The UAEU Center for Public Policy and Leadership announced the launch of the Human Development Report UAE 2017 project, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), during a press conference on Monday 7 November, 2016, in the Crescent Building at UAEU.

The event was attended by UAEU Vice Chancellor Professor Mohamed Albaili, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies Professor Ghaleb Ali Al Hadrami Al Breiki, Director of the Center for Public Policy and Leadership Dr. Ateeq Jakka Al Mansoori, and representatives of the Higher Steering Committee involved in the report.

During the conference, Professor Mohamed Albaili said that this project, which will run from November 2016 till November 2017, springs from the wish to build on the gains achieved in past decades in strengthening the state's record in human development. He added that the report would be a useful resource for students, researchers and leaders with regard to future policy formulation and decision making.

Dr. Ateeq Jakka Al Mansoori said that the project,  based on the economy, population, education, health, the labor market and social policies, would contribute to serving the UAE Vision 2021, and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and would revive the human development report project prepared by the United Arab Emirates University in 1997. He added that it would ensure the sustainability of the strong and unwavering position held by the UAE in the various international human development indicators.

The Higher Steering Committee was formed from vital state sectors: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, the Federal Demographic Council, the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Future and the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The UNDP will provide technical support to the project, and will review the initial reports.

The UAE is currently ranked on the UNDP index as one of the “very high human development” countries in the world.