Transparency (1)

Faisal Muhammad Al-Shammari

December 19, 2022

The leadership's efforts to enhance governance, accountability and transparency contributed to the country's leadership in the Middle East and North Africa region, as it ranked 24th globally on the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index issued by Transparency International.

The state's achievement of regional leadership is only a step towards global leadership, to be among the most transparent and fair countries in the world, after obtaining 69 points on the general anti-corruption index.

The latest Corruption Perceptions Index showed that levels of corruption remain unchanged around the world;

Where the majority of countries have not made any significant progress in the past 10 years, and the best global practices of Denmark come in first place, then Finland, New Zealand, Norway fourth, and Singapore in fifth place.

The directives of the wise leadership in promoting transparency, accountability and trust, and applying the best practices of corporate governance in government work, were reflected in the efforts of the Accounting Authority in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as the best local practices, as it announced months ago that the fourth phase of the financial disclosure disclosure process for all senior employees will be completed soon. Abu Dhabi government, in parallel with the continuous work in developing a legislative, regulatory and financial environment.

The agency indicated the launch of the fourth phase of the project, which will include all government entities and companies that meet the disclosure standards, as it included 1,500 senior Abu Dhabi government employees, including heads of departments in the Abu Dhabi government, and undersecretaries of departments, as well as general managers and executive directors in all entities. government in the emirate.

It is expected to include senior employees in all companies and government agencies to which disclosure standards apply.

This initiative was applied with the highest standards of accuracy, quality, and confidentiality, and through an advanced digital platform, to establish clear foundations and controls for institutional transparency, enhance confidence in government work, and establish financial disclosure as a well-established practice in financial institutions, governments, and other public and private sector institutions.

And after the issuance of the Federal Decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, appointing Hamid Obaid Khalifa Obaid Abu Shabas, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority, as President of the Audit Bureau, we will see a qualitative shift in government work and strengthening the principles of integrity and transparency, with the aim of enhancing confidence among dealers, by Individuals, companies and organizations, as well as applying the financial disclosure system effectively to raise the classification of the UAE government in global integrity and transparency indicators, and to establish the country’s reputation as a safe investment destination, enjoying quality, efficiency and integrity of work, being one of the main attractions for investors, in parallel with other attractions.

It is also expected that the coming years will witness a quantum leap in the concept of disclosure to become one of the principles of corporate culture, and part of the government work system, government companies and the private sector.

Perhaps the first practice expected to be circulated is the launch of the “Wajib” platform, to receive reports of financial and administrative corruption, which was launched by the leadership of the local accounting authority in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which enabled the submission of reports through the platform, by all segments and groups of society, including employees, dealers and suppliers of the subject entities, which It means the government agencies affiliated to the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and companies in which the Abu Dhabi government contributes more than 25%, achieving protection for whistleblowers and witnesses, and their reward has been proven according to the approved controls.

Management consultant, digital transformation, and certified institutional excellence expert

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