Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as Global Goals are a set of 17 goals that aim to provide better living conditions to all. The SDGs are based on the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. I wish to discuss 4 of them here.

UAE’s first goal is to end poverty by providing education and plenty of job opportunities in the knowledge-driven economy of the UAE. It ensures that citizens and residents are capable of earning a decent livelihood and enjoy quality life in the UAE. Ministry of Education has launched initiatives like

School Leadership Development Project (SLP), School Olympic Games Project, School Health Education Project and School health screening.

In the employment sector, UAE helps workers a framework to establish awareness and protect worker rights by schemes like Wages Protection System (WPS), eComplaint request, ‘My Salary’ service.

UAE's global contributions to end poverty are also significant like Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Sheikh Khalifa Foundation and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) supporting more than 130 million people in 116 countries around the world.

Second goal is Zero hunger. Sustainable development steps in the agriculture sector and food security include Ziraai programme providing training and marketing services and interest-free loan to farmers, adoption of organic and local farming, Agricultural Innovation Centre promoting sustainability of local production through innovation and enhancing food safety. Other initiatives to fight hunger locally and globally include Year of Giving 2017, Food Bank initiative, Preservation of Grace - unused/discarded items such as food, clothes, furniture and medicine that are in good condition are given to those who need them. Fish Box initiative, Sphere-Gardens initiative to educate children about growing food for sustainable food production and to become wise consumers.

Third goal is clean water and sanitation. The demand for water in the UAE is approx. 4.2 billion cubic metres per year. UAE, being in the desert, has a very small amount of underground water. Because of that, the country has to rely on other water resources like desalinated seawater. In 2010, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment developed the National Strategy for Preserving Water Resources for rationalisation of water use. The UAE's National Innovation Strategy puts water as one of its key seven pillars and focusses on rain enhancement science and technology where technology is used to stimulate and increase rainfall. This has met with great success. The UAE has an impressive sewerage disposal and treatment system. Key achievements towards 'Clean water and sanitation' include establishing 30 plus desalination plants with reverse osmosis of seawater, even a photovoltaic desalination plant and water purification via solar technology. The UAE is also providing water in various countries of the world, with 10 well-drilling projects in Ghana, Benin, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Somalia benefiting more than 60,000 people and encouraging sustainable solutions of water shortages internationally by launching the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.

Fourth goal is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development as a goal on life below water. In 2014, the United Arab Emirates ranked 1st in the marine reserves index, shooting up from 33rd in 2012. Marwah Reserve in Abu Dhabi Yasat Reserve, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary are some important reserves. There is great emphasis towards protection of the marine and coastal environment including laws banning throwing waste and oil sludge into the water by the hundreds of tankers operating in the region. Fishing is a key component of the UAE's heritage, but overfishing has caused a decline of key fish stocks beyond sustainable level. In 1999, the Federal Law concerning the exploitation, protection and development of the living aquatic resources in the waters of the state of the United Arab Emirates was issued.