R&D

Research and development (R&D) is a top government priority in the UAE, as it underpins the country’s rapid growth. Various campaigns and efforts have recently been launched to support R&D in the UAE, such as the R&D Governance Policy announced in 2021, which resulted in the establishment of the Emirates Research and Development Council. In addition, a new National Guide for Measurement of R&D Expenditures in the Government Sector has been launched, and an Advanced Technology Research Council established.

MoIAT’s launch of the National Guide for Measurement of R&D Expenditures in [the] Government Sector, in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre and 16 local and federal entities across the UAE, is a pioneering step in line with the government’s directives to develop modern tools that encourage innovation in various fields.

HE Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education

1.3%

Research and Development Expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2020

AED 4 billion

Allocated by the Abu Dhabi Government to boost R&D

AED 40 million

Research funding awarded to 53 projects across eight key sectors in 2021.

AED 57 billion

The industrial sector's R&D spending by 2031

In launching the Research and Development (R&D) Governance Policy and the Emirates Research and Development Council, the UAE is moving to strengthen the performance and effectiveness of the UAE’s science and technology (S&T) sector and its efforts to achieve a knowledge-based economy.

 

The substance of the policy encompasses regulations, principles and standards for research across all sectors. The policy aims to:

  • foster an agile, robust national ecosystem for research and development in the UAE
  • define a centralised governance body for R&D and identify the responsibilities of its stakeholders
  • develop a mechanism to standardise data and measure the performance and impact of R&D at the national level
  • set standards to improve research, elevate the performance of the national R&D activities, enhance ethical and scientific quality, promote good practice and reduce adverse incidents
  • promote the UAE’s human intellectual capital
  • enhance global competitiveness in the industries of the future
  • create pathways towards priority markets.

 

The UAE’s R&D scene is already well established, with important work being done through the Emirates Center for Happiness Research, The National Space Science and Technology Center, Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, to name a few. In addition, R&D cooperation has expaned, with international joint centers such as the UAE-Korea Joint R&D Technical Center, a joint initiative between Khalifa University and the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI). The expansion of R&D international partnerships to boost capacity are set to remain a key focus for the UAE Government in the future.

What You Need to Know

  • R&D is spending is relevant to almost all sectors of the economy. As of 2020, 1.3 percent of GDP was allocated to R&D.
  • The industrial sector's R&D spending is projected to increase to AED 57 billion by 2031, more than doubling from AED 21 billion in 2020.
  • The UAE Government is driving demand for increased R&D. In the industrial sector, AED 30 billion has been allocated by the Emirates Development Bank over the next five years for driving innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies.
  • The Government has demonstrated its openness to facilitating research and development partnerships and joint ventures in priority sectors.
  • At the Federal level, R&D falls under the Emirates Research and Development Council, which is chaired by H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
  • The 2018 FDI Law allows for up to 100 percent foreign ownership in the sector outside free zones.
  • There is high demand for R&D in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and health-related subjects.
  • The Abu Dhabi Government has created a AED 4 billion (USD 1.09 billion) fund to boost research and development, providing rebates on R&D spend and costs of new activities in Abu Dhabi.
  • Abu Dhabi has pledged AED 5.6 billion (USD 1.52 billion) to support R&D on solutions to water scarcity and food security.
  • Ministry of industry and Advanced Technology
  • Emirates Research and Development Council
  • Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC)

The guide is part of the development of an integrated system to effectively govern and co-ordinate R&D activities, in line with the goals of Operation 300bn, to further enhance the thriving national industrial sector.

HE Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology

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