UAE, World Economic Forum collaborate to establish the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish and launch the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP). The agreement was unveiled at the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24, 2025. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, attended the signing ceremony.

The platform aims to understand, evaluate, and create human-centered legislation to address rapid technological and digital advancements, ultimately benefiting society. It will provide a nurturing environment for regulatory innovation, equipping stakeholders with advanced tools and methodologies to assess the readiness and effectiveness of legislative frameworks. Furthermore, GRIP is dedicated to fostering international cooperation on adaptive governance models to address future challenges and opportunities.

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the UAE, and Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. Her Excellency Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, signed the agreement on behalf of the UAE, while Mr. Alois Zwinggi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, signed on behalf of the WEF.

Her Excellency Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi stated, "The establishment and launch of the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform in partnership with the World Economic Forum embodies the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This initiative reinforces the UAE’s role as a leading regional and global hub for international cooperation and supports global efforts towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, promoting stability, prosperity, and well-being for all communities."

Al Hammadi added, "The platform aligns with the UAE’s forward-looking approach to fostering innovation in all sectors, particularly in legislative frameworks. This commitment has enabled the UAE to achieve unprecedented milestones in recent years, demonstrating its adaptability and progressiveness by modernizing more than 80% of its national legislation."

She also highlighted key objectives of the partnership with the World Economic Forum, including developing and launching a Legislative Future Readiness Index, publishing a Global Regulatory Innovation Guide, establishing an international network of experts, policymakers, and legislators, enhancing the capabilities of legislative professionals, and creating a global knowledge platform for legislative innovation. The initiative will also organize dialogues on regulatory innovation and host a Global Legislative Forum.

Furthermore, Al Hammadi concluded, "The launch of GRIP elevates the UAE's position as a global hub for international organizations, businesses, and institutions seeking a supportive and flexible regulatory environment. It also positions the UAE as a center of knowledge and a platform for sharing expertise in cutting-edge legislative developments."