Delivered By: Ms. Sarah AlAwadhi, First Secretary

Madam President.

At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this important meeting. I also wish to thank the Deputy Secretary-General and the briefers for their insightful presentations.

The United Arab Emirates aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Kingdom of Bahrain, on behalf of the GCC, and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity.

The UAE reiterates its strong support for the UN80 Initiative as a timely and necessary effort to strengthen the United Nations’ ability to deliver on its core purposes.

This is an historic opportunity to ensure that the Organization is focused, coherent, and able to deliver results where it adds the greatest value. We must not squander it.

For the Initiative to succeed, it must strengthen all three pillars of the UN’s work in a balanced and integrated manner. Efforts must be made to reduce duplication, clarify roles, and strengthen system-wide alignment based on the comparative advantage of each part of the UN system.

The need for streamlining is particularly evident in the humanitarian sector. Effective humanitarian action is highly dependent on operational coherence. Reforms that integrate coordination and strengthen country-level authority are therefore essential enablers of impact in the field.

At the same time, bold reform must be pursued in a transparent and inclusive manner, firmly anchored in Member State ownership, and aimed at strengthening the effective implementation of mandate entrusted by Member States.

We also encourage the appropriate use of new technologies to enhance transparency and reduce duplication across the UN’s work. We welcome recent efforts to enhance transparency through improved data, indicators, and digital tools, and encourage the Secretariat to continue to build on these tools.

Madam President,

The UN80 Initiative will ultimately be judged by the depth of positive change it delivers. This will require political will, discipline, and a shared commitment to improving the Organization’s delivery on the ground, where it matters most.

The UAE stands ready to engage constructively to ensure that the UN80 Initiative results in a more coherent, efficient, and effective United Nations.

Thank you.