Dr Tariq Hamid Al Tayer, First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates has learned from its development journey spanning more than five decades that wealth alone does not create development — rather, it is development that redefines the value of wealth. He added that the UAE experience and the vision of its wise leadership, headed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, has proven that nations which invest in minds before resources, and in the future before the present, are better equipped to confront global transformations and more prepared to seize the opportunities offered by rapidly changing international circumstances.
Al Tayer delivered the Federal National Council's address during his participation in the 20th session of the Conference of the Union of Parliaments of Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, under the theme "Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in OIC Member States through Parliamentary Cooperation." He said: "For long decades, development was associated with the scale of natural wealth, the breadth of markets, and the flow of capital. Today, however, the indicators and factors of a nation's progress or decline are linked to the level of knowledge and innovation it possesses, the speed of its response to change, and the efficiency of its institutions in anticipating and shaping the future."
He noted that successive international crises in recent years — including protracted conflicts and disputes, supply chain disruptions, and food, water, and climate crises — have revealed an important truth: that sustainable development has become a comprehensive civilisational project linked to security, stability, resilience, and human development. He stressed that the nations that have succeeded in confronting crises were not necessarily the wealthiest, but rather the most prepared, the quickest to adapt, and the most capable of turning knowledge into policy, innovation into opportunity, and challenges into new pathways for growth and progress.
On the sidelines of the conference in Azerbaijan, Dr Tariq Hamid Al Tayer met with Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, Speaker of the Shura Council of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman.
Both sides affirmed the depth of the brotherly relations binding the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, and stressed the importance of strengthening parliamentary cooperation and coordination between the two councils on matters of shared interest. They pointed to the important role that parliamentary diplomacy plays in supporting bilateral cooperation tracks, exchanging legislative expertise and experiences, and enhancing coordination on shared regional and international issues, particularly in regional and international parliamentary forums.
Dr Tariq Hamid Al Tayer also met with Dr Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, President of the Consultative Council of the Republic of Niger, on the sidelines of the 20th conference session in Azerbaijan.
The meeting addressed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Niger, and underscored the importance of continuing to build on the progress witnessed across various fields in a manner that enhances developmental, economic, and investment cooperation and serves the common interests of the two friendly countries.
Separately, the Federal National Council is participating in the 8th Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments, being held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo on 27 June.
Mariam Majid bin Thaniya, Second Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, is heading the council's delegation, which includes members Naema Abdullah Al Sharhan, Mohammed Hassan Al Dhahouri, and Majid Mohammed Al Assam.
The council's delegation is participating in the proceedings of the 8th Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments and its preparatory committee, held in the Arab Republic of Egypt from 24 to 27 June 2026, under the theme "Arab Digital Sovereignty and the Protection of National Privacy in the Age of Digital Transformation."
Mariam bin Thaniya affirmed that the Federal National Council's participation comes within the framework of its commitment to strengthening the UAE's presence and standing in Arab parliamentary forums and supporting the journey of joint Arab parliamentary work, in a manner that contributes to consolidating the values of dialogue and understanding among peoples and enhancing parliamentary cooperation in addressing shared Arab, regional, and international challenges.
She added that the participation reflects the UAE's commitment to supporting the principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and to enhancing the role of parliaments in building bridges of communication between cultures and civilisations, in service of sustainable development goals and the promotion of stability among Arab states.
The conference agenda is headed by discussions on ways to strengthen Arab digital sovereignty and protect national privacy amid accelerating digital transformation, alongside deliberations on a number of Arab parliamentary issues of shared interest.