UAE and Finland Deepen Government Development Partnership at Helsinki Forum
Senior officials from both nations gathered in the Finnish capital to explore collaborative opportunities in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and public sector innovation.
The Governments of the UAE and the Republic of Finland have organised a landmark Government Experience Exchange Forum in Helsinki, reinforcing their commitment to advancing public sector capabilities through shared knowledge and collaborative innovation.
Bringing together distinguished government officials, policymakers and specialists from both nations, the forum established a strategic platform for dialogue on the future trajectory of government services. Participants examined experiences and practices across six pivotal domains: digital transformation and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, transport and logistics, government agility, and zero-carbon built environments.
Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of Local and Regional Government of Finland, underscored the partnership’s significance, noting that deepening cooperation in government development enables both nations to implement artificial intelligence innovations safely and effectively across the public sector. She emphasised how the exchange of best practices strengthens the capacity to build proactive, trusted and future-ready public services.
Mohamed bin Taliah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Government Experience Exchange, highlighted the practical value of such forums as platforms for developing scalable solutions. He stressed that experience exchange accelerates government performance development and enhances readiness to address emerging challenges whilst designing more agile and responsive governance models.
The forum was anchored by a Memorandum of Understanding on Experience Exchange in Government Development and Modernisation, signed between the two countries in March 2025. Amna Mahmoud Fikri, UAE Ambassador to Finland and Estonia, emphasised this agreement’s foundational role in facilitating ongoing bilateral cooperation.
Substantive discussions addressed critical contemporary challenges. A session on cybersecurity featured Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, and Peter Sund, CEO of the Finnish Information Security Cluster, examining how artificial intelligence transforms the threat landscape and exploring enhanced cyber resilience strategies. Another session explored the evolution towards proactive, citizen-centric government models powered by artificial intelligence, while maintaining essential safeguards around accountability and human oversight.
The UAE delegation included senior leaders from across government and key institutions, whilst Finland’s representation encompassed officials from foreign affairs, cyber security, higher education and digital services. Discussions centred on enhancing connectivity between the nations, leveraging technology to optimise transport and logistics networks, and strengthening economic resilience through collaborative innovation.
Participants affirmed the importance of sustained experience exchange and joint initiatives in priority fields, positioning both governments to advance public sector effectiveness, embrace forward-looking approaches, and develop governance structures capable of responding to evolving societal needs.
Source: WAM