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National Innovation Strategy was launched on October 2014 with the aim of making the UAE one of the most innovative nations in the world within seven years. The strategy will stimulate innovation in seven sectors where innovation is key to excellence: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. Its first phase includes 30 national initiatives to be completed within three years. These include new legislation, innovation incubators, investment in specialized skills, private sector incentives, international research partnerships and an innovation drive within government. The strategy contains practical initiatives in each of its seven priority sectors: Renewable energy, Transportation, Education, Health, Water, Technology and Space.

The main advantage of this new draft law for foreign investors will lead to increasing the percentage of foreign ownership of projects up to 100% in the sectors or the activities prescribed by the law and meet the standards set for foreign investment projects by the law. Those standards include (...) environment preservation.

UAE has committed to a 7% renewable energy target by 2020 and is planning to be less dependent on oil. The Abu Dhabi future energy (Masdar) is in process of finding low cost renewable energy technologies that can be rolled out on a large scale, giving safe and clean power to many. Masdar has already sent out tenders for international companies and has awarded several contracts for the construction of concentrated solar power plants and are in the process of reviewing technologies for using wind turbines to generate electricity.

Part of the Masdar initiative is Masdar City, the world’s first carbon neutral, zero waste city completely powered by renewable energy. Masdar City will become a blueprint for cities around the world striving for sustainability and intends to attract international businesses, academics, entrepreneurs and advocates. Eventually growing to over 50,000 residents, Masdar City will test the boundaries of current and future thinking in sustainable design.

This city of the future is only the beginning of the UAE’s commitment to developing sustainable energy sources that can meet the predicted national annual peak demand of more than 40,000 megawatts by 2020. The U.A.E welcomes America’s private industry to participate in achieving this ambitious goal.

Similar projects and initiatives are also the center of attention in other emirates. Dubai is exploring renewable energy options, such as solar, wind power, hydrogen and nuclear-based power stations as an alternative to fossil-fuel based energy sources. The Mohamed bin Rashed Solar park is one of these flagship projects that will produce over 1000MW by 2030.

The UAE Strategy for tourism is based on “Developing Sustainable Tourism for Economic and Social Success”. This integrated approach with its triple themes of sustainability with both economic and social success represents Best Practice and ensures the optimum range of benefits to UAE, its communities and people.

(...) Furthermore, as envisaged by the Government, transitioning towards a knowledge driven economy through better quality of education, promotion of innovation and use of new technologies, would contribute to raising productivity and diversifying the economy; thus sustaining growth. In this respect, the Government has started to implement initiatives in alternative energy, Islamic economy, and space and aerospace.

The Government of the UAE seeks to attain sustainable development through the implementation of UAE Vision 2021. [8] (...)

[8] UAE online information, "UAE Vision 2021". Viewed at: http://www.vision2021.ae/en/our-vision [November 2015].

Individual emirates create their own strategy within the framework of the overall federal plan, for example, Abu Dhabi developed its long-term plan – Economic Vision 2030. Strategies at the emirates level are expected to work towards guaranteeing and enhancing the position of the UAE; for example, extensive investment in air and sea transport infrastructure (for both passengers and freight) at the emirates level would contribute to achieving the sustainable development goal of the UAE as a whole.