The UAE Cabinet approved a package of national strategies and governance changes, led by the National Space Strategy 2031, alongside new frameworks for integrative medicine and healthy nutrition, and reconstituted several national councils including the Emirates Genome Council. It also authorised the ratification and signing of more than 120 international agreements and memoranda of understanding and approved the issuance of executive regulations and decisions across sectors, including customs, endowments and taxation-related updates. The space strategy targets a more attractive investment environment, deeper partnerships and market access, and competitive space infrastructure, with goals including doubling space economy revenues, doubling the number of national space companies, export markets, infrastructure investments and UAE-based space start-ups, and ranking among the top 10 global space economies by 2031. The National Integrative Medicine Strategy is structured around seven pillars and 16 initiatives, including a governance framework, legislative updates, national clinical guidelines and treatment pathways, expanded insurance coverage, a continuous medical education requirement for practice and a professional association; the National Healthy Nutrition Strategy 2031 includes initiatives such as banning partially hydrogenated oils, regulating marketing of unhealthy food and beverages, a digital nutrition guide and a national nutrition monitoring system. The reconstituted Emirates Genome Council, chaired by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is tasked with national policy, legislative, regulatory, ethical and data-governance frameworks for genomics and precision medicine; the international approvals include Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Nigeria, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Gabon, and investment agreements with Canada, Palau, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago. The Cabinet also reviewed labour-market and social protection metrics, including 99% enrolment in the Wage Protection System and 83% coverage under unemployment insurance, and took stock of the UAE Strategy for Islamic Finance and Halal Industry 2025, including work to unify standards for Islamic banking and sukuk, launch fractional bonds described as fractional sukuk, regulate Sharia-compliant digital assets and build a central digital infrastructure and blockchain platform for Islamic financial instruments.
UAE Cabinet 2026-03-29
UAE Cabinet approves National Space Strategy 2031 and ratifies more than 120 international agreements
The UAE Cabinet approved a broad package of national strategies and governance changes, led by the National Space Strategy 2031, new frameworks for integrative medicine and healthy nutrition, and the reconstitution of the Emirates Genome Council, alongside authorisation of over 120 international agreements and new executive regulations in customs, endowments and taxation. The space strategy targets doubling space economy revenues, national space companies, export markets, infrastructure investments and UAE-based start-ups by 2031, while the health strategies introduce new governance, legislative and clinical frameworks, product restrictions and digital tools. The Cabinet also reviewed labour-market and social protection indicators and progress under the UAE Strategy for Islamic Finance and Halal Industry 2025, including unified standards for Islamic banking and sukuk, fractional sukuk, Sharia-compliant digital assets and a central blockchain-based infrastructure for Islamic financial instruments.