The UAE and Bermuda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on government development and modernization, deepening bilateral cooperation at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. The agreement marks a new chapter in the two nations' partnership across economic, environmental, and social development — built on the exchange of best practices and lessons learned.
MOU Signed at UN HLPF on Sustainable Development
The MOU was concluded between the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Bermuda's Ministry of Economy and Labour. It creates a formal framework for sharing information on initiatives aimed at enhancing government service delivery and policy effectiveness. A central focus is human capacity building — equipping public sector employees with critical skills in technology, leadership, and strategy development.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the UN HLPF on Sustainable Development, which is convened annually by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to advance progress on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UAE uses such gatherings for bilateral meetings with governments, UN agencies, and international organisations to deepen its partnerships on sustainable development.
Abdullah Nasser Lootah on UAE's Public Sector Leadership
Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister for Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange and Chairman of the UAE's National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, signed the MOU on behalf of the UAE.
Lootah highlighted the UAE's track record in public sector innovation: "The UAE government has adopted a best practice framework on human capacity development and innovation in the public sector and as a result policies have improved while services have become smarter and benefits to our society and economy measurable."
He pointed to landmark UAE initiatives — including the world's first government accelerators and the One Million Arab Coders programme — as concrete examples of the country's commitment to building a future-ready public sector.
Bermuda's Growing Partnership with the UAE
Jason Hayward, Bermuda's Minister of Economy and Labour, signed the MOU on his government's behalf. He underscored the warmth and momentum of the UAE-Bermuda relationship.
Hayward noted that Bermuda's participation in the UAE's Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP) reflects the depth of the two nations' cooperation and has contributed to a clearer understanding of the mutual benefits of such partnerships.
The Government Experience Exchange Programme, established by the UAE in 2018, now spans 35 bilateral partnerships with governments around the world — with Bermuda among the most recent to formalise its ties under this framework.
Supporting the UN 2030 Agenda
The UAE's engagement at the UN HLPF on Sustainable Development is part of a broader diplomatic strategy. During the forum, the UAE participates in bilateral meetings with partner governments and international organisations to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforce its role as a hub for global governance innovation.
The UAE-Bermuda MOU exemplifies this approach — translating high-level sustainable development commitments into concrete government-to-government cooperation, with measurable outcomes in public sector performance and human capacity.
