SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - UAE Interact

213SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTOVER THE LIFETIME OF LESS THAN A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS, theinhabitants of the UAE have been transformed from a traditional,largely rural people with little or no access to education and healthservices to a modern, urbanised, sophisticated society. Despitethis fundamental social upheaval, particularly the demographicimbalances brought about by large-scale immigration, the UAEcontinues to be a tolerant, open, caring community that cherishesits religious and traditional roots.As a result of the significant progress in social developmentachieved in the country so far, the UAE was ranked forty-ninth inthe Human Development Index (HDI) compiled by the UN HumanDevelopment Report for 2006. This was based on many aspectsof development in the country, including real improvementsin education and health services leading to a low illiteracy rate(9 per cent), high life expectancy at birth (78.3 years) and a lowrate of postpartum and infant mortality; rising contribution to GDPper capita, and an increased focus on the role of women in society.However, as in other areas of governance in the UAE, therecently formulated federal strategy has put renewed emphasison quality and focus on best practices in the delivery of allaspects of social development, particularly since there is anawareness that although the UAE has spent hundreds of billionsof dirhams on developing education, health care, housing, socialwelfare, culture, youth and sports, the results have remainedbelow expectations.It is generally recognised that it is only in the achievement ofadequate social development that other objectives, includingeconomic growth, infrastructure development, and providing asafe and secure environment have any meaning. As emphasisedby Abu Dhabi Executive Council Policy Agenda, key elements of theemirate’s vision for the development of social and human resourcesdescribe a society characterised by the provision of world-classservices, where individuals (both national and expatriate) are valuedIt is only in theachievement ofadequate socialdevelopment thatother objectives,including economicgrowth, infrastructuredevelopment, andproviding a safe andsecure environmenthave any meaning.@www.uaeinteract.com/social development