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

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, widely known as Fazza, is the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. Appointed Crown Prince in February 2008, he oversees the strategic direction of Dubai’s government operations and chairs the executive body responsible for coordinating policy across all Dubai government entities. He has emerged as one of the most prominent leaders of his generation in the Gulf, focusing on digital transformation, innovation, and youth empowerment.

UAE Context

Sheikh Hamdan chairs the Dubai Executive Council, the emirate’s highest executive authority below the Ruler. He also leads the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy and chairs the board of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Under his direction, Dubai has launched initiatives including the Dubai Future Foundation, the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, and the Dubai Paperless Strategy which eliminated over one billion paper transactions from government operations. He serves as a driving force behind Dubai’s smart city transformation and its ambition to become a global hub for digital economy and artificial intelligence.

Key Data

As Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan approves the emirate’s annual budget, strategic plans, and major development projects. He led Dubai’s successful Expo 2020 hosting effort and has overseen the subsequent development of Expo City Dubai as a permanent innovation and sustainability district. His social media presence, with millions of followers, makes him one of the most followed government leaders globally.

Vision 2031 Significance

Sheikh Hamdan represents the generational transition in UAE leadership and champions the technology-forward, youth-oriented priorities embedded in Vision 2031. His focus on digital government, space technology, and innovation ecosystems directly shapes the nation’s competitiveness targets.

  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid — His father and the Ruler of Dubai, Vice President, and Prime Minister.
  • Dubai Executive Council — The strategic governance body he chairs.
  • Smart City — The urban technology transformation agenda he directs in Dubai.
  • Dubai Future Foundation — The innovation institution established under his patronage.