• The retreat witnessed serious discussions regarding TDRA’s plans and strategies in the coming period based on global developments, emerging technologies and future trends
• The retreat reviewed the work teams’ ideas and perceptions on how to develop TDRA's business, and the newly proposed projects in the three sectors of TDRA.

UAE – 17 March 2022

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) held its annual retreat and annual staff gathering at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel - Dubai, in the presence of H.E. Eng. Majid Sultan al-Mesmar, Director General of TDRA, Deputy Director Generals, Heads of Departments and Sections and employees of TDRA. H.E. the Director General headed the retreat agenda and reviewed with the participating teams future plans of the ICT sector and digital government in the UAE.

The retreat was launched with an opening speech delivered by H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan al-Mesmar, TDRA Director General, in which he praised the distinguished level achieved by TDRA in various fields, especially its attainment of the Leading Federal Entity – ministries with less than 500 employees' award, and the award for the best entity in achieving the national agenda, within the sixth edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award. His Excellency said: "We hold our retreat today after the achievements of TDRA, which culminated in our taking of the excellence stage. This achievement would not have been possible without collaboratively and harmoniously working as a team to serve TDRA’s goals and UAE's higher interests."

His Excellency addressed TDRA’s team by saying: "You have proven that you are capable of doing more, and that’s what we expect from you in this year and beyond. The distinction we have achieved proves that we are fully prepared to move forward in achieving more milestones, as guided by the visions of our wise leadership for the next 50 years.”

H.E. the Director General referred to the key roles assigned to TDRA: "We meet today after three unprecedented years, during which we witnessed events, developments and changes. Whoever follows the transformations these days discovers the speed of change sweeping the world in all areas, especially in technology, where new terms and technologies emerge every day overturning traditional concepts and putting new concepts in its place, all under the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is the title of the current phase."

The retreat saw a series of discussions about TDRA’s plans and strategies in the coming period and how to align them with the 10 principles of the UAE government by working to build a proactive digital system that supports digital transformation, focusing on building the most active and best economy in the world, along with providing integrated digital services, creating a unified digital platform, and enhancing digital transformation enablers in the UAE.

The retreat reviewed key ideas for launching new projects in the three sectors of TDRA, where ideas were centered around the use of artificial intelligence in developing TDRA's services, development of data analysis systems, telecommunications sector infrastructure, video games, etc.

The discussions also addressed key experiences and lessons of TDRA in the last phase. The attendees discussed key developments related to the ICT sector, and how to harness creativity and innovation in service improvement and business development, in addition to ways to strengthen cooperation with strategic partners in the government and private sectors with the aim of coping with and leveraging the rapid changes in the world to achieve UAE’s strategic goals related to AI, 4IR and IoT.

The retreat agenda included a lecture on excellence addressing the achievements made by TDRA to reach excellence, challenges during excellence in 2021, UAE’s new excellence trend, excellence as an engine of change, steps to maintain such level and achieve more entrepreneurial work, and how to overcome future challenges while ensuring a continued process of excellence.

During the annual gathering of its staff, TDRA honored outstanding employees and teams that contributed to TDRA’s winning of the Excellence Award. TDRA also honored a number of retired employees, who had made outstanding contributions during their years of work at TDRA.

TDRA also honored its strategic partners from the government and the private sectors, on the sidelines of TDRA’s annual retreat. This honoring comes as an affirmation of the importance of partnership between TDRA, government and private entities in achieving the UAE National Agenda, and creating an advanced digital infrastructure that allows the implementation of major future projects within UAE’s strategic direction towards a future based on happiness, well-being, sustainable development and leadership