The organizers of the twenty fifth GCC Smart Government and Smart Cities Conference honored the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, for launching the Arab Common Vision for Digital Economy. Mr. Ali Al Kamali, the Managing Director of the organizing company handed over the honoring award to H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Mohamed Al Rabie, Secretary General, Arab Economic Unity Council, as a sign of appreciation of those entrusted with the administration of smart governments and cities, for the efforts of the council to launch the first draft of strategic Arab common vision for digital economy.

The Arab Federation for Digital Economy, and in continuing and follow up on efforts of the first conference for Arab digital economy, held in Abu Dhabi last December, has launched the first draft of strategic Arab common vision for digital economy. The draft includes the role of digital economy as a stimulus of real economic development, its impact on the latter, and on creating job opportunities, social prosperity, political stability, improving government performance, moreover, achieving the UN’s 17 objectives of sustainable development.

Also, the draft includes a framework for Arab digital economy, its dimensions and analysis, in addition, lessons learned from successful models of global economies, those who have achieved significant success in the field. The study showed 50 programs related to the objectives of global sustainable development, the most significant economic sectors, and their role in emphasizing social and political stability in the Arab world, and digital inclusion of Arab societies.

The study dedicated a full chapter on Arab and international partners and stakeholders, the strategies for financing sustainable programs, measuring the outcomes of their different applications backed by data and studying the implementations of digitization processes and their impact on Arab comprehensive economic development. It also stated the funders, Arab, international, and Arab sovereign funds, as well as the funding schemes in accordance with planned implementation programs and timelines.

Many prestigious international establishments and organizations participated in preparing and launching the first draft of strategic Arab common vision for digital economy, like Cairo University, Harvard University, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and a committee of 65 working experts of digital transformation worldwide.

H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Mohamed Al Rabie, Secretary General, Arab Economic Unity Council, has shown his appreciation for all individuals and organizations that participated in preparing the first draft. He also praised the role of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, which pioneered to support the strategic Arab common vision for digital economy, and hosted the first conference for Arab digital economy in Abu Dhabi, and also following up on this study. Ambassador Al Rabie also emphasized that the first draft was shared with all Arab representatives and ambassadors.