UAE President announces launch of citizen-led authority

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced the launch of an authority that will be led exclusively by citizens to shape the nation's future.

Named Community-Managed Virtual Authority, it is inspired by the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, and part of Sheikh Mohamed's broader vision to "empower and invest in people and harness their capabilities for the benefit of the society".

The first-of-its-kind governance model will entrust the community to fully manage a public authority within a structured institutional framework.

Under this model, skilled Emiratis will, for the first time, assume full responsibility for managing an authority. These will include experts, specialists, professionals, academics, youth, entrepreneurs, and retirees with significant experience

They will take on the role of Director General or team members, on a rotation basis, based on specific criteria like competence, expertise and the ability to contribute effectively to the authority’s objectives.

This entity is in line with the goals of the Year of Community.

The core mandate of the authority is to design initiatives, programmes, and practical solutions that are both innovative and ready for implementation to enhance quality of life across the UAE, and supporting long-term sustainable development.