The UAE Government has launched the Emirati National Identity Strategy, a comprehensive framework developed by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the National Projects Office of the Presidential Court. Announced during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025, the initiative aims to strengthen national belonging, social cohesion, and cultural values across society.
Defining the Pillars of National Identity
Unveiled by Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, during a keynote session titled “Legacy and Responsibility,” the strategy establishes a unified model to reinforce the Emirati identity in everyday life.
Developed with input from more than 40 federal and local entities, it focuses on three key pillars — defining core values, embedding identity across all sectors, and creating a governance framework supported by a National Identity Index.
The Emirati national identity is articulated through six elements: Islamic values and ethics, the Arabic language and Emirati dialect, the Union and homeland, heritage and traditions, history and collective memory, and the Emirati family.
Five core values form the foundation of these elements — respect and humility, ambition and perseverance, belonging and responsibility, cohesion and coexistence, and generosity and humanity.
Embedding Identity into Everyday Life
Al Qassimi said the strategy “transforms identity from a cultural concept into a social practice embedded in everyday life,” reflecting the leadership’s commitment to nurturing generations grounded in Emirati values and heritage.
The framework includes 13 initiatives spanning education, family, culture, media, and the economy. Among these are integrating identity themes into school curricula, establishing a cultural heritage law, developing a national cultural registry, and promoting the Emirati dialect and hospitality.
A National Identity Committee will oversee implementation and coordination across institutions, ensuring that the UAE’s shared values continue to guide its unity, social stability, and long-term national cohesion.
