Programme Objectives and Scope
Projects of the 50 was announced in September 2021 as a comprehensive package of national development initiatives timed to the UAE’s golden jubilee. The programme comprises multiple streams of reform covering economic competitiveness, talent attraction, social cohesion, digital infrastructure, and international positioning. Rather than a single unified strategy, Projects of the 50 functions as a portfolio of interconnected initiatives — including the Golden Visa expansion, new freelancer and remote worker visa categories, corporate tax reform, foreign direct investment incentives, and social modernisation measures — intended to position the federation for sustained growth and resilience over its next half-century.
Key Targets and KPIs
The programme does not operate around a single headline KPI but instead tracks progress across multiple domains. Economic targets include doubling foreign trade to AED 4 trillion, attracting AED 550 billion in foreign direct investment over the programme period, and positioning the UAE among the top ten global economies by 2031. Social targets focus on quality of life indicators, cultural development, and community cohesion. Talent attraction targets include expanding the number of highly skilled residents through revised visa frameworks, coders’ programmes, and entrepreneur incentives. Diplomatic targets centre on expanding the UAE’s global treaty and partnership network.
Implementation Status and Progress
Implementation has been substantial across most workstreams. The Golden Visa programme has been expanded and streamlined, with hundreds of thousands of long-term residency visas issued to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and skilled professionals. Corporate tax was introduced at 9 percent from June 2023, aligning the UAE with international tax transparency standards while maintaining competitiveness. Foreign trade volumes have grown significantly. The AED 10 billion fund for start-ups and SMEs, announced under the programme, has begun deploying capital through the Emirates Development Bank and other channels. Social initiatives including updates to personal status laws and cultural investment programmes have been implemented.
Lead and Supporting Institutions
Projects of the 50 is coordinated at the Cabinet level, with implementation distributed across federal and emirate authorities. The Ministry of Economy leads trade and investment workstreams. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) manages visa reforms. The Ministry of Finance oversees corporate tax implementation. Individual emirates — particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai — have launched complementary initiatives that align with the federal programme framework. The Prime Minister’s Office provides strategic coordination and monitoring across workstreams.
Relationship to We the UAE 2031 Pillars
Projects of the 50 is the most direct predecessor and policy foundation for We the UAE 2031. Many of the targets and reforms launched under the programme have been absorbed into the We the UAE 2031 framework, providing continuity between the golden jubilee agenda and the subsequent decade-long national vision. The programme supports all four pillars — economy through trade and investment targets, society through quality of life and social reform, sustainability through green economy initiatives embedded in the package, and global engagement through diplomatic expansion targets.
Funding and Resource Allocation
Funding is distributed across individual workstreams rather than allocated as a single programme budget. Headline commitments include AED 10 billion for the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis) programme to support private sector Emiratisation, AED 5 billion for technology and digital infrastructure, and substantial allocations to the Emirates Development Bank for SME financing. Total public investment mobilised under the Projects of the 50 umbrella across federal and emirate budgets is estimated to exceed AED 100 billion, though the decentralised implementation model makes precise aggregation difficult.