Abu Dhabi, 30th October 2025 (WAM) The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism hosted the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) meeting from 29th–30th October 2025 under the theme “Building Diversified and Connected Economies: Private Sector Strategies”. The event, held at Expo City Dubai, brought together policymakers and industry leaders to explore strategies for sustainable growth, inclusive policy development, and new economy sectors.
The session was attended by Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, along with key government representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the OECD, as well as stakeholders from public and private sectors across the MENA region and beyond.
In his opening remarks, Bin Touq highlighted the UAE’s robust legislative environment, noting the introduction of more than 35 economic reforms in the past five years, including 10 key laws focused on emerging sectors like AI, clean energy, health, fintech, and space. He emphasized that the UAE’s economic policies place people at the center of its development strategy and are aligned with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
“The UAE’s non-oil sectors contributed over 77% of GDP in Q1 2025, reflecting our shift toward a knowledge-driven, diversified economy,” Bin Touq stated. He showcased recent innovations like the Green Innovation District at Expo City Dubai, reaffirming the UAE’s leadership in integrating sustainability with economic advancement.
Bin Touq further emphasized the importance of UAE-OECD collaboration in promoting resilient, sustainable, and competitive economic ecosystems across the region.
Public-Private Dialogue for Regional Competitiveness
Dr. Maria Alqassim, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry, highlighted the importance of the meeting in strengthening dialogue between the public and private sectors. She described BAB as a platform to advance practical solutions in areas such as SMEs, tourism, and agribusiness.
Carlos Conde of the OECD noted that the meeting signals a key milestone in UAE-OECD cooperation, driving policies that enhance resilience, transparency, and innovation across MENA economies.
BAB Co-Chair Marta Blanco added that such partnerships allow governments and the private sector to jointly design policies aligned with global economic transformations in technology, trade, and sustainability.
Six Key Panel Sessions
The two-day event featured six panel discussions covering:
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Physical & Digital Infrastructure Connectivity – Exploring the role of linked transportation, energy, and digital networks in reducing trade costs and enhancing logistics.
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Trade & Investment Integration – Highlighting the importance of regulatory convergence and cross-border market linkages.
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Innovation Ecosystems – Examining strategies to boost mobility, innovation, and collaborative R&D initiatives.
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Sustainable Tourism – Focusing on digital transformation and skills development to grow high-value, sustainable tourism models.
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SMEs & Entrepreneurship – Addressing the support and scaling of SMEs as engines of innovation, productivity, and job creation.
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Agribusiness – Discussing climate-smart food systems and boosting cooperation in agricultural innovation and regional partnerships.
The meeting reinforced the UAE’s commitment to fostering an agile and future-ready economic environment while positioning itself as a global hub for innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnership.
