Position paper for United Arab Emirates
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours |
| Paper text: | |
| Outer space has become essential for communication, navigation, climate monitoring, and global security. However, the increasing number of retired satellites and space debris, as well as the potential militarization of space, pose threats to the long-term sustainability of space activities. With a lack of comprehensive international regulations, states are at risk of polluting space, misunderstandings, and conflict due to space activity. The United Arab Emirates strongly supports reducing space threats through the establishment of norms, rules, and principles of responsible behavior. All member states involved in space activities shall adhere to international law and participate actively in UN forums related to space activities and threats. The UAE believes that transparency, communication, and sustainability are essential for reducing risks. The UAE proposes the following measures to promote responsible behavior and reduce space threats: developing a global plan for responsible behavior and establishing a UN-endorsed set of accepted norms/comprehensive plan that outlines responsible conduct in space. The UAE also proposes enhancing transparency and communication by encouraging member states to share information on satellite launches and potential risks through international databases and systems, thereby preventing accidents and misinterpretation of intent. The last proposal promotes space sustainability and debris management by supporting research and technology for debris removal, retired satellite plans, and sustainable design standards for new spacecraft, and encourages member states to develop new solutions to space pollution and explore new methods for waste disposal. The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that outer space remains a domain of peace, cooperation, and shared progress. The UAE stands ready to work with all nations to advance this vision. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects |
| Paper text: | |
| The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons continues to threaten international peace, security, and development. Unregulated arms flows fuel conflict, crime, and terrorism, and human rights abuses, especially in unstable regions. Despite international work, the global trade in illicit weapons remains a significant challenge due to weak border control, limited capacity to enforce, and a lack of transparency. The UAE recognizes the humanitarian and security implications of the illicit arms trade. The UAE strongly supports international efforts to combat the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons. While international laws currently exist, along with many national agencies that work towards stopping the trade of prohibited weapons, it is not enough. The UAE emphasizes that addressing the illicit arms trade requires collective action, effective communication, and capacity building, particularly in regions affected by conflict and instability. The UAE proposes the following measures to reduce illicit trade in small arms and light weapons: strengthening international cooperation and communication by establishing a global database for tracing and identifying illicit arms, supported by regional coordination and collaboration. The UAE also proposes enhancing border security and customs capacity by providing technical and financial assistance to states with limited resources to strengthen border management and train customs officers in arms detection. The UAE reaffirms its commitment to ending the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Through stronger international cooperation, improved transparency, and shared technology, the UAE believes the global community can make significant progress toward a safer and more stable world. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence |
| Paper text: | |
| In the year 2000, the international community came together and came up with development goals to work towards as the world was beginning to step forward into a new millennium. The biggest goal to work towards that will lead to all other countries being able to reach the Millennium Development Goals is that of ensuring environmental sustainability. Since the adoption of the Millenium Development Goals, there has been a continuous increase in carbon emissions. Many countries have gone about fighting the crisis we are seeing with carbon emissions that leads to global warming and lower economic development in a variety of different ways. Some members are in favor of joining treaties to lower their carbon emissions through joint responsibility, while others have imposed taxes and fees on carbon emissions. We are in favor of both of these ideas in addition to working to diversify each states’ economies away from being overly reliant on fossil fuels to having a balanced approach that includes green and renewable energy. In addition to these goals, we are committed to working with the international community as a whole to help develop each state in a sustainable and pragmatic way so that they may be set up on the long road towards success and to fully participate in the global economy. Member states can take to meet the Paris Agreement’s emission reduction targets through a plethora of ways, with the biggest ones being investing in more renewable/green energy and instituting taxes on a per- ton basis of carbon emissions a business emits, which will create a motivation to reduce carbon emissions and shift towards to more environmentally friendly business operations. Member states can assist developing countries in implementing climate action policies by investing in these countries and helping them gain the resources necessary to develop technology for renewable/green energy. One way member states can help developing nations is by engaging in global free trade to give developing nations the materials and resources they need to create green energy technology, such as a nuclear power plant or solar panel power station. Member States can respond to the increasing public scrutiny of their climate change commitments in how they govern. Achieving effective and efficient governance can be done in a litany of ways, from fast tracking and streamlining processes so that projects that are going towards climate change developments can start on time, antitrust laws to make sure no single company has a monopoly over markets and it drives competition to meet the climate change goals, and giving subsidies to companies that are developing climate change technology. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind |
| Paper text: | |
| To combat the ongoing climate crisis and make global economic growth more sustainable, the international community has come together on many occasions to work towards the goal of ensuring each country can develop in a sustainable manner. Member states using cooperation that is being used today to combat climate change can be seen in the Paris Climate Agreement to make sure the global surface temperature does not rise past two degrees Celsius in order to prevent a global catastrophe. There have also been several ways that affordability, growth, and innovation have been encouraged through things such as having global trade so that each country has the tools that it needs in order to succeed and develop. There has already been great progress made with agreements such as the Montreal Protocol that helped heal the hole in the ozone layer, and we also strongly commend Resolution 78/160 deals with science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development. The United Nations can further promote globalization and interdependence in line with obtaining the Sustainable Development Goals by beginning to invest more in programs that work to help countries with infrastructure and education to help countries become more developed and do not have to worry about basic things such as having access to clean drinking water. This will help countries shift away from physiological needs and more towards developing as a country overall, which will come through being a member of the United Nations. Member states can take a more active role in improving access to markets for developing countries by negotiating free trade agreements with other countries to further promote cooperation and help those developing countries gain better access to global markets. The trade deals need member states to properly negotiate the terms, however, so that all the states’ economic stakeholders (workers, consumers, businesses, etc.) have their needs met. There are a multitude of barriers that still exist that result in asymmetrical economic development, such as hunger, poverty, and internal conflict. Being more connected to the world and having better developed infrastructure and education systems is also a very important reason there are barriers that result in asymmetrical economic development. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination |
| Paper text: | |
| The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognizes the United Nations faces a unique challenge in
supporting both state sovereignty and the right of peoples to self-determination. In
accordance with Article 1(2) of the UN Charter, the United Nations is responsible for
promoting “friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal
rights and self-determination of peoples.” However, the United Nations is to also uphold the
principle of state sovereignty, reflected in Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, which affirms that
the United Nations may not intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any
state. The UAE stands with both peoples right to self-determination and a state’s right to
sovereignty. However, when conflicts of those principles occur, reconciliation can only be
achieved through sustained diplomatic negotiation and respect for international law.
The UAE firmly supports the right of peoples to self-determination, as reflected in our long- standing support for the Palestinian people. Consistent with the Arab Peace Initiative and our 2024 statement to the International Court of Justice, the UAE advocates for a sovereign Palestinian state, achieved through dialogue and adherence to international law. Accordingly, the UAE calls on the United Nations to expand UN-led mediation processes and enhance monitoring and reporting on violations of international law. Together, these measures would reinforce the United Nations’ capacity to facilitate peaceful settlements and uphold the integrity of international law in matters of self-determination. Additionally, we call on the international community to resolve disputes through the International Court of Justice or arbitration, in accordance with Article 33 of the UN Charter. This approach promotes peaceful resolution through dialogue rather than confrontation, which also ensures that disputes are settled within the framework of international law. The UAE reaffirms that protecting the right of peoples to self-determination is essential to maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of international law. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas |
| Paper text: | |
| The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognizes that empowering women and girls in rural areas
is essential to achieving sustainable development and equality globally. Despite decades of
progress, rural women still face barriers in education, employment, and decision-making.
This issue has been recognized by the international community for decades. In 1979, the
United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW), which highlighted rural women and girls as a group needing
particular attention because of ongoing social and economic barriers.
The UAE understands that the challenges facing women in rural areas are universal, having once confronted similar barriers ourselves. Through reform, the UAE has strengthened legal protections for women and expanded opportunities in both the workforce and public life. This progress shows that real change is possible when it is treated as a national priority. Our experience shows that progress is achievable, and we urge other Member States to pursue similar reforms. With only five more years before the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not a one indicator under goal five of gender equality has been fully achieved. The UAE calls on the United Nations and the international community to renew their commitment to gender equality by expanding education and job training for women in rural areas, increasing access to financial resources, and expanding access to technology to help rural women access economic opportunities and leadership roles. These actions would equip women with the skills and resources needed to participate fully in their economies and communities. The UAE also calls for greater cooperation among the United Nations, governments, and the private sector to invest in programs for rural women that are coordinated and responsive to their local needs. Empowering women and girls in these communities is essential to achieving the 2030 SDGs and building a more inclusive and equitable world. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Our ocean, our future, our responsibility |
| Paper text: | |
| We firmly support and reaffirm A/RES/79/271, “Our ocean, our future, our responsibility”,
and we acknowledge the progress that has yet to be made to address the health of our
oceans. In addition to the UN declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to all Sustainable
Development Goals including but not limited to Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life
Below Water” to ensure development that protects all aquatic environments. The world
relies upon our oceans to thrive socially and economically; therefore, we must protect and
rebuild aquatic environments that allow us to ship goods, fish, and provide us with a
plethora of natural resources. So far, SDG 14 has shown limited progress 10 years after its
inception according to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and it shows the
same level of progress without a shift in the attitudes of all member states.
To combat climate change that is creating acidification, melting ice caps, bleaching of coral reefs, and sinking island nations, we must make a significant update to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. While maintaining the goal of keeping global warming below 2 degrees celsius as we have surpassed 1.5 degrees according to the World Meteorological Organization, we should further utilize and fund the UN Environment Programme and its partners like the Global Funds for Coral Reefs and the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter. Additionally, we must continue working towards topics discussed in the 2025 UN Oceans Conference while also prioritizing the topics with the highest impact and highest severity. These high impact and severe areas should receive funding priority. Another important step is to reaffirm member states commitment to A/RES/79/271 and to further push for cooperation between all stakeholders including non-governmental organizations, member states, educational institutions, and the private sector. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations |
| Paper text: | |
| We affirm that there needs to be a strengthening of the coordination of emergency
humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. A/RES/79/140 outlines how there has been
an increase in complexity in reaching and executing successful humanitarian aid operations
including but not limited to duplication of costs, climate change, violations of international
humanitarian law, and a critical lack of funding. To combat these issues, member states have
to address and strengthen coordination to successfully meet the needs of roughly 300
million people in need of assistance according to the Global Humanitarian Overview for
2025. Humanitarian aid funding has also taken a blow with a decrease in funding from
members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. A decrease in
funding, lack-luster cooperation, and over 300 million people in need of humanitarian
assistance requires the UN to build upon existing coordination of humanitarian aid.
Strengthening coordination of humanitarian aid starts with member states building upon the Office for Coordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA requires an update from its creation in A/RES/46/182 in that it should expand its reach and create a binding global legal framework to urge wealthier nations to contribute more towards the most pressing humanitarian aid challenges. The UN should also place more focus on the private sector to help relieve humanitarian aid complexities although this is not an alternative to member state’s contributions as noted by Harvard’s Humanitarian Initiative. Member states should also affirm their commitment to Part I Article 10 of the Fourth Geneva Convention allowing for the unobstructed access to provide humanitarian aid. Violations of international humanitarian law should also be punished to the greatest extent by the International Court of Justice. | |
| Committee: | ESCWA |
| Topic: | War on Gaza: tenets and essential elements for sustainable recovery |
| Paper text: | |
| Reconstruction planners must balance the risks to reassure skeptical member states that aid
will not empower Hamas while also avoiding signals of legitimizing Israeli control. One way is
to condition reconstruction funds on strict oversights by a reformed, internationally vetted
Palestinian authority or neutral multilateral body rather than channeling resources through
existing local actors associated with Hamas. The UAE underscores that reconstruction cannot
really take place without a clear path to a two state solution, linking the investment to
political clarity and legitimacy. Another step is to separate humanitarian relief, which is
harder to politicize, from infrastructure and governance restoration, requiring a clearer
institutional framework. Ensuring that humanitarian relief in Gaza remains internationally
connected to the new 20 peace plan that President Trump helped negotiate. This would
allow for long term reconstruction and governance support following a coordinated regional
framework, such as one led or supported by the UAE. Donor states can insist on
transparency, audits, and dispute mechanisms. Part of the challenge is understanding who
will oversee this. Israel and its allies worry about Hama’s role, while Palestinians and their
allies worry about Israeli control. The UAE and other donor states would clear oversight to
ensure aid is delivered fairly and without political influence. Finally, engaging hostile states
directly in oversight would bring Israeli and Arab parties to agree on reconstructive zones
under international trusteeship during reconstruction. This helps reassure states worried
about existing normalization, while enabling a path for rebuilding. Finally, engaging hostile
states directly in oversight and compartmentalization, Israeli and Arab parties could agree on
reconstruction zones under international trusteeship where reconstruction is legally
insulated from sovereignty debates. This helps reassure states worried about existing
normalization while enabling a path for rebuilding.
Even amid conflict, deliberate preparation steps can make postwar reconstruction more viable. This is if provided clear oversight and coordination with relevant authorities. First, collect real time damage and needs assessments via satellites, local networks, and drones where possible to map what must be rebuilt and where. The recognition of these, especially drones, require Israel's approval due to its control of Gaza's airspace. This process will allow for facilitating faster allocation afterward. Second, build registration and property mapping systems, so displaced Gazans' claims to land, homes, and infrastructure can be adjusted fairly later. Third, preserve or reinforce key infrastructures where possible, water, power, and roads, to reduce collapse. Fourth, ensure that aid passage, logistics staging zones, and forward stockpiles are organized now so material and equipment can flow rapidly once ceasefire holds. Fifth, use ceasefire windows to insert temporary governance measures, locally trusted civil councils, municipal actors, or neutral oversight committees that begin organizing services. These developing institutions can evolve into postwar governance mechanisms. Lastly, embed conflict sensitive planning, ensuring reconstruction does not worsen social fault lines or establish military advantage, but rather support inclusive, rights based rebuilding from day one. | |
| Committee: | ESCWA |
| Topic: | Economic governance: market competition challenges in the Arab Region |
| Paper text: | |
| The UAE has long been committed to promoting market competitions in the Arab region.
The UAE since the start of the Arab competition forums in 2020 have been a leading
member, with the next meeting being hosted in the capital. Through these meetings and an
increased government reform focus, the UAE has introduced new roles in government, like
the minister of competition. Recently, at the minister's direction, the UAE has introduced new
laws that have increased the power of the jurisdiction to reach all activities affecting UAE
markets, including e-commerce and cross-border operations. This law also limits the
exemptions that government-controlled entities possess other than the entities that play a
vital role in the national economy. The UAE has also planned to make their state-owned
monopolies less vital in the economy by diversifying their markets through increasing the
percentages of non-state-owned enterprises' market values. This includes AI prospects, e-
commerce industries, tourism, and telecommunications.
The UAE advocates that member states form a borderless digital economy. We plan to structure this around the 2031 vision plan. In this plan, one of the main objectives is to increase the percentage of GDP from e-commerce from 9.7% to 19.4% through massive infrastructure investments, AI integration, and cross-border facilitation, especially in the e- commerce space. Growing this industry has also proven to be highly effective in promoting market competition. The UAE proposes that Arab nations further increase market competition, emphasize sustainable development, environmental/energy transition, inclusive employment, and introduce ministers of competition. The UAE proposes to all nations in the arab region to improve their e-commerce industries through modernizing legal framework and regional cooperation leading to further investment to promote more market competition. We also suggest operating free trade zones and further investing in SMEs to integrate the arab region through closer intertwined economies. Overall, the UAE suggests that arab economies keep working to make their nations less reliant on state owned enterprises and work together to make a more economically competitive market together. | |
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