Whither our future

Legend has it that when the late Czechoslovakian magnate Thomas Bata, whose name is synonymous with his shoe empire, sent a salesman to Africa to tap into a developing market, the employee returned empty-handed, complaining that there were no opportunities because everyone walked around barefoot. The salesman was promptly fired but the incident – whether true or not – highlights a truism: that challenges can also present opportunities in disguise.

Such fabled inspirational stories do not only exist within the realm of entrepreneurship. The UAE tells an inspiring story itself. Since its founding nearly 48 years ago, the country has achieved remarkable advancements in economic, technological, medical and social spheres. What was once a barren desert is today a flourishing, cosmopolitan nation.

Many thought the UAE desert was an impossible obstacle to overcome. All they saw was never-ending sand and barren land. But the UAE’s leadership embraced the dunes and cultivated native flora and fauna. Arabian oryx, once close to extinction, are now thriving in the wild. Today more than 15 million people from around the world visit the UAE every year, in large part to experience its deserts. To meet rising demand from visitors, Abu Dhabi recently announced plans to transform its isolated regions into ecotourism hotspots. Rather than be deterred by vast swathes of desert, the country’s leaders had the vision to embrace our distinct geographical beauty and transform it into a cultural, economic and ecological asset.

Another challenge that confronted the UAE was the plunge in oil prices in 2014. But rather than a pushback, energy security concerns have propelled the UAE forward into becoming a global leader in investing in renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. Today a diversified economy and renewable energy development are core priorities for the government. The UAE has integrated its sustainability measures into several of its national strategies, such as UAE Vision 2021, the UAE National Climate Change Plan 2050 and the UAE Energy Plan 2050. The country is home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), an intergovernmental organisation that promotes renewable energy use, as well as Masdar Institute, a graduate-level university dedicated to developing alternative energies.

It has also become a global platform for furthering the world’s sustainable development; it hosted a number of international summits such as the World Green Economy Summit, the World Government Summit and most recently, the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting. In June, Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single solar plant with 3.2 million solar panels, began its commercial operation.

The UAE’s mindset of transforming challenges into opportunities has underpinned many of its other achievements, from launching the satellite KhalifaSat to hosting the world at Expo 2020 Dubai.

These countries reveal that a challenge is not a roadblock but a crossroad; it is how we respond to that challenge that determines whether it becomes our gravest difficulty or our greatest opportunity

To our east, Singapore was once a water-scarce country. With its small land area, lack of fresh water resources and dense population, it was almost entirely dependent on Malaysia for its water supply.

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Whither our future

Legend has it that when the late Czechoslovakian magnate Thomas Bata, whose name is synonymous with his shoe empire, sent a salesman to Africa to tap into a developing market, the employee returned empty-handed, complaining that there were no opportunities because everyone walked around barefoot. The salesman was promptly fired but the incident whether true or not highlights a truism: that challenges can also present opportunities in disguise. Such fabled inspirational stories do not only exist within the realm of entrepreneurship. The UAE tells an inspiring story itself. Since its founding nearly 48 years ago, the country has achieved remarkable advancements in economic, technological, medical and social spheres. What was once a barren desert is today a flourishing, cosmopolitan nation. Many thought the UAE desert was an impossible obstacle to overcome. All they saw was never-ending sand and barren land. But the UAEs leadership embraced the dunes and cultivated native flora and fauna. Arabian oryx, once close to extinction, are now thriving in the wild. Today more than 15 million people from around the world visit the UAE every year, in large part to experience its deserts. To meet rising demand from visitors, Abu Dhabi recently announced plans to transform its isolated regions into ecotourism hotspots. Rather than be deterred by vast swathes of desert, the countrys leaders had the vision to embrace our distinct geographical beauty and transform it into a cultural, economic and ecological asset. Another challenge that confronted the UAE was the plunge in oil prices in 2014. But rather than a pushback, energy security concerns have propelled the UAE forward into becoming a global leader in investing in renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. Today a diversified economy and renewable energy development are core priorities for the government. The UAE has integrated its sustainability measures into several of its national strategies, such as UAE Vision 2021, the UAE National Climate Change Plan 2050 and the UAE Energy Plan 2050. The country is home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), an intergovernmental organisation that promotes renewable energy use, as well as Masdar Institute, a graduate-level university dedicated to developing alternative energies. It has also become a global platform for furthering the worlds sustainable development; it hosted a number of international summits such as the World Green Economy Summit, the World Government Summit and most recently, the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting. In June, Noor Abu Dhabi, the worlds largest single solar plant with 3.2 million solar panels, began its commercial operation. The UAEs mindset of transforming challenges into opportunities has underpinned many of its other achievements, from launching the satellite KhalifaSat to hosting the world at Expo 2020 Dubai. These countries reveal that a challenge is not a roadblock but a crossroad; it is how we respond to that challenge that determines whether it becomes our gravest difficulty or our greatest opportunity To our east, Singapore was once a water-scarce country. With its small land area, lack of fresh water resources and dense population, it was almost entirely dependent on Malaysia for its water supply. thenational.ae