MEI Annual Conference 2020: Speech by HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi

In his speech, Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE's minister of state for higher education and advanced skills, examines whether the UAE, and other countries in the Middle East, can learn from East Asia, and his answer is a definitive yes. One of the biggest lessons is that of adaptability, he said, citing Singapore as an example of a nation-state that recognises when change is required and can quickly implement it. Dr Al Falasi argues that while the UAE is blessed with natural resources, it must change and adapt to the current market demands and invest in the one thing that really matters — its human capital. And this, simply put, could be achieved with education — always, everywhere and lifelong.