over a 50-year horizon, aiming to make the UAE the best country in the world by the centennial of its founding in 2071. The vision sets generational goals that extend far beyond typical government planning cycles, providing a directional framework for successive medium-term strategies.

UAE Context

The Centennial 2071 vision was announced during the UAE Government Annual Meetings in 2017 and represents the longest-range national planning document in the country’s history. It is built around four pillars: future-focused government, excellent education, a diversified knowledge economy, and a happy and cohesive society. Unlike the more specific and measurable We the UAE 2031 vision, the Centennial 2071 framework is deliberately aspirational, intended to guide successive generations of leaders in maintaining strategic continuity. The UAE’s culture of long-range planning is relatively unusual among nations and reflects the leadership’s emphasis on intergenerational thinking.

Key Data

  • Announced: 2017 at UAE Government Annual Meetings
  • Timeframe: 2017-2071 (54 years)
  • Four pillars: Future-focused government, excellent education, diversified knowledge economy, happy and cohesive society
  • Goal: Position the UAE as the best country in the world by its centennial
  • Relationship to 2031: We the UAE 2031 serves as a medium-term milestone within the broader Centennial trajectory

Significance for Vision 2031

The Centennial 2071 vision provides the overarching strategic context within which We the UAE 2031 operates. While 2031 targets are specific and measurable, they are designed to advance the country along the longer trajectory toward 2071 goals. This nested planning structure ensures that near-term policy decisions are evaluated not only for immediate impact but for alignment with generational aspirations around education, governance quality, economic competitiveness, and social cohesion.

  • Vision 2031 - The medium-term strategy nested within the Centennial framework
  • Non-Oil GDP - Economic diversification central to both visions
  • Masdar City - A long-horizon sustainability project aligned with Centennial thinking