The UAE has staked a bold claim in the global sustainability debate, presenting the 'XDGs 2045: Navigating the Future of our World' report at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York. The strategic policy paper — developed by the UAE National Committee on SDGs — extends the country's sustainability agenda 21 years beyond the UN's 2030 SDG Blueprint.
What Is the XDGs 2045 Report?
The XDGs 2045 report is a forward-looking policy framework designed to guide global sustainable development long after the UN's current 2030 goals expire. It was developed by the UAE's National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and draws on insights gathered at the XDGs 2045 Ministerial Roundtable, held in the framework of the World Government Summit 2024.
The report reviews previous global development frameworks, assesses the world's current progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and delineates clear steps for the way forward — providing a roadmap that stakeholders can act on now.
Presented at the HLPF in New York
The UAE delegation unveiled the report during the latest session of the HLPF — the principal United Nations body overseeing the global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. The forum is hosted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs at UN Headquarters in New York.
Leading the UAE delegation was Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chairman of the National Committee on SDGs.
UAE's Vision for a Knowledge Economy
In presenting the report, Lootah stressed the importance of maintaining a competitive, innovation-driven economy as the foundation of long-term sustainability:
> "One cannot stress enough that our continued emphasis shall be placed on innovation and strategic partnerships aiming at providing solutions for new international problems, thus remaining productive for our nation's economy and relevant to worldwide sustainable development."
Shaping Post-2030 Development Globally
The XDGs 2045 initiative goes beyond UAE domestic policy. The report is explicitly designed to contribute to international discussions on what a post-2030 sustainable development framework should look like — and positions the UAE as a thought leader in that global conversation.
By extending the sustainability agenda to 2045, the UAE is advocating for a longer-horizon approach that factors in emerging challenges such as climate change, technological disruption, and shifting geopolitical dynamics — issues that the existing 2030 framework was not designed to fully address.
