As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) began its rapid spread around the globe, countries’ preparedness to handle crises came under the microscope, and the veil was lifted on governments’ ability to mitigate such risks and manage an unforeseen challenge of this magnitude. Institutions in every nation had to demonstrate their capacity for maintaining business continuity under tremendous pressure and amid one of the most significant crises mankind has had to go through in modern history.

Dealing with unnatural, unprecedented crises without prior experience or enough information to base decisions on is no easy task for any country. Nevertheless, the UAE succeeded in navigating these uncertainties and largely mitigating its impact on every sector. The Emirates had sown the seeds of this success long before this current predicament with a host of ground-breaking initiatives, most notable among them being the establishment of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority to proactively set plans that guarantee business continuity and coordinate crisis management efforts on a national level.

On the same note, the UAE sought to prioritise food security and ensure it has a strategic stock of food, creating, to that end, a new ministerial portfolio dedicated to handling this challenge, in addition to setting plans to achieve that objective in preparation for such conditions.

A series of steps we carried out ahead of launching the new portfolio, including the establishment of government and semi-governmental food companies in the UAE and abroad, as well as supporting the agriculture, fishing, and livestock sectors to cater to the country’s demand for these essential products.

Furthermore, the UAE’s forward-thinking strategic vision led the country to not only ensure it had sufficient stocks of food, but also of every product necessary to maintain people’s wellbeing and business continuity. It is precisely this vision that has helped the UAE come out on top in this crisis, limiting its negative repercussions.

As the pandemic rages on, the Emirates came prepared, having built a robust, world-class infrastructure complete with a government and private healthcare network of hospitals, clinics, and institutes operated by the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention, as well as local hospitals and health departments in each individual emirate. This is not to mention private healthcare institutions who provide best-in-class equipment and medical staff.

The UAE had also built a sprawling land, air, and sea transport network, establishing itself as a logistical hub serving the region and the world, which helped secure supply chains for all economic sectors. The network is supported by a sophisticated digital infrastructure and advanced technological, administrative, and financial systems that ensured business continuity despite the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of disease. Also supporting the network – and the emirate’s entire infrastructure, for that matter – is an advanced and diversified energy grid that allowed for uninterrupted business operations. The country’s energy sector made it a priority to find energy alternatives and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The United Arab Emirates had championed the concept of agile governments, which enabled it to quickly adapt to the rapid developments brought on by the COVID-19 crisis and bring them under full control, in addition to generating proactive solutions for the challenges at hand, fortifying the country’s vision for the future.

The UAE has always had its sights set on the future, leading it to develop a forward-thinking vision that allowed it to correctly assess the situation from its very beginning. Our wise leadership’s directives and close follow-up allowed officials and decision makers across all sectors to implement calculated proactive procedures rather than rely on momentary reactive measures. Every decision was weighed for its impact on the future of the country and all of its inhabitants.

Once again, the country’s digital prowess played a significant role in driving this success. The smart, digital transformation that has been underway for years allowed all sectors to carry on with their operations uninterrupted, and made remote work and education possible. This, in turn, ensured business and education continuity in the UAE, while many countries around the world suffered interruptions as they implemented precautions to curb the spread of the virus.

Fighting on multiple fronts, the UAE juggled two crises: the global COVID-19 pandemic and deteriorating oil prices, which slowed down the entire economy. Nevertheless, the Emirates set bold solutions and stimulus packages to revive all sectors. The new programmes built on an already strong foundation, where the UAE had launched its post-oil plan years ago, leading the way in diversifying investments, sources of income, and energy supplies.

From a social and human perspective, the UAE sought to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all its foreign residents, rolling out generous programmes, as well as medical services and tests, to help them mitigate the repercussions of the crisis. It also provided aid to countries around the world who needed equipment or resources to cope with the outbreak, supporting the World Health Organisation’s efforts around the world. Moreover, authorities in the UAE organised successful campaigns to educate the public and raise their awareness about the crisis, as well as their responsibilities towards themselves and the community. This, in turn, helped prepare them to accept the restrictions on movement that were later implemented as necessary.

Emirati diplomatic missions abroad sought to coordinate with foreign governments to repatriate UAE nationals and ensure their health and safety. The UAE also played a major role in transporting and housing citizens of friendly countries who were stranded due to airport closings and travel bans, or whose countries refused to repatriate.

Today, nearly two months into the crisis, the front-line authorities dealing with the challenge have reached maturity in terms of procedure and coordination. It has become clear that the UAE implemented an effective and integrated health system to handle detected cases; the country spared no resources, doubling the capacity at existing hospitals while also building advanced field hospitals in record time.

As the crisis continues, so too does the track record of success. As business and life slowly return to normal – with necessary precautions firmly in place – our accomplishments continue to grow, guided by a wise leadership that is dedicated to excellence.

God bless and protect the UAE, its leadership, its people, and all of its inhabitants.

By Tariq Hilal Lootah,

Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs