The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the federal budget for 2020 with a total of 61.354 billion dirhams and without a deficit, which is the largest since the founding of the state, with 31% of it allocated to the social development sector. .

The federal budget for 2020 comes with all its plans and programs to translate the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to provide a decent life for citizens and residents in the UAE, in order to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 and the goals of the UAE 2071 Centennial, and the UAE continues to achieve its aspirations and provide the best ways Living and well-being of its residents and citizens, through quality and value-added services and initiatives in various sectors, with the aim of making a positive and real impact on the daily life of the citizen.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that 2020 will be the beginning of a new, different and accelerated development decade. "The federal budget is balanced and reflects our national priorities and is managed efficiently," he said.

This came during the adoption of the federal budget for 2020, during the meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, yesterday, in the presence of HH Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Presidential Affairs.

On the sidelines of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also met with UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Advanced Science, Sara Bint Yousef Al Amiri, Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, Yousef Hamad Al Shaibani, and UAE Program Manager. For the astronauts, Engineer Salem Al Marri, where His Highness blessed and praised the achievement of the son of the UAE by his arrival as the first Arab astronaut to the International Space Station, and his representation of the State and the Arab world in this historic mission that opened horizons and established a new phase added to the achievements of the nation.

During the meeting, His Highness was briefed on the UAE space sector since its inception and what has been achieved so far.

His Highness said, `` We have achieved the dream of the UAE, the dream of Zayed, the children of Zayed do not know the impossible, and the ceiling of our ambitions is rising every day. ''

The budget of 2020 was approved at a value of 61,354 million and 600 thousand dirhams, where the general budget allocations of the Union for the financial year were distributed among different sectors, and sectors directly related to citizens and their services received the most share, with 31% of the budget allocated to the social development sector and 14% to the infrastructure sector. Infrastructure and economic resources, 6.5% for social benefits, and 32.6% for government affairs.

The budget - the largest federally since the founding of the state - reflects the strength of the national economy and the abundance and sustainability of resources to finance economic and social development projects in the country, more than 300 times since the first federal budget in 1971, and recorded without deficit for the third year in a row, confirming the continuation of the approach taken to achieve The balance between expenses and revenues, and focus next year on ambitious plans and projects that look forward to the future.

In detail, estimates for programs for social development and social benefits amounted to AED 26.7 billion, representing 38% of the general budget, and allocations for public, higher and university education programs amounted to AED 10.4 billion, representing 14.8% of the budget. Higher education and university estimates amounted to AED 3.7 billion, 5.3% of the overall budget.

Health care and community protection funds amounted to AED 4.9 billion, 6.9% of the overall budget, to provide the highest level of medical care services to citizens and achieve the vision of leadership to provide quality services.

Funds for social rights and social integration programs in the Ministry of Community Development amounted to 3.5 billion dirhams, 5% of the general budget to ensure the welfare of the state for groups that deserve support, and provide subsidies to special groups in need of care. Housing, which represents 2.5% of the budget, in order to support the provision of adequate housing for citizens of the state.

Appropriations for social benefits programs (pensions) amounted to 4.6 billion dirhams, or 6.5% of the budget, in accordance with the directives of the leadership to provide a decent life for retired civil servants, military and other services 1.6 billion dirhams.

It also allocated AED 23 billion for public government affairs, representing 32.6% of the budget to the Department of Government Affairs, AED 9.9 billion for infrastructure and economic, representing 14% of the budget, and AED 21.9 billion for social development programs, about 31.1% of the budget.

AED 4.6 billion was allocated to social benefits, 6.5% of the budget, and AED 7.8 billion to other federal expenditures, 11.1% of the budget.

The UAE's space sector is the largest in the region in terms of size, diversity and direct investments.The sector is vital, active, organized and clear plans for future programs.It includes a legislative and regulatory system that makes it one of the fastest growing sectors.National Space Policy has been issued, the adoption of space law, and the adoption of the strategy. National Space Administration, which represents the roadmap for space science, technology and innovation.

The State currently owns and operates eight large and modern satellites in the field of communications and space surveillance, in addition to two education satellites (Naif-1 and MySat-1), and will enter the service eight other modern satellites of an educational nature of science before 2021, including the Hope probe, satellites Ain Falcon surveillance and reconnaissance.

The UAE has the first Arab space agency and the first Arab-Islamic project to explore Mars (Hope Probe). The UAE has satellite operators (Yah-Sat) and Thuraya and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space.

Yahsat has become one of the top 10 satellite companies in the world in terms of income.It launched in January 2018 the third satellite to cover South America and plans for the fourth satellite.It also has four space research centers (Mohammed Bin Rashid Space and Sharjah Astronomy and Space). And the National Space Science and Technology Research Institute at the UAE University - Al Ain, and the Yahsat Space Institute Laboratory at Khalifa University).

In the human capacity, the national space sector employs about 1,500 employees, about 30% of whom are nationals, women represent about 35% and the average age in the 1930s, and there are more than 50 companies with different space activities.

Vice President:

• “2020 will be the beginning of a new, different and accelerated development decade”.

• “The budget is balanced and balanced and reflects our national priorities and is managed efficiently”.

• “Space is not the ceiling of our ambition, but the beginning of our path .. We have begun equipping Emirati astronauts to explore Mars.”

Solar energy

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved and ratified a number of agreements, including the ratification of the Framework Agreement for the International Solar Coalition and the Supplementary Agreement for the Headquarters Agreement between the Government and the International Renewable Energy Agency. In addition, there are two agreements between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of the Republic of Senegal on the promotion and mutual protection of investments.

Government initiatives

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reviewed a number of reports to follow up the progress of government projects and initiatives. The final account was approved by Emirates Development Bank, Emirates General Transport and Services Corporation (Emirates Transport), Emirates Post Group and subsidiaries for the financial year 2018.

Education Support Fund

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the establishment of the Education Support Fund, which aims to strengthen partnerships with the private sector and businessmen to develop education and provide additional financial resources to support quality development programs in education at all stages. And its forms.

The Fund aims to ensure the sustainability of quality development and modernization programs for education, which will be governed by the concerned authorities and ministries, and will be subject to internal audit and oversight of the Audit Bureau.

Climate change and the environment

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the restructuring of the Emirates Council for Climate Change and Environment, chaired by the Minister of Climate Change and Environment and membership of a number of government agencies and representatives from the private sector. Amend the formation of the “Standing Committee for Follow-up to the Universal Periodic Report on Human Rights”, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the membership of representatives of the concerned federal and local government bodies.

• The budget of 2020 has doubled 300 times since the establishment of the state.

1500 employees working in the national space sector, 30% of whom are citizens and 35% women.

• The space sector in the largest country in the region in terms of size and diversity with investments of 22 billion dirhams.

• 26.7 billion dirhams for social development programs and social benefits, to enhance the lives of citizens and provide them with a decent life.

• AED 10.4 billion for public, higher and university education programs, with the aim of enhancing the quality of education, the scholarship system and study programs.

• 3.5 billion dirhams for the programs of the Ministry of Community Development, to ensure state sponsorship of the categories eligible for support.