ع
Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, met with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Group, at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Dubai this month to examine opportunities for deepening their strategic partnership. The talks centred on shared global priorities including enhanced financial and development cooperation as both sides seek to address evolving economic challenges through closer collaboration. Al Hussaini described the relationship as a mature model of international cooperation rooted in knowledge exchange, capacity building and innovative solutions that align with regional and global objectives, according to details shared following the gathering.
Senior UAE officials including Under-Secretary Younis Haji AlKhoori and Assistant Under-Secretary Ali Abdullah Sharafi for International Financial Relations joined the discussions alongside World Bank Vice President Ousmane Dione for the Middle East and North Africa, Director of Strategy and Operations Ayat Soliman and UAE Resident Representative Iva Haml. The meeting included a review of progress under the National Talent Development Programme launched in April as part of the broader cooperation framework. Participants examined the initiative’s contributions to talent development and stronger institutional ties between the ministry and the World Bank Group.
Al Hussaini emphasised the increasing significance of innovation, artificial intelligence and knowledge exchange in the joint development agenda during the June talks. He pointed to the value of advanced technologies in accelerating sustainable growth, boosting productivity and building resilient systems that can adjust to worldwide shifts. Cooperation on financial inclusion, water resources, urban development and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles formed key elements of the shared approach to tackling pressing global issues, the ministry reported.
Both parties noted the importance of Abu Dhabi’s selection to host the 2029 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, a decision announced in April 2026 according to Reuters. The choice underscores the UAE’s rising profile in international finance and the confidence global institutions hold in its ability to organise major events. This development aligns with the country’s expanding role in global economic forums and its long-term vision for leadership in sustainable practices.
The discussions build on a partnership framework signed in May 2026 under which the World Bank agreed to support the UAE in advancing its investment climate reforms and competitiveness, a World Bank press release stated at the time. That agreement backs the UAE’s National Investment Strategy aimed at attracting quality foreign direct investment to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. World Bank data shows the UAE economy expanded 4 percent in 2024 with non-oil sectors now comprising more than 77 percent of GDP and continuing to lead diversification efforts.
The World Bank has maintained an office in the UAE since 2019 to provide advisory support for the country’s Vision 2031 objectives across areas such as public sector reform, fiscal management, renewable energy and water sustainability, according to a World Bank country brief. The June meeting explored further elevation of the partnership through knowledge partnerships and co-financing initiatives already in place. Such engagement reinforces the UAE’s contributions to development solutions in the Middle East and North Africa while promoting government efficiency and innovation at scale.
