Emirati Developmental Governance: Theory and Practice

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Political Science and History, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Master of Regional Studies, Faculty of Law, Political Science and History, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

3 Associate Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Law, Political Science and History, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

The study of successful governance models in non-Western countries, especially those that have implemented economic development without fully following the prevailing models, has become increasingly important. The United Arab Emirates is a prominent example in this regard, which has taken a different path in governance by relying on a strong political structure, a local federal political system, internal stability and strategic structuring. This article uses the theory of Developmental Governance to analyze Emirati governance and how it adapts to this theory. The findings show that governance in the UAE is consistent with the six principles of this theory, namely problem-solving management, political consensus, corruption management, grassroots governance, strengthening institutions within a pragmatic approach, and finally commitment, coordination, and cooperation; however, there are challenges in the principle of political consensus (in terms of the entry of new actors) and in the principle of strengthening institutions within a pragmatic approach (in terms of the rule of law). The present article is of a fundamental type and the research method used in it is case matching with theory, which uses the approach of document analysis and library studies to examine the main objective of the research.

Keywords

References

  1. Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority. (2025). About ADAA. Retrieved June 02, from: https://www.adaa.gov.ae/aboutadaa.html
  2. Abuzanjal, A. & Bashir, H. (2024), “Service innovation challenges in UAE government entities: Identification and examination of the impact of organizational size and excellence model implementation,” Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 10 (3).
  3. Al Hammadi, A. H. Y., & Bin Ahmad, A. R. (2018). “Leadership, Strategic Planning, Organizational Performance and Innovation: A Case of Dubai/ UAE Public Sector”. International Journal Of Management And Information Technology, 13, 3179-3187.
  4. Alhammadi, Abrar, Imad Alsyouf , Concetta Semeraro, Khaled Obaideen (2024), "The role of industry 4.0 in advancing sustainability development: A focus review in the United Arab Emirates", Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 18, 1-20.
  5. Arab Land Initiative. (2025). United Arab Emirates: Legal and institutional framework and land registration system. Global Land Tool Network (GLTN).
  6. Attar, Saeed and Hojjat Kazemi (2017). Political Coalitions and Economic Development. 3 (1), 113-131. [in Persian].
  7. Attar, Saeed and Mehrdad Ebrahimiyan NajafAbadi (2022), “The Role of the UAE and Bahrain Normalization with Israel in Reducing Their Water and Agriculture Crises”, 19 (74), 273-293. [in Persian].
  8. Attar, Saeed & Shafigh Wahidi (2025). Emirati Development. Tehran, Iran: Negarestan Andisheh Publishing. [in Persian].
  9. Bashiri, Mahboobeh, Somaye Hamidi and Moslem Khosravy Zargaz (2024), “An Exploration of the Pattern and Process of Development in the United Arab Emirates (With Emphasis on Adrian Leftwich's Point of View)”, Scintific Journal Quarterly of Middle East Studies, 31 (116), 135-153. [in Persian].
  10. Booth, D. (2011). “Aid, Institutions and Governance: What Have We Learned?”. Development Policy Review, 29, 5–26.
  11. Booth, D., and Unsworth, S. (2014). “Politically smart, locally led development”. Overseas Development Institute.
  12. Bresser-Pereira, Luiz Carlos (2019). “Models of the developmental state”. CEPAL Review, 128.
  13. BTI (2024). United Arab Emirates Country Report. BTI UAE.
  14. Chang, H.-J. (2023). Bad Samaritans [in Persian, trans. by M. Nabavi & M. Shahabi]. Tehran, Iran: Ketab Ameh. [in Persian]
  15. Davidson, C. M. (2018). “The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Contrasting Roles in the International System”. Middle East Policy, 25(3), 33-48.
  16. Davidson, C. M. (2009). Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond. London: Hurst.
  17. Dehdar, M. M and Kazemi, H. (2025), “Political Settlement, Institutional Reform & Development: A Critical Assessment of Good Governance Approach Based On Political Settlement Analytical Framework,” Iranian Journal of Public Policy, 11 (2), 137-155. [in Persian].
  18. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2025). United Arab Emirates country brief. Australian Government.
  19. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (2017). The developmental state – An exploration of South Africa’s National Development Plan (2nd draft). Research Unit, Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Pretoria, South Africa.
  20. Elhaj, M. (2019). “Strategic planning and government performance in the UAE”. Dubai Policy Review, 1.
  21. Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. (2025). Political system & governance. UAE Embassy in Washington, DC.
  22. Executive Affairs Authority (2025). Government in the United Arab Emirates.
  23. Focus Economics (2025). UAE economic data & projections. Retrieved May 21, from: https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/uae/
  24. Forum of Federations (2022). Federal Countries: United Arab Emirates. Forum of Federations.
  25. Freedom House (2024). Freedom in the World 2024: United Arab Emirates.
  26. Gant, G. F. (2006). “The Concept of Development Administration”. Comparative Public Administration (Research in Public Policy Analysis and Management), 257-285.
  27. GlobalSecurity (2025). United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Politics. Retrieved June 02, from: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/uae-politics.htm
  28. Graeeli, H. , M. Motallebi, H. Abolfazly & H. Hemmatian (2020). Elite Political Culture and Good Governance in TheIslamic Republic Of Iran (Reform Government Case Study). Contemporary Political Essays. 10(4)147-174. [in Persian].
  29. Gray, M. (2011). A theory of 'late rentierism' in the Arab states of the Gulf. Center for International and Regional Studies, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar.
  30. Hertog, S. (2010). “Defying the Resource Curse: Explaining Successful State-Owned Enterprises in Rentier States. World Politics, 62(2), 261-301.
  31. HokmAbadi, S. H, M. A. Falahi and M. Salimifar (2023). The Study of Good Governance Effect on Economic Resilience in the Selected Oil Producing Countries with Emphasis on Corruption Control. Journal of Iranian Economic Development Analyses. 9(24), 219-250. [in Persian].
  32. IMF (2023). United Arab Emirates: Financial System Stability Assessment. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund.
  33. Khan, M. (2010). “Political Settlements and the Governance of Growth-Enhancing Institutions”. Research Paper Series on Governance for Growth, SOAS, University of London.
  34. Lane, Jan-Erik (2019). “Developmental Governance”. Open Journal of Political Science, 9, 624-630.
  35. Leftwich, A. (2005). "Politics in Command: Developmental State and the Political Foundations of Economic Transformation”. IPPG( Discussion Paper Series(.
  36. Levi-Faur, D. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Governance. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  37. Maunder, Stephen (2025). Government and politics in the UAE. Expatica
  38. Ministry of Cabinet Affairs. (2025) Federal system. UAE Cabinet. Retrieved May 22, from https://uaecabinet.ae/en/federal-system
  39. Neve, Freddie (2021). Economic and social reform in the UAE: a bid to boost growth and investment. Asia House.
  40. North, D., Wallis, J. J., Weingast, B. R., & Barry, S. B. (2024). In the shadow of violence (M. Mirdamadi & M. H. Naeimipour, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Rozaneh Publishing. [in Persian].
  41. OECD (2022). The UAE Government's Approach to Digital Transformation. https://www.oecd.org/gov/the-uae-government-approach-digital-transformation.pdf
  42. Pourali, Ali, M. A. Falahi and A. A. Naji Meidani (2019). The Effects of Good Governance and Political-Civil Liberties Indices on Environmental Performance Index (EPI): An Analysis of 101 Countries Worldwide. Journal of Economics and Regional development, 26(17),63-94. [in Persian]
  43. Rahman, M. L (2016). “Governance and Good Governance: A Theoretical Framework”. Public Policy and Administration Research, 6(10), 40-50.
  44. (2025). “UAE leans on trade deals for growth as non-oil trade jumps 15% in 2024,” February 5.
  45. (2024). “UAE releases new AI model to compete with big tech”, May 13 Reuters.
  46. Sadraei, S. S. (2017). An introduction to the theoretical foundations of good governance: A comparative study of governance in the UAE and Bahrain. International Journal of Nations Research. 2(19), 23–37. [in Persian].
  47. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2024). Sustainable development report 2024: The SDGs and the UN Summit of the Future. Paris: SDSN.
  48. The Heritage Foundation (2025). Index of Economic Freedom: All country scores.
  49. Transparency International (2024). Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: United Arab Emirates. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/are
  50. UAE Government (2024). About the UAE. The UAE government - Telecommunications And Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
  51. UAE Government (2023a). UAE Centennial 2071.
  52. UAE Government (2023b). The UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025.
  53. UAE Government. (2022). UAE PASS: Your national digital identity. UAE Digital Government.
  54. UAE Government. (2010). UAE Vision 2021.
  55. UAE Government. (2025). The UAE government.
  56. UAE Government (2025). Federal Accountability Authority. https://uae.gov.ae/en/about-the-uae/government/federal-accountability-authority
  57. UAE Government (2025). UAE Vision 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://vision2021.ae/
  58. World Bank (2025). “Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) - United Arab Emirates” World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS?locations=AE
  59. World Bank(2024a). GDP (current US$) – United Arab Emirates. World Bank.
  60. World Bank(2024b). GDP per capita (current US$) – United Arab Emirates. World Bank.World Bank (2023). Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government Effectiveness – United Arab Emirates.
  61. World Bank (2017). “World Development Report 2017: Governance and the Law”. World Bank.
  62. World Bank. (2014). Transforming Government Services through Digital Tools: The Case of e-Dirham in the UAE. World Bank.
  63. Zahiri, M., M. Zayanderoody & S. A. jalaie (2022). Investigating the Effect of Good Governance on sustainable development of selected countries (OPEC Plus Oil countries group). The Journal of Economic Studies and Policies, 9(17), 170-193. [in Persian].
Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 175-189

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics